THEATER REVIEW: The Sound of Music

It is once again time for the high school spring musicals and if Bald Eagle High School’s production of THE SOUND OF MUSIC is any indication, it will be a good time indeed. The sad part of it all is that we say good bye to some great seniors. We have watched some of these young people through junior and senior high and it is hard to see them move on.

Bald Eagle Drama Club has come a long way in the technology of their productions.The sets for THE SOUND OF MUSIC were exceptional. Not only were they appropriate, but the set changes were well executed. The elaborate living room with large staircase in the von Trapp home as well as the elegant Abby, complete with stained glass window, were beautiful. The stage and the auditorium space were creatively used.

The second thing that impressed me was the audience. It seems that the reputation of the Bald Eagle Drama Club has spread and people turn out. Not only was it a good size group with a mixture of ages, it was a a group caught up in the story of a young want-to be nun who falls in love with seven children and their father.

The secret to any high school play is the director’s ability to cast the show. Advisor Eric Brinser always hits it just right. (I do not believe that his talent pool is that large.) This production’s cast was exceptional.

The role of Maria is crucial and Meghan Shields certainly fit the part. I have been waiting for this young lady to get a chance to show us what she can do and she certainly did. The night that I was there Meghan got off to a shaky start, but it did not take long for her to find her “voice”. There was never a doubt in my mind that she had fallen in love with the von Trapp children. Plus, she can yodel! (“The Lonely Goatherd” was a favorite of mine.)

Karina Bloom made a very impressive Mother Abbess. Forget picturing the part played by a large, mature woman with a large voice. Karina showed us that a petite young lady with a large voice could blow away an audience. Her “Climb Ev’ry Mountain” was as good as I have heard it. Karina is a junior so we have her to look forward to next year.

Matthew Blaylock is another junior that we will be seeing again. To be honest, he has been such a big part of the drama club in the last several years, I thought that he was a senior. His Captain von Trapp was nicely formal and inflexible, until Maria entered his life. Their duet “Something Good” was sweet.

The role of Max Detweiler is a scene stealer so it was perfect for Colton Lucas. Colton is only a sophomore but already has ten productions under his belt. His line “You couldn’t hate me, I’m too loveable” seemed to sum up the character, and maybe the actor. Plus, he has a great stage voice.

Salvannah Elder, who play Liesl, oldest of the von Trapp daughters, is a sophomore to keep our eye on. Another sophomore, Austin Huyett, was Rolf, her romantic interest. Their “ Sixteen Going On Seventeen” not only showed off their talents but that of the choreographer as well.

Speaking of the choreography, Kate Snyder was the student choreographer as well as playing Elsa Schraeder, the woman that the Captain ALMOST marries. Kate is a senior that I will miss. She seems to take on any role that is assigned to her well.

Space is getting limited but the other six von Trapp children have to be mentioned. Michael Bailey, Chelsea Butterworth, Tim Durachko, Kailyn Gill, Daina Julian and Cami Haines were so good at keeping their individual personalities throughout the show. “Never act with kids or dogs” applies here. Daina and Cami showed exceptional stage presence for their ages and they could have gotten away with just being cute.

Again, thank you Eric Brinser and Kirsten Betts for an entertaining evening. It is obvious that your “kids” love you and your audiences appreciate it. You can still catch the last performance tonight at 7:30pm. Please go to the Bald Eagle Drama Club webpage!

THEATER REVIEW: Dorothy in Wonderland

The size of the audience at Bald Eagle Area Drama Club’s production of DOROTHY IN WONDERLAND was a good indication that word is out that those kids do a great job.

The sets were creative and the costumes were beautiful. The backdrop for Wonderland was very effective. The royal court was elegantly dressed and the individual characters were easily recognized.  For me, though, the fun of a junior high production is watching for the future “stars” and, trust me, we saw the future in DOROTHY IN WONDERLAND. Most of all, I was impressed with the fact that I could hear and understand every word spoken on stage. This is not always the case with more “experienced” actors.

A good high school director will try to get as many students involved as possible in a production. This is great for educational purposes and for ticket sales, but creates a bit of a problem for any review. Space does not always allow mention of everyone and there were so many who deserve special recognition.

