Barn Theater’s Annual Follies and Melodrama Aug. 4-5
The Barn Theater is proud to present its 4th annual Follies and Melodrama “Let Freedom Ring” Friday, Aug. 4 and Saturday, Aug. 5, inside the auditorium where it will be much cooler than our traditional outdoor stage performances from previous years.
Show will start at 7 p.m. sharp on both nights and will be on a firstcome, first-seated basis (no reservations needed). Cost for the show is $10 and $5 for children 11 and under; 10 percent of all proceeds will go to the Porterville College Veterans’ Research Center — an organization that coordinates the veterans’ transition into college and civilian life.
The Follies will kick off the evening with a wide variety of acts including the Barn Theater Junior Company opening with “Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy”. Other performances include solo vocals by Kristina Hall, Kierstin Hall and Kirsty Arellano, a dance routine by Briar Tillery and Adrinna Zarate, a comedy duet with Mikayla Giennetto and Kirtsty Arellano, a “memorial” rap by David Soto, a Shakespearian reading by Frank Cuffman (complete with English accent), a stand-up comedy impression by Joseph Ayala, the keyboard mastery of Cydni Guich, the magic wizardry of Ethan Willett, a showcase number from the cast of Disney’s “Mulan, Jr.” under the directorship of our own Mary Shaw (which opens at the Barn on Friday, Aug. 25) and finally concluding with the trumpet virtuosity of the Panther Band Director Jim Kusserow.
After a brief intermission, this year’s Melodrama “Is This A Scary Story?” written and directed by the Barn’s own Benjamin Satko. Benjamin wrote this play at the ripe old age of 10 and after several drafts and an official reading for the Barn Board of Directors is in the process of having it published. The melodrama is made up of a cast and crew of children including the now 12-year-old Satko doing the directing, with the mentorship of veteran Barn Director Edith La Vonne.
The play is a spoof on a combination of tried and true fairy tales and will have you laughing throughout the entire production — you may even want to throw in a few “boos” and “hoorays”. Satko has won a Hosscar in the past and was recently nominated for another. Don’t miss this funny and “scary?” play next weekend.
As usual, the evening will end with A CO C NOT UR PI BLUE TOED Fro using patriotic numbers directed by original member of the Junior Company — Kristina Hall. You will walk out of the theater feeling proud to be an American.
The Barn Theater is located at 42 S. Plano St. in Porterville, at the corner of Olive and Plano. Dress is Summer casual and it won’t hurt anything to throw some red, white and blue in the mix, optional.