Clarion University Theatre Department will present three productions as part of its 2012 Summer Musical Theatre Festival.
"Grease" is the word! It's the original "High School Musical." Danny Zuko, leader
of the cool kids, falls in love with the new student, Sandy Dumbrowski, but can't
let on because she is ... square. Peer pressure, social conventions, the thrill of
the sock hop and all the problems of being in high school in the 1950s come to life
in one of the most popular musicals ever produced. It's the show that will make you
want to throw your mittens around your kittens, hand-jive the night away and stand
up and shout, 'A-wop-bop-a-loo-bop, A-wop-bam-boom!'
The cast includes: Jonathon White as Danny Zuko; Mary Wagner as Sandy Dumbrowski;
A.J. Smith as Betty Rizzo; Lexie Anderson as Frenchy; Amanda Backus as Marty; Brittany
Tague as Jan; Jordan Rembold as Kenickie; David Matthews as Doddy; Joseph Bazzone
as Roger; and Leon Avery III as Sonny. Marc Ellis Holland, theatre instructor, is
director and choreographer.
"Grease" will be performed June 14-16 at Clarion University Little Theatre, and June
21-23 and 27-30 at Sawmill Theatre, Cook Forest. All shows begin at 8 p.m.
"Quilters" is a moving, homespun musical about the hardy women who struggled and survived
on the rugged American frontier. Piecing together a mosaic of country, folk and bluegrass
music, energetic folk dance sequences and stories recalling the joys, challenges and
terror of frontier life, a family recounts the past struggles and the optimism of
what is to come.
The cast includes: Danielle Watt as Sarah; Maggie Mae McWade, Kaylee Scrichfield Hally
Bowders and Amanda Backus as the daughters; and Lexie Anderson is understudy. "Quilters"
is directed by Edward Powers, associate professor of theatre, and choreography by
Marc Ellis Holland.
"Quilters" will be staged July 5-7 at Clarion University Little Theatre, and July
12-14 and 18-21 at Sawmill Theatre. All shows begin at 8 p.m.Tickets go on sale June
18.
How do you solve a problem like Maria? With one of the world's best loved musicals!
Maria, a young, aspiring but quirky, nun fills the lives of the Von Trapp children
with "The Sound of Music" and captures the heart of their stern and lonely father.
But, will their harmonious lives be torn apart when their beautiful homeland is ravaged
by war? Rodgers and Hammerstein's musical delights audiences with the uplifting story
and an irresistible score: "Climb Every Mountain," "Do-Re-Mi" and "My Favorite Things."
The cast includes: Danielle Watt as Maria; BreAnna Chris Kirkland as Mother Abbess;
Lauren Skelly as Sister Berthe, Mistress of Novices; A.J. Smith as Sister Margarette;
Haley Bowders as Sister Sophia; Jordan Rembold as Capt. Geog von Trapp; Joseph Bazzone
as Franz the butler; Maggie Mae McWade as Frau Schmidt the housekeeper; Rob Milan
as Rolf Gruber; and Brittany Tague as Elsa Schreader. Director is Robert Levy, theatre
department chair, and choreographer is Marc Ellis Holland.
"The Sound of Music" is set for July 26-28 at Clarion University Little Theatre, and
Aug. 2-4 and 8-11 at Sawmill Theatre. All shows begin at 8 p.m.Tickets go on sale
July 9.
Ticket for shows at Clarion University Little Theatre are $12 for adults, $9 for children
age 12 and younger, and free for Clarion University students with valid student ID.
Tickets for shows at Sawmill Theatre are $14 for adults and $12 for children. Tickets
are available online.
Clarion University is the high-achieving, nationally recognized, comprehensive university
that delivers a personal and challenging academic experience.