As Dorothy, Katherine Haagen had to carry the weight of the show and her poise and talent was up to the job. Katerine has been seen in past shows and her experience is evident. I loved the strength that she showed. ( Natural personality or acting?)

In character contrast, Amber Graham made a sweet Alice. I thought that the role of Alice might have been larger, since it took place in Wonderland, but Amber made the part memorable.

The “stars” of the evening may have been Dorothy’s trio of friends. The Cowardly Lion has always been one of my favorite characters and Darren Huyett did not disappoint. His roar made the audience sit up and pay attention! Tim Durachko was a gentle Tin Man, just as a man with a new heart should be. Keep your eye on Xander White. Scarecrow seemed to have a large amount of stage time and lines and Xander was a delight with every appearance.

Dale Dyke was perfect as Glinda the Good Witch. Dale has a particularly strong voice and floated around the stage as only a good witch could. Cami Haines and Margaret Noll as the Mad Hatter and the March Hare played off of each other so well. I assume that their madness was acting and not basic personalities.

There were so many clever touches in the show and I am out of room. But to mention a few: Michael Geyer’s Caterpillar and his bubble blowing pipe, the terrible puns thrown at Nicholas Townsend’s Humpty Dumpty, the arrogant Queen of Hearts and her rather wimpy King of Hearts were Allison Cowan and Caleb Cain ( a person could picture what type of marriage they had!)

All in all, it was a very enjoyable evening. I am waiting to see the members of the Drama Club show off their individual talents at the Dessert Cabaret Fundraiser on the 7th of February. Their spring musical will be The Sound of Music. Look for it in April 16 - 18.. It should be equally as good.

THEATER REVIEW: Rose the Riveter

By now those of us who follow Bald Eagle High School’s Drama Club should have complete trust in their choices. The play ROSIE THE RIVETER was unknown to me and I was expecting a light, fun evening.  The show is so much more.

The time is World War II, the Invasion of Normandy to be precise. In Middle America, a car manufacturer has turned his factory into the production of war planes at the insistence of his Girl Friday, Rosie. The audience watches the conflicting viewpoints of the women who fill the jobs that the men, now fighting overseas, had done and the society women who feel that Victory Gardens and knitting scarves are enough. We also see how war can touch us in very personal ways.

The staging of ROSIE was exceptionally good. Placing several scenes on stage at the same time can be a disaster; at no time did one distract from the focused action. The scene that had the women reading their letters from loved ones was effective. Placing the actresses throughout the audience made it very touching.

Director Eric Brinser’s most important talent is his ability to cast his shows. His actors are well trained for high school students, but he seems to be able to match the right actor with the right part. The cast of ROSIE was a good example.

Mackenzie Basalla as Rosie was riveting (pun intended). She was full of energy, delivered her lines with power, and had a chance to show that she could run a wide range of emotions. Very impressive.

Meghan Shiels, as her counterpart Helen, has the natural dignity to pull off the local leader of proper society. I liked the growth that her part called for.

I am beginning to believe that Colton Lucas can be whomever he wants to be. As the brash, self promoting factory owner, Eddie, Colton showed a stage maturity that I cannot wait to see develop. Colton is a sophomore so just sit back and watch.

There has to be room here to mention some of the supporting cast. I really liked Alice Statham as the “brainy” Katherine. Alice is a Freshman, meaning that we should see more of her in future plays. I thought that Matthew Blaylock was a Senior, but was happy to note that we will have this versatile actor for one more year. He made a good romantic lead in ROSIE.

The ensemble was too large to mention individuals, plus I am afraid that I would get the names wrong. It is always impressive to see a show where this group stays in character, especially when the “camera” is not focused on them. Special applause to each of you.

ROSIE THE RIVETER is an example of why I am so dedicated to high school drama. Students learn so much from “putting on a play” and in the case of ROSIE a very personal view of an important part of history. Good choice.

THEATER REVIEW: Shrek, The Musical

SHREK, THE MUSICAL is an ideal choice for a high school drama group and Bald Eagle Area Drama Club did it proud. The show requires a large cast with several fun featured parts, giving some up and coming “stars” a chance to shine. The problem for a reviewer is that it is hard to give everyone as much space here as he or she deserves.

