Act Out Theatre Group Preparing for Holiday Productions

Posted on December 5, 2018 by The Dunmorean

The cast of Elf Jr. includes, first row, from left:Mason Matthews, Samantha Greenfield, Sarah Pugliese and Dylan Ofner. Second row: Ava Wheeler, Allie Katz, Caelan Howe-Baden, Will Block, Emily Carey, Max Snyder, Lorcan Baden and Milana Snyder. Absent from the photo are Molly Wiggins, Julia Cirba and Ava Kulenich.

Act Out Theatre Group LLC, which has recently relocated to 105. E. Grove St., Dunmore from Taylor, is celebrating the holidays with three events: Elf Jr, the theatre’s annual Holiday Revue, and a free family fun night this December.

Director Kalen Churcher leads the cast of Elf Jr. “Elf Jr. has become a modern-day classic that combines a lot of humor with the true meaning of the holiday season,” said Churcher. “It’s something the entire family can enjoy.”

Elf Jr. is a condensed version of the full-length musical based off the New Line Cinema’s movie, Elf. Buddy the Elf, Santa’s clumsiest and largest elf, is portrayed by Max Snyder. When Buddy, finds out that he is human, he makes the trek to New York to find his human father, Walter Hobbs, played by Caelan Baden. Through his journey, Buddy meets the jaded Jovie, played by Sarah Pugliese, and learns he has a brother, Michael, played by Mason Matthews, who also plays Charlie, the head elf.

High-energy musical numbers and comical misunderstandings make this a show one will not want to miss.

The cast also includes Will Block as Santa Claus; Emily Carey of Dunmore as Emily Hobbs; Samantha Greenfield as Deb; Ava Kulenich as Charlotte Denon; Allie Katz as Ms. Greenway; Dylan Ofner as Sam; Milana Snyder as Matthews; Lorcan Baden as Chadwick; Ava Wheeler as Darlene, and Julia Cirba as Emma.

Pugliese is having fun playing Jovie. “I get to go through a lot of emotions in the show that usually aren’t my personality. Also I’ve always wanted to play Jovie,” Pugliese said. “[The best part is] probably being grouchy a lot because I’m usually ‘happy all the time’.”

Elf Jr runs on the Act Out Theatre Group stage from Dec. 7- 9 with performances Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday at 2 p.m. Tickets are $20 for adults and $15 for students/seniors. Tickets can be purchased by emailing the theatre at actouttheatre1@gmail.com. Tickets can also be purchased at the door. Prepayment is not required. Reservations are not required but are recommended.

Along with Elf Jr, Act Out is also presenting its annual Holiday Revue on Dec. 20 and 21 with performances at 7:30 p.m. All tickets for the holiday cabaret at $10.

“Each year, performers of all ages within the Act Out family come together and sing their favorite holiday songs,” said Dan Pittman, artistic director and owner. “It is a great way to get into the holiday spirit and celebrate with friends and family.”

Act Out Theatre Group recently relocated to Dunmore from Taylor.

“Our original location in Taylor, Pa., was sold in April,” said Pittman, of Plymouth. “We have been working diligently to create a new environment where young performers can learn and grow as artists.”

Act Out has become a second home for Baden. “I get to act alongside some great performers who I’m happy to call friends,” Baden said.

The theatre group is also hosting a free family fun night on Dec. 14 from 6 to 9 p.m. The event will have music, karaoke and contests, as well as games and snacks for purchase.

“The family fun night is a great opportunity for children and teens to get together and do activities that are usually only hosted for adults,” Churcher said. “They can come and dance, sing karaoke, and hang out with their friends in a comfortable environment.”

The theatre is seeking donations of prizes for its Family Fun Night. Those interested in donating items should contact Kalen Churcher at iwrite09@aol.com

The theatre is also seeking sponsors for its upcoming productions. Businesses or individuals can email actouttheatre1@gmail.com for more information.

Crimson Company Takes on Shakespeare in “As You Like It”

Posted on November 7, 2018 by The Dunmorean

UPDATE: Due to the Dunmore Buck’s recent win on the football field, the performance schedule for As You Like It has been adjusted.

Shows will now only take place on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday (November 14th, 15th and 16th) at 7PM.

There will be no matinee or evening performance on Saturday, November 17th.

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Shakespeare’s comedy of love and laughter comes to the Dunmore High School auditorium stage later this month.

The Crimson Company will present As You Like It on November 14, 15, 16 and 17. Curtain rises at 7 p.m. sharp each evening. On Saturday, November 17th, the cast and crew will also take the stage for a 1 p.m. matinee.

Tickets cost $10.00 for adults, $8.00 for students and seniors, and $5.00 for children under the age of five.

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Forced into exile in the Forest of Arden, Rosalind and Orlando become entangled in a beguiling game of love and mistaken identity that turns traditional rules of romance upside down. Disguises and secrets get in the way of true love and result in hilarious love triangles that only a ‘magical transformation’ can fix.

A firm favorite among Shakespeare’s comedies, As You Like It has some of the bard’s best loved characters, pastoral romance, love notes, music, satire, slapstick, passion and even the famous “All the World’s a Stage” soliloquy.

This will be the final fall Crimson Company production under the direction of Brian McGurl.

Brian, an 7th grade geography teacher, will retire as both an educator and Crimson Company director at the end of this school year.

He and his wife Dawn have spearheaded the high school drama club since 2005.

Brian and Dawn will take their final bow following the run of the Crimson Company’s spring production, “Beehive: The 60’s Musical.”

Members of the cast for As You Like It are as follows: Kaitlin Ahern, Ben Amaya, Matthew Behler, Patrick Burke, Lily Conboy, Ariana Costanzi, Colby DeSando, Madison Eagen, Raj Gandhi, Ian Gratkowski, Sam Hanna, Louis Hanni, Julia Ingargiola, Brigid King, Ally McNeff, Jake McNeff, Julia Pasko, Bell Pendon, Marquette Pendon and Isabella Stanco.

Stage managers for this production are Spencer Asman and Max Burke.

Recognition for Marywood Theatre Production

Posted on November 7, 2018 by The Dunmorean

Marywood Play Honors - sarah and ellis(3)

Senior theatre major, Sarah Wagner, and Ellis Vogt a junior architecture major, are shown as Cass and Captain Mike during a production of “Wonder of the World” at Marywood College.

The cast and crew of Marywood University’s production of Wonder of The World were recently notified that they are the recipients of several special recognitions from the American College Theatre Festival respondent who saw the show at Marywood on Oct. 6.

Dunmorean Sarah Wagner, senior theatre student; and Angela Klawiter, freshman elementary education and theatre minor student, were both cited for excellence as performers and were nominated to participate in the Irene Ryan Scholarship Award auditions at the regional festival that will be held in January.

Marywood University’s production of Wonder of the World also received commendation for “Excellence in Student and Alumni Design Collaboration,” specifically citing the scenic design by recent graduate Tiffany Atkins, lighting design by Jakob Pepper, junior theatre student; and Helena Rankin, senior theatre student.

The play’s respondent was Trish Ralph, chair of theatre and music studies at SUNY Brockport.

Charles Gorden, M.F.A., associate professor of theatre and director of the theatre program at Marywood University, said, “We are extremely proud of the production and the hard work that our students put forth to make the production such a success.”

All of the student designers will be entering their work for competition at the regional festival, which will be held at Montclair State University in January 2019.