3 Musicals in 2 Months! GTG's Musicals are all about Love this summer.

The first of these three fantastic summer shows will be the charming, romantic musical She Loves Me in the air-conditioned Vandervort Room in the Scandling Center, Hobart and William Smith campus on July 9-12. The story is about George and Amalia, two feuding clerks in a European Parfumerie during the 1930s who secretly find solace in their anonymous romantic pen pals, little knowing their respective correspondents are none other than each other. “She Loves Me” is a warm, romantic comedy with an endearing innocence and a touch of old world elegance and nostalgia, yet as universal and relevant as ever in this age of internet romances. Music and lyrics are written by Jerry Bock and Sheldon Harnick (the songwriting team of “Fiddler On the Roof”) with book by Joe Masteroff (the bookwriter of “Cabaret”).

Directed by Steve Duprey, the cast includes Ryan Bailey, Emily Howard, Aaron Landcastle, Larry Ann Evans, Adam Fryer, Scooter Rosenthal, Colin Burgess, Ian Lootens, Brenna English-Loeb, Emily Shipley, Emily Chard, Anne Brown Lamar Fisher and Taneisha Brooks. Geoff Smith and Deb Hodgeman are music directors assisted by Bethany Comella. Kate Duprey is choreographer and stage manager assisted by Jessica DeSilva. The technical staff includes scenographer Jeanette Hernandez, costumers Carol Spangenberg and Becky Wagner, props by Samantha Strally, make up by Lauren Wilsey, light design by Bruce Purdy, and graphic design by Charles King. Producers Eleanor Stearns and Susan Turlish are excited about this production as is GTG to be returning to Hobart and William Smith having started our first season in the Bartlett Theatre on their campus in 1978. Now we accept the challenge of turning the lovely, air-conditioned Vandervort room into a theatre - a perfect setting for what one New York reviewer called a “rare theatrical jewel, an intimate musical that affectionately enfolds an audience”. Performances are at 8:00 pm on July 9th, 10th and 11th with a 2:00 matinee on the 12th. There will be an opening night reception to meet the cast following the Thursday performance. Tickets are $12 general admission, $10 seniors and students and are available in Geneva at Area Records and Music, Don’s Own Flower Shop, Smith Opera House, and UPS Store; in Seneca Falls at The Print Shop, and at All Things Art in Canandaigua. Online Instantseats can be purchased through www.gtglive.org. Seating is limited so pre sale purchases are encouraged. You won’t want to miss this “sweetest forgotten musical”, a rare treat on a hot summer night.

Our second musical to hit the stage is GTG Youth Theatre's Grease! Grease is the beloved story of Rydell High's senior class of 1959; the hot-rodding "Burger Palace Boys" and their gum-snapping "Pink Ladies" in bobby sox and pedal pushers. Head "greaser" Danny Zuko and new girl Sandy Dumbrowski try to relive the high romance of their "Summer Nights" as the rest of the gang sings and dances its way through such songs as "Greased Lightnin'", "It's Raining on Prom Night", "Alone at the Drive-In Movie." Recalling the music of Buddy Holly, Little Richard and Elvis Presley, Grease is among the world's most popular musicals. Our cast features some of the most talented kids from Geneva and throughout the Finger Lakes. Danny will be played by Daniel Rivera of Romulus and Carmella Gentile-Rondon of Geneva will play Sandy. The Burger Palace Boys are Trevor Simmons as Kenickie, David Rivera as Doody, Michael Rosa as Roger and Jomar Velez as Sonny. The Pink Ladies are Allauna Overstreet as Rizzo, Sarah Fredendall as Jan, Kiley Conklin as Marty and Alex Cragg as Frenchy. Featured in the cast are Chaileb Cräpo as Eugene Florczyk, Katrina Amberg as Patty Simcox, Shelby Bradley as Cha-Cha, Michaella Steinruck as Miss Lynch, Alex LaQuintara as Teen Angel and Sean Dolan as Vince Fontaine. Our boys ensemble is Nathan Carman, Evan Christmas, Ricky Cieri, Ronnie Colon, Joey Davis, Samuel Egan, Lamar Eldridge, Walter Fedckuk, Max Harris, Danny Hastings, Isaiah Johnson, Robert Maestas, Evan Pfeiffer, David Principio, Vaughn Rivera, Stephen Ryan, and Marshall Staff. The girls ensemble is Courtney Biehls, Mindallia Bizardi, Sierra Braden, Hannah Burrall, Allison Chapin, Yadira Colon, Michelle Conaway, Cheyenne Crossno, Heather Davis, Camerin Decker, Meghan Doorty, Maggie Egan, Leah Harris, Michaela Hayes, Emily Jones, Phoebe Lehman, Abby Lindberg, Marilla Lipker, Jewel McColumn, Kristen McNicholas, Lilly Mikos, Kennedy Moore, Claire Noonen, Mary Principio, Marisa Rivera, Tiana Russ, Mariah Sergent, Sharnea Spencer, Emily Stella, Ali Turner, Julie Wallwork, Kelsie Wheeler, and Elyssa Youngs