Sets kept with the fairy tale theme, simple and easily moved. I loved the fabric draped trees. If the idea has been used before, it was new to me. Costumes also kept to the traditional fairy tale ideas. It was easy to spot the Wicked Witch, Humpty Dumpty, Peter Pan, The White Rabbit, etc.They also provided good choral music.

Shrek and Fiona were played by seniors Cody Mandell and Abby Crago. Both roles demanded a lot of stage time and even more energy. Their best number though was “ I Think I Got You Beat”. It reminded me of   “Anything You Can Do, I Can Do Better” from Annie Get Your Gun only with belches.  We will miss the two of them in future plays.

Two of the featured players who really stood out were Matthew Blaylock as Lord Farquaad and Colton Lucas as Pinocchio. Matthew not only captured the little lord, but played the role on his knees throughout the show. His dance steps had to be seen. Colton channelled Pinocchio perfectly. I have heard Colton sing on other occasions and was amazed how he kept Pinocchio’s voice true to character.

Virginia Hillman was the voice of the Dragon and it was the voice of a dragon. Virginia is a sophomore so we should be seeing much more of her in the coming years. The dragon puppeteers need special recognition; they were Virginia as well as Kate Snyder, Emily Jozefik, and Sarah Torres. It was actually believable when Dragon “flew” over the crowd.

I loved the energy of the show, especially Tyler Bickle’s Donkey. Shrek’s fast- talking, all-over-the-stage best friend could easily have stolen the show. Tyler is another senior who will be missed.

There were so many neat little touches. The choreography was fresh and fun. I loved the “ What’s Up Duloc?” number.The sets were well designed. Everyone stayed in character while having fun. And, of course, Shrek has one of the best curtain calls in theatre. The night that I was there, the packed house joined the cast and crew in “ I’m a Believer” because we were.

Good job Ms Allison and Mr Brinser, as usual.

THEATER: Les Miserables

On April 4th the Bald Eagle Area High School Drama students went to New York City to see LES MISERABLES. I was lucky enough to go along.

It was a very full day, starting at the high school at 8:00 A.M. and ending back at the high school at 4:00 A.M. The bus was full (55 students and adults) and after some welcoming words from Drama Coach Eric Brinser, everyone sat back to watch the movie Frozen.

After one stop for a lunch break, we reached New York City with time to spare so the bus driver drove around the city while Mr. Brinser played tour guide. This was the first wow moment for me; the bus driver wove that big bus through the snarls of traffic as if it were a go-cart. It has been a few years since I have driven in NYC and I was very impressed.

The real action started with an improvisational workshop for the students. Jane, the instructor, was very good at getting the students to feel at ease. It must have been a little intimidating for the younger attendees  to be in New York City, on Broadway, in a professional rehearsal hall and with a stranger asking them to improvise bits of business. They were terrific. It did not take them long to get into the swing of the exercises and for them to show what a creative group they are. I wish that I had learned Jane’s last name. She was good.

The session ended with the appearance of Cathryn Basile, a member of the LES MISERABLES cast. Ms Basile is a swing in the show and not always sure that she will be going on until the last moment. After a brief sharing of her life in the theatre, she opened the floor for questions. Shortly before we left the rehearsal room,she came bursting back into the room with the news that indeed she would be in that evening’s show. This gave all of us someone that we knew to watch for.

After dinner, we finally made it to the Imperial Theatre to see the new production of LES MISERABLES. This is one of my favorite shows and having seen it several times, I was eager to see the new version. Naturally the story sticks to Victor Hugo’s original novel and the score was the same beautiful music and lyrics that we all know. The impressive sets seemed to be richer than I had seen in the past and some of the changes in directing were beyond brilliant. I especially loved Javert’s suicide scene. If you go to see the show, watch for it.

Most of the cast was new to me; quite a few were making their Broadway debut, but I expect to hear more of them. Ramin Karimloo ranks with the best Jean Valjeans that I have heard. It is worth the trip to New York and the price of a ticket to hear his “ Bring Him Home”. I also want to see more of Will Swenson who played Javert. His credits are extensive so I should be able to check out his other roles. As usual Petit Gervais, played by Gaten Matarazzo, was a big favorite of the audience.

