By Lora Oehlberg

Town Crier Intern

By day, Karie Bennett runs Atelier Salon in downtown Los Altos. After-hours, Bennett turns to her love of theater.

“There’s a part of me that wants another facet; there’s a part of me that loves to perform,” Bennett said.

Beginning Friday, Bennett will sing and dance as part of the ensemble in Foothill Music Theatre’s production of “Showboat.” The musical runs through Aug. 12 at Smithwick Theater at Foothill College in Los Altos Hills.

Bennett attended Foothill 20 years ago, participating in its vocal program. In the last 10 years, she has augmented her singing background with theater, dancing and acting.

“It gives performing a whole different dimension when you add the other layers,” Bennett said.

In more recent years, Bennett has participated in local community theater groups, such as the Sunnyvale Community Players.

Bennett found her way into Foothill Music Theatre after one of her clients at Atelier, who had been in Foothill’s theater program, suggested Bennett audition for a show.

“Typical of the cast, (Bennett) has made a lot of sacrifices, rearranged her work schedule and made it possible to do a full contribution to the show,” director Jay Manley said.

Going straight from the salon to rehearsals, Bennett is rarely home during the evening, especially in the last two weeks before opening.

“Being at Foothill is such a gigantic leap up for me in terms of the quality of the production, sets, costume and direction,” Bennett said. “The direction is a whole different level for me.”

The love story in “Showboat” is told amid racial themes, to which Bennett can personally relate. After growing up in the South, Bennett remembers segregated schools.

“There will be a lot of people in the audience who will relate to it as well, but there’s a whole generation who won’t remember what (segregation) was like,” Bennett said. “It has a historical relevance, an education feature for younger audience members.”

Bennett is looking forward to the opening of the musical, and she’s not alone.

“My clients are excited, too,” she said. “For them, it’s interesting to see their hairdresser singing and dancing on stage.”

After “Showboat” closes, Bennett will begin rehearsals for the Bus Barn Follies in October.

“Showboat” show times are 8 p.m., Fridays and Saturdays; 8 p.m. Thursdays, Aug. 2 and 9; and 2:30 p.m. Sundays, through Aug. 12.

Tickets are $18 general admission, $15 seniors/students and $10 children under 12.

For tickets and more information, call 948-4444.

The Foothill-De Anza Foundation will hold fund-raisers for the theater program concurrently with this weekend’s performances. On Saturday, audience members can attend a buffet dinner in the library courtyard prior to the 8 p.m. show. The Sunday matinee will begin with a brief director’s talk at 1:30 p.m. before the 2 p.m. show, followed by a champagne reception.

Tickets to the buffet dinner are $125-$250; tickets to the champagne reception/director’s talk are $60 For fund-raiser tickets, call 949-6231.