Have you ever wanted to experience a little piece of your favorite theater presentation over again? Have you ever wanted to revisit the big show-stopping production number or the touching love song between two characters?
The Tyrone Community Players is setting out to allow the audience to do just that with a celebration of its 20th anniversary.
“Music, Magic and Memories, A 20th anniversary season retrospective, came about because of the loyal TCP audience and their desire to revisit certain memorable theater happenings,” explained TCP member Cindy Bennett.
She said that quite some time ago TCP conducted a random survey and compiled a list of what their audience, or any theater audience, would like to sit back and enjoy once again.
After the information was assembled, TCP went about finding, and inviting back to perform, as many original Players as were available to reprise their roles.
“The results are a cast of 45 adults and children all eager to, once again, don the hats and costumes of their favorite characters and perform for our audience,” said Bennett.
According to Bennett, Music, Magic and Memories is a cleverly blended journey through the scrapbook of TCP’s life.
The songs and dance numbers will be skillfully joined with a video presentation of rehearsals, crews and productions not included in the actual presentation.
Also, Karen Mayhew, director of Music, Magic and Memories has worked tirelessly to incorporate the use of original costumes, sometimes in an unexpected fashion, along with some surprises for the audience.
Numerous characters and performers will be coming back to help celebrate TCP’s anniversary.
The characters include: King Arthur played by Brian Anderson in TCP’s version of Camelot; Darcy Wilson will reprise her roles as Gypsy Rose Lee and Eliza Doolittle and Rick Ramsay, Gary Johnson, Will Jones, Dave Hess, Alice Mulhollen and Nancy Sloss will reprise their roles as the Pump Boys and Dinettes.
Also, Mary Jane Bickle and Rich Ward, Rick Ramsay, Oscar Stuckey and Gib Lucas will harmonize their way through The Music Man as Marion The Librarian and the Barbershop Quartet; Denny Huber will weave his magic singing “Try To Remember” from The Fantasticks; Kate Coltabaugh will entrance us once again as Peter Pan and Patsy Cline; Cindy Bennett as Dolly Levi will grace the dance floor of the Harmonia Gardens; and Carolyn Patton, Gib Lucas, and Darcy Wilson will return from the South Pacific to swing a few coconuts for the audience.
There will also be orphans from Annie, the Von Trapp children from The Sound of Music, Lost Boys and Pirates straight from Neverland, Nuns from the Mount St. Helens Convent in both Nunsense and Nuncrackers , numerous characters from Oklahoma, Gypsy, The Plaids and The Taffettas to name a few.
“This production is being coined ‘A Theater Family Reunion’ because it is bringing together many of the originators of roles with other members of their cast that haven’t performed in tandem for quite some time,” said Bennett. “Add to that an audience who will get to experience the excitement of seeing the recreation of some of theater’s favorite moments, and the reunion of the performers also.”
Music, Magic and Memories is scheduled to be presented on February 27 and 28 in the historic theater of the Tyrone YMCA. Ticket information may be obtained by phoning the TCP ticket office at 684-ART2.