By four o’clock in the morning, I was beat. Would I do it again with these kids? You bet! I have to admit that they really were the most impressive part of the trip. Now I have proof that there are many, many fabulous teenagers out there. The world will be in good hands.

THEATER REVIEW: James and The Giant Peach

Bald Eagle Area High School Drama Department recently produced their version of Roald Dahl’s JAMES AND THE GIANT PEACH. The cast was primarily middle school students and the production crews were manned by the more experienced upperclassmen. The show was under the supervision of faculty advisors Eric M. Brinser  and Lindsey Allison. I have to say that my friends and I were impressed.

The plot is typically a Roald Dahl fantasy. A  young, mistreated boy, James, finds himself inside a VERY large peach where he meets some  strange insects, some angry cloud men, and some threatening sharks. James is a creative thinker and is able to save himself and his new friends with the help of a flock of seagulls. (I did tell you that it was based on a Dahl story).

The narrators, Katherine Haagen and Ireland Hackman, were a big help in explaining the scenes that happened “off stage”. They also were the first to execute their lines clearly and distinctly throughout the evening.

When I complimented the student director Cody Mandell on how well the actors spoke, he told me that it was something that he really nagged about. He reminded them that he wanted “the little old ladies to hear every word”. This little old lady was very appreciative.

The lighting, which to me is one of the hardest aspects of a play, also was a big help for a play based on fantasy. The large orange peach grew right in front of our eyes and we watched as it rolled across the stage to take care of the evil aunts. Thank you, Stone Woodring and Luke Wilson.

On what I suppose was a tight budget, the costumes and sets were original and appropriate. Kate Snyder’s costume crew outfitted the actors so that each character was defined. I am not sure who was responsible for the sets, but as simple as they were, they worked. I loved the “sea”.

The cast showed more stage presence than would be expected in a middle school production. I did not read the biographies of the actors until after the show and was really surprised how many were in their first production. It was very easy to forget that they were 6th, 7th and 8th graders.

I wish that there was space to mentioned each person who appeared on stage, but it was a large cast. So I offer my apologies and a promise that I will be watching for some talents in the next show.

James was played by Kody Chandler and he deserves so much credit for carrying such a large part. He had so many lines and I was not aware of one flub. The insects living in the giant peach were all delightful: Alice Statham as the Old-Green-Grasshopper, Emily Shields as the hard working Spider, Dale Dyke as the charming Ladybug, Charlee Harris as the pessimistic Earthworm, and Tanisha Myers as the incandescent Glow-worm. Michael Bailey as the verbose Centipede almost stole the show. He definitely had some great lines--- and I heard everyone.

Space is running out but I have to mention Aunt Sponge and Aunt Spiker played by Lacee Barnhart and Sammy Arens. These parts required that the audience feel how evil they were; both girls were up to the job. It can be fun to play the mean person.

If JAMES AND THE GIANT PEACH is an example of the talent coming up in the Bald Eagle Drama Department, we can look for a good future in local theatre.

Save the date information:

Shrek, The Musical  playing April 24 - 26 at 7:30 in the Bald Eagle High School Auditorium.

EVENT REVIEW: Bald Eagle Area High School Drama Club Fundraiser

The Bald Eagle Area High School Drama Club held their annual fundraiser, A Dessert Cabaret, last Saturday. This is one of the ways that the students gather the money for their trip to see a show on Broadway. If you look carefully, you can find the word “fun” in fundraiser. ( Did you find it?) The word is appropriate; it was truly a fun evening.

Walking into the high school cafeteria was enough to set the mood for the evening. Club advisors, Eric Brinser and Lindsey Allison, as well as several parents were at the door welcoming people and making us feel very much at home. The cafeteria had been transformed into a fancy dessert bar, with tempting displays of cookies, cupcakes, etc in addition to an area holding choices of beverages. It took all of my willpower to wait until all of my gang arrived.

