It has been a strange spring for this historic stage stop cum Interstate 35 tourist destination: Jenna Bush's wedding activities, a damaging thunderstorm, the Class 2A high school state baseball championship.

Not to worry. It's the Salado Silver Spur Theater's annual melodrama, "Perry's Hatter Is Up the Creek," by Gary Askins. Subtitle for the melodrama-silent cinema summer hijinks is "The Deathly Secret Half-blood Prisoner's Phoenix Stone Goblet," since it is a bit of a spoof on the Harry Potter books, with generous helpings of political satire and slapstick comedy.

Performances are weekends in July through Aug. 23, with the July 4 show at 5 p.m. to turn-out in time for city fireworks. Typically, shows are at 7:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday nights with 2 p.m Saturday matinees. Admission is $15 for adults, $12 for senior citizens (65 and over) and military personnel, and $10 for children (12 and under); and $12, $10 and $8, respectively for matinees. For group prices, reservations or more information, call 254-947-3456 or visit www.saladosilverspur.com.

"This is the fourth melodrama from Gary's pen, and I think it's his best script yet," says Grainger Esch, Co-founder and Executive Director of the Spur. The150-seat proscenium theater was developed in 2003 in the historic Sanford & Guest Granary and Feed Store in downtown Salado a few blocks off IH-35 between Temple and Georgetown.

The Silver Spur Theater strives to revive a bygone era of family entertainment, offering a trademark blend of live vaudeville acts, live music, stage plays and classic cinema. Weddings, reunions, business conferences ,concerts, field trips, dances, even customized private shows also are held at the venue, with catering available from the renowned Stagecoach Inn nearby and other area restaurants.