Grease will be directed and choreographed by award-winning local director Pam Rapoza with musical direction by Jennifer DeMillo. Performances will be at The Smith Opera House in Geneva on July 24th and 25th at 7:00pm and July 26th at 2:00. Tickets will be available online beginning July 1st at www.gtglive.org and then at ticket outlets: Area Records & Music, Geneva UPS Store, and the Smith Opera House box office.

Our third musical is none other than The Wedding Singer! It's 1985 and rock-star wannabe Robbie Heart is New Jersey's favorite wedding singer. He's the life of the party, until his own fiancée leaves him at the altar. Shot through the heart, Robbie makes every wedding as disastrous as his own. Enter Julia, a winsome waitress who wins his affection. Only trouble is Julia is about to be married to a Wall Street shark, and unless Robbie can pull off the performance of a decade, the girl of his dreams will be gone forever. With a brand new score that pays loving homage to the pop songs of the 1980's, THE WEDDING SINGER takes us back to a time when hair was big, greed was good, collars were up, and a wedding singer might just be the coolest guy in the room.

We are proud to have talented actors from throughout the region involved with this production. Filling the leading roles are Matthew Vitticore, Laura D. Feligno, Patrick Fegley, Megan Craver and Ian Johnson. The supporting roles will be played by Lorelei Mellon, Rae Stanley, Chad Bourne, and Anne Brown. The ensemble fills over 40 distinct character roles from crazy wedding guests to Ronald Reagan impersonators. Giving life to those characters will be Fran Acker, Kenny Baker, Angela Beniamino, Emily Chard, Mariah Ernhout, Suzamie Farnsworth, Lisa Feligno, Dewey Fleszar, Margaret Griffin, Randy Hample, Ashley Hyjer, Todd Lamar, Ted Liddell, Ian Lootens, RJ Rapoza, Holly Smith, Lauren Wilsey. The award-winning production team is led by Director/Choeographer Pam Rapoza and Music Director Annie Bachman.

The Wedding Singer will be performed at The Smith Opera House on August 14, 15 and 16. Tickets for this production will be available soon at The Smith box office, Area Records, The UPS Store, and online at www.gtglive.org.

GTG's 2009 Season

 

Playwrights/Playreadings will be held at Irene's Coffee and Jazz house on Saturday April 25 at 3pm and Sunday April 26 at 7pm. The shows to be read are:

Big Guy 2  By  Seamus & Quinn Hogan of Geneva
      Two Guys Talkin’  By Brian Wilmot of Rochester
      Roulette Orange, By Belinda Howell of Ithaca
      Leap of Faith and Pandora’s Box, by Laura Camaione
      of Pittsford

 

In the summer we will be bringing you two musicals.  On July 9 - 12 Steve Duprey will direct She Loves Me.  This charming musical is a warm romantic comedy with an endearing innocence and a touch of old world elegance and nostalgia. The music and lyrics were written by Jerry Bock and Sheldon Harnick (the songwriting team of Fiddler On the Roof) with book by Joe Masteroff (the bookwriter of Cabaret).  Some people may know the story from the classic film The Shop Around The Corner (starring Jimmy Stewart and Maureen O’Sullivan) and more recently You’ve Got Mail (starring Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan).  She Loves Me will be presented in the new Vandervort Room in the Scandling Center at Hobart and William Smith Colleges.  We are excited to be returning to the Colleges where we first performed 31 years ago and to be the first community group to present a major program in this beautiful air-conditioned room.  You won’t want to miss this.