The table decorations had been designed and executed by members of the drama club. Each table showcased one of the eighteen plays that Mr. Brinser and Ms Allison had done with the club over the past years. It was fun to walk around and try to guess the play represented. It was easy to find Beauty and the Beast and The Matchmaker, but I had more trouble finding Leaving Iowa. The audience was asked to drop their loose change into a provided cup to vote for the best display.The student whose table had the most votes had his or her trip to New York paid for. It was a clever way to raise money and made for a very festive venue for the entertainment to come.

Drama Club president, Cody Mandell and vice president, Meghan Shiels acted as MC’s for the evening and much could be said about the poise of these young people. It is not easy to keep control of an energetic, enthusiastic group of drama students, but everything seemed to be under control.

One thing that the evening lacked was a program of some type. I would love to give credit where credit is due of the performers, but I would only mention the names that I am familiar with and that would be grossly unfair to some faces that were new to me. Naturally it was a mixed bag of talents.

The acoustics in the cafeteria are not the best and I had problems hearing at times especially during some of the improv skits. That was not as big of a problem as it could have been though. It was fun watching young people having fun and really enjoying their interactions with their peers. One thing that stood out to this old drama coach is that these kids are taking some good, basic classes in theatre.

The evening raised over $500 to be shared by the students toward their trip to see Les Miserables. The winner of the tabletop contest was Fulton Lucas for his representation of The Secret Garden.

If you would like to support these budding  thespians, please save the following dates: January 31st and February 1st will be their production of James and the Giant Peach, and April 24th-26th will be their spring musical Shrek. To say that I am eagerly waiting to see who gets cast in this one would be an understatement. It should be fun.

THEATER REVIEW: Leaving Iowa

Bald Eagle Area High School Drama Club did it again. Starting with their choice of play to the energy of the cast and crews they provided a fun evening. The play, LEAVING IOWA, was unfamiliar to me, but I have learned to trust directors Eric Brinser and Lindsey Allison.

The plot revolves around Don Browning, played by Matthew Blaylock, taking his father’s ashes back to the old family homestead. In flashbacks, we meet the younger Don, Cody Mandell, his rather bratty younger sister, Abbey Crago, his mom, Kourtney Vermillion, and Dad himself, David Gawryla, on a car trip. These four actors captured the squabbling, the boredom, and the less than educational aspects of an extended family outing almost too well.

Kourtney’s patience with her family was well done, making her “ blow up” something mothers everywhere could relate to. I also loved David as the father who was determined to make this trip fun AND education! Cody and Abbey as the squabbling siblings were so believable that if we were not familiar with their work from earlier plays, we could accuse Mr Brinser of exceptional type casting. These seniors will be missed next year.

Holding the show together was Matthew Blaylock as the adult Don Browning. Charged with taking his father’s ashes to their final resting place, Matthew acts as the narrator for the play. Fortunately, we should see Matthew for the next few years.

These leads deserve more credit for their hard work and talent, but I have to save space for what made this show a stand out. If a high school drama coach is worthy of the title, his or her problem becomes what to do about a large group of students who all deserve to be featured in the few plays that get produced. This is one of the joys of Leaving Iowa. There were so many bit parts that were glowing...and I do not use that term lightly.

Meghan Shields was a believable drunk lady. Too often young actors over-do dunk scenes. She was confused, a little flirtatious, but never over the top. Maya Eppley as the very talkative waitress at Gabby’s restaurant was delightfully “over the top”. Rattling off lines with that type of speed is a difficult thing for experienced actors to do. Maya never missed a beat. I also liked the bored museum assistant played by Margaret Cowen. How often have we run into her type at what should be an otherwise interesting historical site? Luke Besong was fortunate to have had some very good, cynical lines and delivered them so that the audience “got them’. Many young actors have a tendency to throw one- liners away.  

The list could go on, as I said it was an exceptionally large cast, as well as an exceptional cast. This was a group of Thespians who proved that there are no small parts. Good work, guys!

Future events at Bald Eagle include the Middle School production of  James and the Giant Peach January 31st and February the1st. The big spring musical will be Shrek  running April 24-26. I will want to be there if only to check out the costuming.

THEATER REVIEW: Fiddler on the Roof

This weekend, Bald Eagle Area Drama Clubs demonstrated all that I believe in when it comes to high school productions. The choice to do FIDDLER ON THE ROOF is always a stretch for high school talent, but the story has so much to offer that it is worth doing.

