By Charles McClure
news@ltview.com
Forget politics, in this neck of Lake Travis, golf is the one, true passion that burns in the hearts of most residents.

So they are likely to be pleased with TexARTS latest offering, “Golf — The Musical,” which opens this Friday, April 24, and will feature evening performances Thursday, Friday and Saturdays with two Sunday matinee through May 10. The performances will take place at the TexARTS Kam & James Morris Theater at Keller Williams Studios (2300 Lohman’s Spur, at RR 620, just inside Lakeway). Evening performances will be performed at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday matinees will be at 2 and 7 p.m.
“I first heard about it when I was working with a theater company in Los Angeles, and it just sounded like a great show,” explained TexARTS co-founder Todd Dellinger. “We are looking for shows that will suit our Kam & James Morris Theater, and this one has the perfect cast size. It is also extremely funny.”
“Golf — The Musical!” is a sardonically, adult witty musical which pokes fun at every quirky term, theory and player that you can think of relating to this most popular of American pastimes while also taking shots through timely political, sports-world and social humor in the most irreverent of manner, according to Dellinger.
The show originally played at Off Broadway’s acclaimed John Houseman Theater in Manhattan, with TexARTS’ production’s director and star, Joel Blum whose Broadway credits include the revival of “Oklahoma!” and Meredith Willson’s “The Music Man” as well as originating roles in “Steel Peer,” among others.
Blum is joined by fellow Broadway veteran Daniel Herron (lead tenor from Mel Brooks’ “The Producers” and Austin favorite Jill Blackwood. Joe Penrod rounds out the cast.
Some notable songs from the show include — “Golf’s Such a Naughty Game;” “Let’s Bring Golf to the Gulf;” “My Husband is Playing A Round” and “Presidents Who Golf” among 14 others that golfers and non, alike will find incredibly humorous, Dellinger promises. In addition to direction, he will choreograph the TexARTS production.
Blum is a Broadway veteran, with shows like Elaine May’s “After The Night and the Music” (Manhattan Theater Club) “Show Boat” directed by Harold Prince — (Tony nomination for Best Supporting Actor in a Musical), “Steel Pier”(Tony nomination — Best Supporting Actor in a Musical.) “Music Man” (Marcellus), “Christmas Carol”), “42nd Street” (The original, directed by Gower Champion), “The Debbie Reynolds Show.”
He also boasts several television credits.
Tickets are $30-$40 (cocktail seating) and can be obtained by calling TexARTS at 512-852-9079 extension 101 or on-line thru www.Tex-ARTS.org and/or NowPlayingAustin.com\Austix