Walter Long

Since 1991, when City Theatre moved to its current location on Bingham Street on the South Side, the production artisans behind the nearly 170 shows seen on its two stages during this time have endured a type-of performance of their own: nicknamed the 'City Theatre Shuffle,' scenery and props have been built, painted, assembled, and moved in disparate cramped spaces with poor lighting and limited assembly area. While boasting an impressive props collection, they are located, inconveniently, over a mile away. City's long-time Director of Production, Tony Ferrieri, has worked without a window in his basement office for 28 years.

Sunday night, Mark Walter topped off a year of Herculean accomplishment in preserving his father's legacy with a concert at the Cutting Room that went off like fireworks. Somewhere, composer /lyricist/arranger/pianist Cy Walter (right in Lloyd Diaz photo), was beaming. In 2015, Mark completed his father's discography filed with The Library of Congress, created a spanking new website, established The Cy Walter Foundation, and put out a two CD package of pre-1950's music with Harbinger Records. The Sunday concert, with expert Musical Direction by the inimitable Tedd Firth, was an opportunity not only to salute a multifaceted talent, but also for many, including Mark (photo below left), to hear songs that haven't been performed for 60 or 70 years.

In honor of its upcoming 1,000th performance, Disney's THE LION KING at Mandalay Bay awarded Walter V. Long Elementary School 1,000 tickets at a surprise in-school assembly today with a heartwarming performance by LION KING cast members. Students from more than 80 Clark County elementary schools submitted essays on why their school deserves to see THE LION KING before the show's final performance on Dec. 30, and the winning essay came from Walter V. Long's Daniel Hernandez in Danielle Rayos' fifth grade class.