MLT’s ‘Cyclone’ is a Wild Musical Ride

September 14, 2024 |

By Bonnijean Cooney Adams | Posted in: Entertainment

The entire cast of “Ride The Cyclone: The Musical” all appear onstage for the entire production. In front, Sarah Sidorchuck as Constance Blackwood and Sierra Mitchell as Ocean O'Connell Rosenberg. Center row, Caedon Vogel as Mischa Bachinski and Sam Savolskis as Noel Gruber. Back row, Matthew Mlynarski as The Amazing Karnak, Joe Kosha as Ricky Potts, Randi Walker as Jane Doe, and Jade Goodes as Talia, Virgil, and various other ensemble roles. (Photos by Bonnijean Cooney Adams for Tube City Almanac)

The death of six members of a private Canadian high school chamber choir in a roller coaster accident might not seem a likely subject matter for a musical – especially one with lots of comedic and sometimes raunchy moments, and a variety of song-and-dance numbers mixed in.

Brooke Maxwell and Jacob Richmond wrote the book, music, and lyrics for “Ride The Cyclone The Musical,” which opened Friday night and continues through Sept. 22, at McKeesport Little Theater.

First performed in 2008, it is a relative newcomer to the world of musicals, but its popularity has grown.

“I’m thrilled to have the regional premiere of ‘Ride The Cyclone’ happening at McKeesport Little Theater,” producer Jennifer R. Vertullo said. “It’s a rising cult classic that has the attention of our next generation of theater-goers.”

Tiger Band Brings Smiles With New Show ‘Recess’

September 06, 2024 |

By Bonnijean Cooney Adams | Posted in: Entertainment, McKeesport and Region News

CORRECTION, NOT PERFECTION: Two students, Deshea Davis and Marek Krol, were incorrectly identified. We apologize for the error.

McKeesport Area High School’s Tiger Band opens tournament competition for the season on Saturday at Penn-Trafford. This year’s show, titled “Recess,” includes use of a swing set as part of the show. (All photos: Bonnijean Adams for Tube City Almanac)

McKeesport Area High School Marching Band’s 2024 show is designed to bring smiles to faces of all ages during “Recess.”

“It was a fun and upbeat concept,” Band Director Drew DeCarlo said, “and most likely was the best time for students when they were in elementary school. We wanted a show this year that everyone would understand.”

He and his staff started their yearly brainstorming sessions in January, DeCarlo said.

“We talked about our strengths and weaknesses for this season, and had many ideas. We didn’t have a nailed-down concept until about March. We all settled on ‘Recess,’” he said.

MLT Presents New Play at Duquesne U.

August 22, 2024 |

By Bonnijean Cooney Adams | Posted in: Entertainment

Nancy Caronia as Rivka Blumenthal and Alex Naglich as Michael Primmer rehearse ways they might be able to resolve a tricky situation in “They-Said, They-Said.” (Submitted photo courtesy McKeesport Little Theater)

Fans of McKeesport Little Theater have another opportunity to show their support at the world premiere of an original one-act play as part of the 33rd season of Pittsburgh New Works Festival.

McKeesport Little Theater is producing “They-Said, They-Said,” by playwright Brenda Kenworthy of Garden Grove, Calif., as their entry to the festival.

For those not familiar with the process, PNWF annually solicits original, one-act plays, which are narrowed down by a panel of judges. The top 15 are selected to become full productions.

MLT Review Features Juniors Past, Present

July 31, 2024 |

By Bonnijean Cooney Adams | Posted in: Entertainment

MLT juniors alumna Lydia Richardson reviews the script with director Dorothy Fallows. (Submitted photo courtesy Jennifer R. Vertullo)

The cast is having lots of fun during rehearsals for the latest McKeesport Little Theater Juniors production — and the audience should be thrilled with the results.

“McKeesport Little Theater: A Decade in Revue — Once a Junior, Always a Junior,” is a fundraiser that showcases alumni and some current members of the Juniors program.

With Dorothy Fallows directing, producers Amy Majewski and Lori Stramaski writing the script, music direction by Sean Thorton, and choreography by Samantha Mitchell, the revue opens Friday, Aug. 9, and runs Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 10 and 11.

Fallows has been head of the Juniors program for more than 30 years. When planning started, she said she reviewed their musicals for the past decade.

Actors Encouraged to Audition This Weekend

July 10, 2024 |

By Bonnijean Cooney Adams | Posted in: Entertainment

(File photo)

McKeesport Little Theater is one of 15 regional companies casting actors when auditions are scheduled Saturday and Sunday (July 13 and 14) to fill more than 50 roles for Pittsburgh News Works Festival’s 33rd season.

Auditions will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m at the Genesius Theater at Duquesne University, 1225 Seitz Street, Pittsburgh 15282. Pre-registration is requested.

