Generations: A Musical Journey through the Decades will be performed by the Tom Riley Musical Theater Company June 16 at 7 p.m. and June 17 and 18 at 3 and 7 p.m.
Formerly known as The Tipton Creek Musical Theater Company, the group will feature musical selections from the 1930s to the present including songs by Elvis Presley and from the movie Flashdance. The event is sponsored by DelGrosso’s Amusement Park.
“The group’s name change and the performances are in memory of Tom Riley who was one of the musical theater company’s founders. Tom’s death in November 2005 was a huge loss not only to these kids but also to a community that had come to know, love, and respect him,” explained Anthea L. Germano, publicist for the Tom Riley Musical Theater Company.
“Tom loved life and had great confidence in and dedication to young people. His inspiration and influence will be perpetuated by the many fine teenagers who are part of this musical theater company now and in the future,” Germano said.
Artistic Directors Tom Sweitzer and Kim Tapper remembered Riley’s guidance and generosity to the teens.
“Tom was the kind of visionary who always put people’s happiness first,” Sweitzer noted.
Tapper summed up her feelings stating, “The sparkle in his eyes told so much. He made it all look effortless and did it with a smile.”
In September 2004, Riley co-founded The Creative Youth Theater Foundation which consists of the Middleburg Teen Theater Class of Middleburg, Virginia and the local Tom Riley Musical Theater Company. The Middleburg, Virginia cast traveled to Altoona in February of this year to perform To Kill a Mockingbird. The Foundation provides classes and performance opportunities as well as educational resources and financial assistance to students interested in the performing arts.
The Tom Riley Musical Theater Company consists of junior and senior high school students from Blair and surrounding counties. The group rehearses one weekend every month at the Church in the Middle of the Block in Altoona. Their debut performance was in June 2005 at DelGrosso’s Amusement Park. Since then, they have performed at the Blair County Arts Festival and other local events. In December 2005, the group created and produced A Childlike Christmas, a musical production combining traditional and contemporary Christmas music with poetry and dance. The performance benefited the St. Vincent DePaul Society Soup Kitchen families.
Students interested in joining and organizations interested in having the Tom Riley Musical Theater Company perform at an event can call 684-4918.
