The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
August brings new and ongoing runs
Uh-oh. The calendar just turned. You know what that means…
But wait! Kick those bookbags back in closet while wearing your flip flops. Summer continues! Three area groups will be presenting their summer performances this weekend. Two are continuing runs that opened last week, while one opens.
Curtain 440
Curtain 440 has had a busy summer for a group that was only established in February of this year.
They have already produced several youth productions and a pair of summer camps complete with performances, and now they are getting ready to present its first big musical production.
And they didn’t exactly pick an easy staging for that first big musical. They open this weekend with Stephen Sondheim’s modern fairy tale makeover “Into the Woods.” Performances are Aug. 2, 3, 9, and 10 at 7:30 p.m. and Aug. 11 at 2 p.m. at Andrews Osborne Academy at 38588 Mentor Ave. in Willoughby.
Tickets are $15 for adults and seniors and $12 for students and are available online at www.curtain440.com/Tickets or at the door.
Angela Miloro-Hansen directs with vocal direction by Trinidad Snider, conducting by Kim Gallagher, choreograpy by Sarah Wyatt, and musicians that include local professionals and talented students.
This purely teen and young adult cast contains members of many area schools and colleges, as well as those who have graduated from the same.
“Audiences will love our take on this famous Sondheim production from the bold character choices and amazing choreography,” says 18-year-old Mentor High School student Logan Katoch, who plays Little Red.
“Jack has been my dream role ever since I first started doing theater and being in this show I am able to see this character in an entirely different way and see aspects of him that I never knew where there,” says Emilio Ruiz, who plays the young giant killer.
“I absolutely love being in this show!” says Ashley Cunnigham, 23, one of the older member of the group. “The cast of this show is humble and so incredibly talented. ‘Into the Woods’ is not an easy show, it’s full of emotion also crazy music and lyrics - and everyone rises to the challenge.”
“I love how choreography heavy it is, despite the original lacking of dance,” says Kat Matalski, who plays the Steward. “It makes our show different and interesting, plus it gives it a twist.”
“This show is unlike any I’ve done before,” says 17-year-old Amanda Ostroke, who plays Granny. “It’s the inaugural season of the company, and I’ve never worked with most the cast, but they are all so phenomenally talented and so friendly. I love them all and the hard work we’re all putting in together to make this show as great as it can be.”
You can go “Into the Woods” with these cast members at Andrews-Osborne School this weekend.
Rabbit Run Theater
“Mamma Mia” is still running at the barn in Madison through Aug. 10.
The play is rated 13+ for content. Tickets are $24 for adults, $22 for seniors and students, and $11 for youth 12 and under. For group packages and rates call 440-428-5913.
Tickets for all performances are available by calling the box office at 440-428-7092, between 3 and 7 p.m., Wednesdays through Sundays, or online at www.rabbitrunonline.org. All shows for “Mamma Mia!” begin at 7:30 p.m. Rabbit Run Theater is located at 5648 West Chapel Road in Madison.
Guests are welcome to bring a picnic meal to enjoy on the grounds of the theater prior to a show in the picnic pavilion or courtyards.
Nominated for five Tony Awards, “Mamma Mia!” was originally conceived by Judy Craymer. Music and lyrics are by Benny Andersson and Bjorn Ulvaeus with some songs with Stig Anderson. The book was by Catherine Johnson.
“Mamma Mia!” ran on Broadway for 14 years and was the seventh-longest running musical in Broadway history. The musical is based on the songs of ABBA, a Swedish pop group active in the 1970s and early ‘80s.
The show is directed by Scott Posey and features musical direction by Alex Ulle and choreography by Jill Tschetter.
Several area young thespians make up the cast, including Julia Schoen, Austin Collins, Sean Haffey, and Joe Ivancic from Lake Catholic High School in Mentor; Matt Garcia from Mentor High School; and Shaylin Virag and Jack Rees from Madison High School.
While taking in a performance, patrons are welcome to purchase a raffle ticket for Passport to Paris & Prizes, Rabbit Run Community Arts Association’s annual fundraiser. Every ticket holder has a one-infive chance of winning one of 100 prizes, each worth $50 or more. The Grand Prize is a trip to Paris, France.
Only 500 tickets will be sold. Tickets are $50 each and available at the box office, online or at the Rabbit Run office.
All proceeds benefit RRCAA.
Mt. Carmel Players
The sun came out and shone over Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church in Wickliffe last weekend when the Mt. Carmel Players opened their musical “Annie.” They still have “Tomorrow” - Aug. 2 - and Aug. 3 for good measure for you to catch them.
Show times are 7:30 p.m. The production is being held in the McCafferty Center located in Mater Dei Academy on the grounds of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel church at 29840 Euclid Ave. in Wickliffe.
Advanced tickets are $14 for adults and $12 for seniors 60 and older and children 12 and under. Tickets at the door are $16 for adults and $14 for seniors/students. It is reserved seating and you can order advanced tickets by calling the box office at 440-494-6464.
Perhaps they could have performed this back in June. We could have used the sun then!
The Mt. Carmel Players community theater group is in it 49th year of productions and is under the stage and choreography direction of returning director Mary Jo Tschetter and musical director Lynn Hoopingarner. The Mt. Carmel Players have produced such classics as “Hello Dolly,” “Peter Pan,” and “Mary Poppins” as well as local murder mysteries and a recent musical variety show.
A cast of nearly 30 actors is led by eighth-grader Kathryn Ridler as Annie. Kathryn attends Mater Dei Academy, Our Lady of Mt. Carmel’s school. Rounding out the principal leads is Larry DiDonato, a longtime Mt. Carmel Player, as Daddy Warbucks; Lydia Betsa as Grace Ferrell; Tom Fogarty as Rooster Hannigan; and Chloe Gregory as Lily St. Regis.
The part of Miss Hannigan will be shared by Mt. Carmel Players President Jeannette Cox and VicePresident Michelle DiFrangia.
Young Thespians is a regular column that focuses on youth in theater. Do you have a production you wish to see featured? E-mail stevecouch@ windstream.net, follow me @StevenRCouch on Twitter or join our “Young Thespians” Facebook group and post your show information.