The first obstacle is casting the lead role of Tevya. The show rests on his shoulders and his time on stage requires pages of memorization. Cody Mandell captured Tevya’s joy of life, his deep faith, as well as his pain and confusion as his daughters went against his beloved traditions. Cody has been such a presence on the stage at Bald Eagle that I was very surprised, but happy, to read that he is a junior and that we will see him next year.

My favorite part in Fiddler is Tevya’s wife Golde, the mother of his five daughters. Meghan Shiels was a loving nag. Her duet Do You Love Me? with Cody was very touching.

Although it is impossible to give credit to everyone in such a large cast, there are several seniors who will be missed next year. Kaitlyn Laird was a charming Hodel, the first daughter to leave home. Richard Spicer has been such a delight over his 15 productions. His solo Miracle of Miracles was full of the joy of a newly engaged young man. Benjamin Leskovansky as Perchik showed us that jocks can act. Lazar Wolf was well handled by Clifford Smolko. Also leaving Bald Eagle this year will be L. J. Flood, Billie-Jo Friedline, and Jared Maurer. It will be interesting to see who takes their places.

One of the outstanding scenes of the evening was The Dream scene. This was in a large part thanks to Alice Statham and Katie Snyder. This also was a great showcase for the excellent work of the chorus.

The chorus, the dance ensembles, the sets, and costumes all were so well done and captured the spirit of the people who lived in Anatevka.

Good job everyone. Thank you Mr. Brinser and Ms. Allison for a show that was genuinely moving.

THEATER: Les Miserables

When I heard that Bald Eagle Area Drama Club was doing LES MISERABLES I winced. Don’t get me wrong; I have loved the story since I was forced to read it in my high school French class. I even had doubts when the book was turned into a musical. Now, a group of high school students were going to attempt it. Wow.

Wow is right. I am so glad that I made the trip to Wingate to see those high school students.  First of all the adaption by Tim Kelly from Victor Hugo’s rather long novel is just perfect for an evening of theatre.

Secondly, director Lindsey Allison and technical director Eric Brinser showed great understanding of the show and were able to pass that to the cast and crew. Having Victor Hugo, played by Benjamin Leskovansky, explain the passing of time was a big help for audience members who may have forgotten points of the original plot. The show appeared to be very simple, an easy one to do. It only takes a look at the list of cast, crew, parents, school officials, etc. to give an idea of what an undertaking this was. I wish there were room to mention everyone.

To me the most effective scene was Clifford Smolko’s soliloquy. So many times Inspector Javert is seen as a villain. Clifford portrayed him as being conflicted between his sense of duty and dealing with the goodness of Jean Valjean. That is the way it should be.

Speaking of the personality of Jean Valjean, Richard Spicer is well cast as the man who is basically good and trying to live down his past. Richard also had his chance to show great passion. His speech in the court room was very convincing.

As an actor, the chance to play Thenardier or his wife Madam must be a treat. He is my favorite character in the play; he is so very shady….no, beyond “shady”. Cody Mandell and Nicole Bonsell were almost slimy at times. These are the true villains and Cody and Nicole had fun with the parts.

It is a shame that the character Fatine is not on stage longer. Lexi Holderman was so good and needed more time to develop this fantastic person. Her death scene was well played, not overly dramatic, just very touching. Another actress who is worth mentioning is Abbey Crago as Eponine. Again, I wish Abby would have had time to develop her character. It was still possible to get to know this complicated person through Abbey’s acting and Ms. Allison’s directing.

I enjoyed the show immensely and it made me even more excited to see the upcoming movie. The sad thing for me was knowing that some of my favorite actors up on the Bald Eagle stage are seniors and only will be seen in one more show. Incidentally, that will be Fiddler on the Roof; you won’t want to miss this one.

THEATER/EVENT: Isaac Awards 2012

The Isaac Award Ceremony was held at the Mishler Theatre in Altoona this past Sunday. Twelve high schools from across Central and South Central Pennsylvania took part. Full of Red Carpet glitz and glamour, it is the “Tonys” for high school musicals.

