The Port Chester Council for the Arts has a full schedule of plays lined up for theater-lovers to enjoy this summer. Their shows start with the youth/teen production of "Legally Blond, The Musical" this weekend, a children's production of "Annie, Jr." next week and the Lawn Chair series throughout August.
Here is the PCCFA's full press release on their summer programs:
A sorority girl determined to prove she’s not a stereotype. An orphan who won’t let her miserable start get her down. A misunderstood and independent-minded daughter. All three take center stage in the 32nd Summer Theatre season from the Port Chester Council for the Arts (PCCFA).
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The shows, presented in cooperation with the Village of Port Chester, feature the talents of children, teens and adults from the Town of Rye and the surrounding communities.
To reserve tickets, email pccfasummershows2013@gmail.com. To make reservations by phone, or for more information, call the Council offices at 914-939-3183. Tickets are cash or check only.
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The season opens July 19 and 20 with the Youth/Teen Theatre production of “Legally Blonde, the Musical.” Elle Woods’ life turns upside-down after her longtime boyfriend, Warner, dumps her and heads to Harvard Law School. But Elle follows him to Harvard Law where she realizes her potential and sets out to prove herself to the world.
The production is directed by Julie Colangelo, with musical direction by Cindy Moore.
The cast includes Port Chester residents Kim Maguire as Elle and Luke Glockenberg as Professor Callahan, with Michael Mastroianni of Pelham as Emmett Forrest and Joshua Thomas of New Rochelle as Warner Huntington III. They are joined by 30 other talented young actors and actresses in this energetic and uplifting musical.
Based on the novel by Amanda Brown and the MGM film, the production features music and lyrics by Laurence O’Keefe and Nell Benjamin, with a book by Heather Hach.
Tickets are $12 general public, $10 for seniors 65 and older and children 12 and under. All performances are at 8 PM at Dunn Performing Arts Center at Rye Country Day School, Cedar Street, Rye, N.Y.
Linking with the production and its pink theme, the PCCFA and the cast and crew of “Legally Blonde,” are supporting a breast cancer fundraiser, “Go Blonde, Go Short or Just Go Pink” from July 14-28. Donations will be accepted at all performances and on July 21, a special “ponytail drive” will take place at Magnolia’s Salon, Byram, Ct., from 10 AM-3 PM. Cancer survivors and those who donate ponytails will receive a free makeup application. For more information and to make an appointment to donate a ponytail, call 914-403-7909.
A cast of 87 takes turns onstage in this dual-cast Children’s Theatre presentation of “Annie, JR.”, July 26 and 27. With equal measures of pluck and positivity, little orphan Annie charms everyone’s hearts, despite a next-to-nothing start in 1930s New York City.
Julie Colangelo directs the story of Annie, Oliver Warbucks, Miss Hannigan and a group of lovable orphans, with musical direction by Cindy Moore. Christina Ledesma of Rye Brook stars as Annie.
The show includes music by Charles Strouse, lyrics by Martin Chamin and a book by Thomas Meehan. “Annie, JR.” features the popular songs “Tomorrow,” “It’s the Hard Knock Life” and “You’re Never Fully Dressed Without a Smile.”
Tickets are $12 general public, $10 for seniors 65 and older and children 12 and under. Performances are at 3 PM and 8 PM on both July 26 and 27 at the Dunn Performing Arts Center at Rye Country Day School, Cedar Street, Rye, N.Y. Each cast will perform at one matinee and one evening show.
The eighth season of the PCCFA’s LawnChair Theatre Shakespeare production brings a Mad Men-inspired version of “The Taming of the Shrew,” August 2-4 and 8-10 to parks throughout the Town of Rye and in Bedford Village.
Mat Young directs this comedy, which he’s set in the early 1960s. Producers are Carin Zakes and Peter Green. The show features a multi-generational cast, including Julie Thaxter Gourlay of Port Chester as Katherine, Larry Reina of Port Chester as Baptista, Kathleen Nicholas of Rye as Bianca and Kevin Patrick McGuire of Danbury, Ct. as Petruchio.
A gentleman from Padua has two daughters--one sweet and the other (so we are made to believe) a shrew. He has decided that until he marries off the shrew, he can’t let the sweet one marry. The sweet one’s many suitors, frustrated by the gentleman’s decision, hatch a plan to find a suitor for the shrew. From there the comedy ensues: people in disguises, scathing insults and even a wedding.
In keeping with the Mad Men theme, intermission will feature a 1960s-style trivia game show in which audience members will compete to win prizes.
Suggested donations are $20 general public and $15 for seniors 65 and older and children 12 and under. All performances are at 5:45 PM. Audience members should bring their own lawn chairs and blankets. For more information, visit www.lawnchairtheatre.org. The venue schedule is as follows:
August 2, Rye Town Park, Dearborn Avenue, Rye, N.Y.
August 3, Crawford Park, 122 N. Ridge Street, Rye Brook, N.Y.
August 4, Bedford Village Memorial Park, Greenwich Road, Bedford, N.Y.
August 8 & 9, Lyon Park, 60 Parkway Drive, Port Chester, N.Y.
August 10, Pine Ridge Park, corner of Latonia Drive and Mohegan Lane, Rye Brook, N.Y.
Rain date for Rye Town Park and Pine Ridge Park is August 11.
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Founded in 1981, the Port Chester Council for the Arts is committed to providing high-quality, innovative programs that build and encourage cooperation and community through artistic experience, and inspiring an appreciation of creative expression and new ways of thinking. To learn more, visit www.portchestercfa.org.
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