“We are one of the original participants and we’re very excited about these auditions,” said MLT’s Jennifer R. Vertullo, who will produce the world premiere of one of the original one-act plays selected for this year’s festival.

MLT Juniors Feature Two Plays, New Faces

June 07, 2024 |

By Bonnijean Cooney Adams | Posted in: Entertainment

Julia Rae Jackson as Tina Kenney shares her struggles, hopes and dreams in "Voices." (Bonnijean Cooney Adams photos for Tube City Almanac)

The alien cast of McKeesport Little Theater Juniors' production of "Are We There Yet?" aboard their space vehicle prepare to tour Earth with Tika Gill, standing, as their guide.

McKeesport Little Theater Juniors’ annual spring production showcases the talents of some of the newest members of the group, followed by tear-jerking performances from veterans.

Opening today (June 7), and running for just one weekend, the first play, called “Are We There Yet,” is short and full of lots of humorous moments as intergalactic tour guide Tika Gill shares her interpretation of places, events, and things on Earth with her latest clients.

The second play, while more serious, still has its lighter moments.

“I Will Sing Life: Voices from the Hole in the Wall Gang Camp” is a collage of writings and interviews with young people who attend the real Hole in the Wall Gang Camp founded by actor Paul Newman.

Suspenseful ‘Night Watch’ Returns to MLT Stage

May 10, 2024 |

By Bonnijean Cooney Adams | Posted in: Entertainment

Chelsea Conway as Blanche Cooke, close friend of Elaine Wheeler, interacts with Steven Gallagher as Elaine's husband John Wheeler in McKeesport Little Theater’s “Night Watch.” (Submitted photo by Jennifer Vertullo/McKeesport Little Theater)

It’s taken more than four years, but the mystery thriller “Night Watch” returns to the McKeesport Little Theater stage, with most of the original cast and director back together again.

As part of the 2020 season, the production was shut down that March, along with public gatherings of all kinds, because of restrictions to try to stem the spread of Covid.

“Night Watch” opens today (May 10) and continues this weekend and May 17-19.

Serra Brings to Life Creepy, Kooky, Funny ‘Addams’

April 19, 2024 |

By Bonnijean Cooney Adams | Posted in: Entertainment

Sometimes a little drink can make people do strange things, as can be seen when Taylor Betzner as Alice Beineke imbibes during a dinner party to introduce her family to the Addams family. (Bonnijean Cooney Adams photo for Tube City Almanac)

Boy and girl meet and fall in love. Seems like a normal theme for a musical, right?

But when the boy is from a normal suburban Ohio family and his girlfriend happens to be Wednesday from the Addams family, both seek just “One Normal Night” when their parents meet for the first time.

Serra Catholic High School presents “The Addams Family” for its spring musical, which opens Friday, April 19.

Through music and dance, it tells the story of what happens when the Addams family hosts a dinner party for grownup Wednesday’s boyfriend and his parents.

All-Singing ‘Dreamcoat’ Brightens MAHS Stage

April 12, 2024 |

By Bonnijean Cooney Adams | Posted in: Entertainment, McKeesport and Region News

During a rehearsal, Anastasia Bakaturski as Pharoah has a heart-to-heart talk with Lucas Sotereanos as Joseph about the importance of correctly interpreting certain dreams. (Bonnijean Cooney Adams photo for Tube City Almanac)

McKeesport Area High School’s spring musical is a story about jealousy, betrayal, revenge, and forgiveness — with plenty of lighter moments, too — all in a setting “way, way back many centuries ago.”

“Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” opened Thursday night with a stellar cast of high school and younger students singing and dancing their way through a show with music by Andrew Lloyd Webber and lyrics by Tim Rice.

It is based on the story of Jacob and his 12 sons, including his favorite, Joseph.

What makes this musical so different and challenging is the story is told almost exclusively through song from beginning to end.

‘Wedding Singer’ Takes Audiences Back to the ’80s

April 10, 2024 |

By Kristen Keleschenyi | Posted in: Entertainment

Daniel Cipcic (Robbie Hart) and the cast of “The Wedding Singer” are ready to rock the house.

Break out the Aqua Net and your jelly bracelets, because “The Wedding Singer” is about to open at East Allegheny High School. The musical will take audiences back to 1985 and tells the story of Robbie Hart, a wedding singer, and how sometimes true love is right in front of your eyes.

Amanda Rosco, EA’s musical director, said the cast they had to work with this year is quite diverse with a variety of skill sets. It was time to take a break, she said, from the “Disney-esque” productions of the past few years and do something a little bit different.

“This is not a year where we looked at them (the cast) and went ‘Wow, we need to do something really serious,’” Rosco said.

Senior Alauna Carter plays one of the female leads, Holly, and she was excited to change things up after doing the musical “Anastasia” last year and “Newsies” the year before. “I feel like with it being a comedy it gives more freedom and there is less pressure on everybody,” Carter said.