In addition to recognizing the outstanding performances, the winner of each category receives a $500 scholarship to be used in any field of study at any accredited post-secondary educational institution.
Hosted by Mistress of Ceremonies, Carolyn Donaldson of WTAJ, the evening included a musical number from each school, a thank you to each of the corporate sponsors, and awards presented by last year’s winners.

This year’s winners were:

• Best Actor or Actress in a Featured Role--- Seth Hull, Bishop Carroll High School.

• Best Actor in a Supporting Role--- Benjamin Laskovansky, Bald Eagle High School.  Runner-up--Jesse Moore, State College High.

• Best Actress in a Supporting Role---Erin McQuay, State College High School.

• Achievement in Design Award---Tracy Eckenrode and Olivia McCall, Bishop Carroll High School.

• Best Ensemble Award---West Branch High School and Philipsburg Osceola High School (tie),

• Best Musical Number Award---State College High School (As We Stumble Along).  Runner-up -- Bald Eagle High School (Honestly Sincere).

• Best Actress in a Leading Role Award---Emily Dennis, State College High School.  Runner-up--Morgan Sichler, State College High School.

• Best Actor in a Leading Role---Ben Unpingco, Bishop Guilfoyle High School.  Runner-up-- Ricky Howsare, Bedford Area High School.

• Best Featured Dance Award--- Philipsburg High School (The Shriner’s Ballet).  Runner-up-- State College High School (Toledo Surprise).

• Best Production Award --- State College High School.  Runner-up-- Central Cambria High School.

• The Judges’ Discretionary Award: Rising Star went to Daniel Slogosky from Philipsburg Osceola High School for his role of Randolph MacAfee in Bye Bye Birdie.

• Chosen by their classmates the Isaacs MVP Awards went to Lexi Krug, Courtney Reese, Shannen Snyder, Tracy Eckenrode, Moran Horell, Mike Kinley, Katie Pribish, Caleb Pons, Joanna Ruhl, Justin Baumgartin, Rachel Reed, and Jamison Monella.

The Isaacs Booster Check of one thousand dollars was accepted by Bald Eagle High School senior, Maggie Mehalko.

THEATER: Bye, Bye Birdie

“Kids! What’s the matter with kids today?” If you went to see Bald Eagle Area Drama Club’s production of BYE, BYE BIRDIE this past week you may decide that not a single thing is wrong with the kids today. Any group that would work so hard to entertain the rest of us is doing just fine.

The production was extremely well done and it is going to be impossible to spotlight all of the special talents. The orchestra sounded great. I enjoyed the overtures and was delighted that at no point did they overpower the actors.

Costumes were authentic. It is fairly easy to get period formal wear, but it is almost impossible to find night gowns from fifty years ago. People have a tendency to wear them out.

Sets were inventive and set changes went as smoothly as possible. The cast deserves credit for staying in character during the changes.

The cast proved that there are no small parts in theater. Meghan Shiels as the mayor’s wife and Katie Snyder as the tap-dancing secretary stole their scenes. We hope to see more of them in future productions.

Photo courtesy of Drew Frank, Meadow Lane Photography

The show was cast perfectly, starting with Conrad Birdie himself. Benjamin Leskovansky has the voice and movements of a genuine rock star. It was clear that he and his fans were having the time of their lives. This was his first musical and I understand that he had to be convinced to try out. We are very glad that he gave in to the pressure.

Maggie Mehalko is no stranger to the Bald Eagle stage and she made a perfect Rose Alvarez. Not only did she handle the singing, but was surprisingly good in her big dance number.

Richard Spicer is also one of Bald Eagle’s veterans. His Albert Peterson was the convincing blend of Momma’s Boy and Romantic Lead. He even got away with dancing to “Put On A Happy Face”.

The difficult part of Albert’s mother was played by Dale Haagen. Her going from domineering mother to an attempt at “vamping” Birdie was charming as well as funny.

There is not room to mention how sweet Lexi Holderman was as Kim MacAfee or how grumpy Cliff Smolko was as her father. Carol Fayman was the understanding mother and Colton Lucas the kid brother. Their tribute to Ed Sullivan was a delight.

Every other person on stage deserves to be mentioned as well. I always watch the actors in the back during the big production numbers. Credit goes to each of them for staying in character while the leads did their thing. That is a hard thing to do.