 

On August 14-16 Pam Rapoza will direct The Wedding Singer in the historic Smith Opera House.  This fun, upbeat new musical takes us back to the 1980’s when hair was big, collars were up, and a wedding singer might just be the coolest guy in the room.  The music was written by Matthew Sklar, lyrics by Chad Beguelin, book by Chad Beguelin and Tim Herlihy.  The musical is based on the 1998 movie of the same name starring Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore. GTG is the first company in this area to do this show since  the royalty rights were just recently released on a limited basis!  Come and be among the first people to see The Wedding Singer.

 

GTG Youth Theatre has picked the perfect musical to WOW you with in 2009, Grease. Youth Theatre Coordinator, R.J. Rapoza, is now looking into purchasing the rights to perform this music with Youth Theatre at the Smith Opera House.  In fall look for an interesting proction being planned!

GTG takes many awards at TANYS FEST

GTG is very proud to announce that Asleep on the Wind, Directed by Pam Rapoza, performed at the Theatre Association of New York State Festival (TANYS), November 22 in Batavia. 

Asleep on the Wind was performed with Graceland, its companion piece, with actors and audience both on the stage of the Smith Opera House in September. 

Both plays were adored by the audience and took many TANYS awards,  including Outstanding Direction for Pam Rapoza, Outstanding Acting to Randy Hample (for his portrayal of Beau Dejaun in Asleep on the Wind) and to Laura Feligno (for her portrayal of Bev Davies in Graceland), and Meritorious Achievement in Acting to Cara Gopen (for her portrayal of Rottie Mallert in both plays). 

Asleep on the Wind went very well at the TANYS Festival and received extremely good comments from the audience. Forteen-year old Sara Gopen received an Outstanding Acting Award  handed out by actor Robert Forster.  Everyone was very impressed by this young girl's performance.  Asleep on the Wind was chosen as Alternate Runner-up to represent New York State  at the Eastern States Theatre Festival if the neither of the other chosen shows are able to participate.

Pam Rapoza was in charge of the Saturday night banquet where we had musical performances by Mike Witter and Pat Fegley from Little Shop of Horrors, RJ Rapoza and Laura Feligno from They're Playing Our Song, and Mia Canale and Ronnie Colon from Aladdin.  RJ was M.C. for the evening and kept the music and fun going until 11:30.  Annie Bachman was the pianist for the evening playing for anyone who wanted to sing after the formal events.  With a room full of theatre people, you can imagine that this was a lively time and a great new addition by Pam.  She and RJ also had a running power point show of pictures from all the companies and the titles of all the award winners.  20 of us from GTG enjoyed the evening.

GTG also took two awards at the BMI Supply Design Competition and Exhibition, Best Graphic Design to Charles King for his design work on Little Shop of Horrors and Best Costume Design to AErin Lanphear for her work on Aladdin Jr..

Ruth Legg was given the prestigious Eva Duthie Award for her outstanding service to community theatre in the state.  This is not given out every year and everyone gave her a standing ovation. 

Sara Gopen receives her Festival Award from Robert Forster

 

Little Shop of Horrors Pics from Summer 2008

View more photos in the show gallery.

 

Youth Theatre and Curvin Players Awarded National Grant

GTGYT was awarded a generous grant from the J.M. McDonald Foundation, located in Evergreen, Colorado. The grant was given in support of our summer musical as well as the Curvin Playground Players. The Foundation was impressed by the longevity of the programs and their wide impact on the communities that we serve. We thank the grant panel for this award and look forward to being able to enhance our programming.