The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
Lorain Community Music Theater stages 40th Anniversary production
As Lorain native Monica “Mo” Olejko approaches a new production for Lorain Community Music Theater, she seeks silence and immerses herself in the story.
“The first thing I do is get a copy of the script and read it without listening to the music,” said Olejko, who shoulders responsibilities of both director and choreographer. “Then I listen to the music.
“I close my eyes and I watch the dancing and I write down what I see. Then once I get that idea down, I start working on the show. When you do directing and choreography, that’s a lot on your plate. You don’t have the luxury of waiting on divine inspiration.
“There have been times when I sat for eight hours straight just working on it. It’s what you need to do. And you hope you’re blessed with a cast that can take what you see in your head and put it on the stage so those people out in the seats can see it, too.”
This marks the 40th anniversary of Lorain Community Music Theater, which produced its first show, “My Fair lady,” in July 1977 at Lorain High School.
The 2017 production of Disney’s “The Little Mermaid” returns to the new Lorain High School, 2600 Ashland Ave. in Lorain, with performances July 14-16 and 21-23. Tickets are available at www.loraincommunitymucistheater.org/buy-tickets.
The musical is co-produced by Lynn Maslinski and Marlene Karpinski, who say 47 cast members include nine children and 38 teens and adults.
The Community Music Theater organized to help underprivileged youth find meaningful pastimes, but evolved beyond it.
“We’re not a children’s theater per se’,” Karpinski said. “We have professionals who donate their time to bring these to the community.”
Still, the youth involved receive quality instruction in theater, voice and dance, Maslinski said, and they rehearse five nights a week for up to eight weeks.
Professionalism matters, says Olejko, as do family relationships.
“My dad used to say, ‘You don’t do it ‘til you get it right,’” she said. “’You do it ‘til you can’t get it wrong.’ You rehearse it and rehearse it.”
Olejko’s father, Alex “Kiki” Olejko, served as mayor of Lorain from 19841995.
The oldest of seven children, she graduated in the first class from Lorain Catholic High School in 1970 and moved to Berea in 1975.
Olejko said she hopes each person in the audience enjoys a beautiful story about life and relationships, from small children and teens who grew up with Ariel, to great grandparents who grew up with the original Hans Christian Andersen story.
“I want them to embrace it,” she said. “It’s not really a play. It’s an event.
“I hope everyone walks out of here with a smile on their face, because in this day and age, you need something to make you happy, and that’s our job. Sometimes you sit in that seat and say, ‘I just need to laugh.’ Curtains go up; lights come on; and everyone is on.”
Vermilion native Anthony Trifiletti also doubles assignments as choral music and orchestra director.
“The biggest (challenge) when we’re doing a musical like this is so much of the story is conveyed through song,” Trifiletti said. “Our job is to make it enjoyable and understandable. So, the story comes to the forefront through the music we’re presenting.” He said his favorite song is “Kiss the Girl.”
“I think it’s funny; I think it’s entertaining,” Trifiletti said. “I think it’s relatable to most of the audience, especially me.”
The 40th anniversary shows of Disney’s “The Little Mermaid” begin 7:30 p.m., July 14, 15, 21, 22; and 2 p.m., July 16 and 23.
Tickets cost $20 for adults, $18 for seniors age 55 and older, and $16 for children and students to age 21. Special VIP patron seating is available for $30. For groups of 20 or more, discounts are available.
Lorain Performing Arts Center is found on the Pole Avenue side of Lorain High.
Olejko said her favorite scenes feature the father character and his seven daughters.
“Trident, I made him into my dad,” she said. “The relationships between fathers and daughters, whether it’s Tevya in ‘Fiddler on the Roof’ or Trident, everybody has the same problems.
“All father-daughter relationships are entertaining, heartbreaking, and never, ever go away.”