Bald Eagle is very lucky to have so much support from the school as well as the parents in the district. Eric Brinser, play director and orchestra leader, and co-director Lindsey Allison deserve a big thank you. It was a good year for drama at BEAHS.

I am sorry that the high school shows are over for the year, but I understand that we will be seeing some of them at Boal Barn this summer. …..and of course, there is next year.

Pictures of the production, taken by Drew Frank of Meadow Lane Photography, can be viewed at:  https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.413067975374069.114048.118844971463039&type=1

THEATER/EVENT: Humpty Dumpty is Missing! or The Mysterious Case of the Fallen Egg

Bald Eagle Area Drama Club will be presenting HUMPTY DUMPTY IS MISSING! or THE MYSTERIOUS CASE OF THE FALLEN EGG February 3rd and 4th in the School Auditorium to a delighted audience for Parents' Night.  The cast consisted of mainly 6th, 7th and 8th grade students with members of the seniors high school drama club serving as interns on the various tech crews. It made for an enjoyable evening.

First of all the choice of play was perfect. It called for a large cast in many small roles. This gave quite a few budding actors a chance to have their first chance on stage. Though to be honest it was hard to tell who the newbies were.

The lines were full of puns, some of them terrible--just the way I like them. My favorite was when Handsome Prince, who had come to Rapunzel’s castle to paint the local scenery, informed us that he was no longer Handsome Prince, but wanted to be known as The Artist Formally Known As Handsome Prince.

The cast was too large to give individual credit in this small space, plus I feel that we will be seeing most of them in future shows, but several really stood out.

Matthew Blaylock starred as Sammy Scoop, Private Eye--with minors in ear, nose and throat-- with impressive stage presence. This audience member really appreciates being able to understand the lines, especially when the show depends on word play for its humor.

Alice, from Dallas, his secretary, was played by Chelcie Goss. Again the voice carried, the lines were clear, and Ms Goss knows when to punch the joke line.

All of the storybook characters came off as expected; Phoebe McClincy was contrary as Mistress Mary, Peter Rabbit, Michael Bailey, looked mischievous enough to be raiding the local carrot patch, and the Troll, Savannah Elder, was definitely capable of making her Toll House cookies with eels ( they are easy to swallow because they just slide down). Mother Hubbard and Mother Goose, Mariah Houck and Alice Statham, cleared up the mystery to everyone’s satisfaction, as true mothers do.

Faculty Director Lindsey Allison and Technical Director Eric M. Brinser are to be congratulated for bringing so much out of such a young group. Of course this gives them an even larger pool of talent for their Spring Musical, Bye, Bye, Birdie.  Personally, I can’t wait.

If you are not including our local high school drama departments on your schedule, you are missing a fun, inexpensive evening. Don't forget to catch THIS tonight or tomorrow night.  You won't be disappointed.

THEATER: Twelve Angry Jurors

Bald Eagle Area’s fall production was TWELVE ANGRY JURORS and it was worth a trip to Wingate on a Friday night. The cast and crew did a good job with setting the mood of a jury room while twelve people decide the fate of a young man on trial for murdering his father.

The suspense of the play mainly depends upon the actors and how well they can bring out the different personalities in the diverse group. Kathy Laird, Abby Cargo, Becca Bowling, Carol Fayman, Samantha Rougeux, Cody Mandell, and Clifford Smolko all did an excellent job of staying in character. Josh Koleno’s thoughtful expression in an early scene gave the audience the first indication that maybe the guilty vote might change.

For this play to be successful, the audience must stay involved. That means, the pace has to move, the lines have to be heard, and the characters understood. This was true with the entire cast, but exceptionally so with the major parts. Luke Besong as the bigot was important to the story line and he was extremely unlikable. Dale Haagen was classy; at times she was the calming voice.

The veterans Maggie Mehalko and Richard Spicer did an outstanding job. As a forceful, almost sadistic, person who wants this murderer off the street, Maggie did a powerful job. Richard Spicer was very believable as the soft spoken man who was willing to stand up for his convictions.

Director Lindsey Allison and her crew are to be congratulated.