SUMMER THEATER SEASON BEGINS
Summer theater season begins
For those of us still chilled from what felt like an endless winter, the opening of community summer theaters — often called “Straw Hat” or summer stock — brings thoughts of cool breezes and quality, affordable, entertainment.
For the local thespians committed to transforming this rite of summer, Apple Hill Playhouse, Stage 62, Little Lake Theatre and Saint Vincent Summer Theatre are just a few here that prove “there’s is no business like show business.”
Some productions begin this month and a few this week.
“I love it, but sometimes it’s a love-hate, as when the pipes freeze over the winter,” said Pat Beyer, owner and artistic director of Apple Hill Playhouse in Delmont.
“It’s a crap shoot — you don’t know if you’ll get the performers, and if the audience will buy the show,” the Murrysville woman said. “But I am hooked.”
For the summer season, Apple Hill will present: “Social Security” May 17-20 and May 24-26; “Steel Magnolias” June 7-10 and June 14-16; “Grease” July 12-15 and July 19-21; “Mama Won’t Fly” Aug. 9-12 and Aug. 16-18; and “Kitchen Witches” Aug. 30- Sept. 2 and Sept. 6-8.
Barbara Rolla of Hempfield, who auditioned March 31 for a role in “Steel Magnolias,” said the preparation and character research for auditions is a small price to pay for her dream to perform.
“It is about the thrill before a live audience, and to step out of your own life for a few hours to experience characters and emotions you wouldn’t normally,’’ she said.
The 142-seat theater at 275 Manor Road is housed in a preCivil War farmhouse, the lobby of which once lodged mules that worked in the nearby coal mines.
Last year, the nonprofit broke even following fundraisers and a few directors and actors who lovingly returned their stipends.
Typical production costs include costumes, props, special effects and royalties, the latter of which have tripled in the past decade. While musicals are popular, musicians do not work for stipends, Ms. Beyer said.
To save money, she scours thrift shops and flea markets. To locate talent outside auditions, she scouts high school and community theater productions.
Stage 62
At Stage 62 in Carnegie, director Rob James holds rehearsals for four hours, four days a week, for six weeks per show.
The financial goal: to make a little money to put back into
future productions at this all- volunteer community theater.
“You can find artistic expression in other things, but this is where I find mine. I love theater,” said Mr. James, who works as a teacher for the Pittsburgh Civic Light Opera.
The Stage 62 summer season features “Dogfight” today through Sunday and May 17-20; and “Dirty Rotten Scoundrels” July 19-22 and July 26-29. Performances are held in the Andrew Carnegie Free Library & Music Hall, 300 Beechwood Ave.
In February, 65 actors auditioned for the musical “Dogfight,” including Jeff Way of Dormont.
By day, he is a clerk for Allegheny County District Court. At night and on weekends, the song-and-dance man stokes the fervor within.
“I love singing and exploring other ways to interact as different characters,” said Mr. Way, who will play 10 roles — all of them quirky — in the show. “Dogfight” producer Heather Friedman has been acting, singing and dancing since middle school, and performed in “Annie” last fall at Stage 62.
“We are all people who love theater, but for various reasons did not or could not make it a career,” said the Upper St. Clair woman who works as a freelance medical editor.
“Here you only do shows you’re passionate about, and that refers to all aspects from directing to acting to behind the scenes,” she said.
Little Lake
Jena Oberg, artistic director at Little Lake Theatre in Canonsburg, also acts, sings and dances. She said the troupe tries for a blend of light comedy and heavy drama in shows with summer settings, like “Steel Magnolias” and “A Streetcar Named Desire,” which are planned for July and August.
In real life, weather can play havoc with audiences.
“If it is great, people want to be outdoors. It helps attendance if they want to be in air-conditioning,” she said.
A big challenge for summer theaters is competing for patrons with sports, vacations, weddings and graduations.
Little Lake offers signature drinks and desserts served on its patio in a pastoral setting.
“It’s a really fun, cool place to spend your summer,” said managing director Andrew Seay, who also acts and sings.
Founded in 1949, the nonprofit began as summer theater on the current property at 500 Lakeside Drive, but in a rustic barn, and that is still in use today as rehearsal and storage space.
Its summer 70th Anniversary Season features: “A Flea in Her Ear” today through Saturday, May 17-20 and May 24-26; “Arcadia”, May 31-June 2, June 7-10 and June 14-16; “Hay Fever”, June 21-23, June 28-July 1 and July 5-7; “A Streetcar Named Desire” July 12-14, July 19-22 and July 26-28; “Steel Magnolias” Aug. 2-4, Aug. 9-12 and Aug. 16-18; and “Little Miss Sunshine, The Musical,” Aug. 30-Sept. 1, Sept. 6-9 and Sept. 13-15.
Its Looking Glass Theatre for children will present: Disney’s “The Little Mermaid Jr.” June 13-30; “The Jungle Book” July 6-21; and “The Musical Adventures of Flat Stanley Jr.” July 25-Aug. 11.
For teens with a passion for theater, Little Lake offers an apprentice program for behind-the-scenes work on prop and technical crews and more in exchange for hands-on training in acting and other theater aspects.
Ms. Oberg said Little Lake’s 70-year legacy and intimate 175-seat theater-inthe-round venue makes for a familiar setting. “It’s like we get to spend our summers with family,” she said.
Saint Vincent Summer Theatre
Latrobe couple Bill and Phil Dymond have been attending shows at Saint Vincent Summer Theatre in Unity for a half-century, since its late founder, Father Tom Devereux, served as producer while also directing busloads of traffic the shows attract.
Mr. Dymond said what continues to impress him is “the professionalism of productions and skill of performers.”
Today, the biggest challenge is continuing the tradition older audiences have come to expect while engaging a younger audience in the live theater experience, artistic director Greggory Brandt said.
To maintain that quality, auditions for professional actors are held each year in New York City.
The venue will celebrate its 50th season with three comedies: “Harvey” May 24-27, May 29-31, June 1-3 and June 510; “Nunsense” June 28-30, July 1, July 5-8 and July 10-15; and “Leading Ladies” Aug. 25, Aug. 7-12 and Aug. 14-19.
All shows are staged in the Robert S. Carey Performing Arts Center, 300 Fraser Purchase Road.
The goal is to break even, Mr. Brandt said.
Since the theater is sponsored by the college, many students are employed. Tressa Holodnik, a bioinformatics major and actress, she said her work with the crew extends to all facets of her life.
“I learned to be organized and to be quick on my feet. That helps with leadership in life,” she said.