‘Bachelorette’ production includes Nemacolin, Palace Theatre
When the 12th season of ABC-TV’s “The Bachelorette” premieres on May 23, Fayette County’s Nemacolin Woodlands and other southwestern Pennsylvania locations will have a prominent supporting role.
The use of Nemacolin for at least some of the upcoming production attained widespread comment on social media — particularly after a group date Monday night at the Palace Theatre in Greensburg.
“They did film an episode,” Palace Theatre box office staffer Melissa Raichel confirmed. However, she said she could not say anything else about the visit, which centered around a concert there performed by country performers Dan Smyers and Shay Mooney.
However, Nemacolin itself is declining comment.
“As always, Nemacolin Woodlands Resort’s policy is to not comment on any guest or any private group activity taking place on our property,” spokeswoman Ashli Mazer emailed Tuesday afternoon. “Thank you for your understanding.”
ABC said Joelle “JoJo” Fletcher, 25, of Dallas, Texas, has moved on from being the runner-up in the 20th season of ABC’s “The Bachelor” to being the seeker of a husband on “The Bachelorette.”
Fletcher would have gone to Greensburg with an entourage of eligible bachelors.
Smyers, a native of Pittsburgh’s North Hills suburbs, touted the performance last week on Facebook and said fans would have to RSVP via a Gmail address to be admitted.
According to an ABC press release, Fletcher is the daughter of two doctors, has a bachelor of arts degree in medical humanities from Baylor University, but five years later she’s running a real estate firm that builds home from the ground up and rents to students in the Waco area where Baylor is located.
“I think it would be an incredible opportunity for Nemacolin Woodlands and the Laurel Highlands,” said Anna Weltz, director of public relations for Laurel Highlands Visitors Bureau.
However, Weltz said little else about the scheduled production, and the Pittsburgh Film Office didn’t have much to say, either.
“They wouldn’t need to talk to us,” said film office director Dawn M. Keezer, who pointed out that they wouldn’t need to do any casting. “We haven’t talked to them about this show.”
Keezer said Pittsburgh has had several reality shows, including flip-your-house type shows, NBC’s “American Ninja Warrior” and Butler County’s “Farm Kings.”
“It is completely encapsulated,” Keezer said about the “Bachelorette” production, which utilizes a small in-house crew. “From what we understand it is just at Nemacolin.”
ABC spokespersons did not respond to inquiries from the Herald-Standard.
“We heard the same rumors everyone else did,” said Carrie Morrison, secretary-treasurer for Wharton Township, which includes Farmington and Nemacolin. She said she was not aware of any uptick of traffic because of the production and pointed out that Nemacolin handles its own security.
“The Bachelorette” and “The Bachelor” are productions of Next Entertainment, Warner Horizon Television and Telepictures Productions. They are distributed by Warner Brothers Television Distribution.