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Vandalia kids theater thrives on and off stage
Sunday, July 20, 2008
There's no such thing as succeeding in theater without really trying, although it isn't supposed to look that way.
Vandalia Youth Theatre's performers generally make it look easy, even though they always put extra effort into their annual summer projects.
Their 2008 musicals "How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying," featuring a cast of sixth- through 12th-graders; and "101 Dalmatians," by first-through fifth-graders, will continue through next weekend.
Founded in 1992 to give youth in the northern Miami Valley a summer theater outlet, the organization has also been good to others. This season's community service projects include cast members knitting scarves that will be donated to the area homeless, and the distribution of animal care supplies to shelters. Collection bins are available at performances of "101 Dalmatians."
The scarves idea was also inspired by the show. J.B. Biggley, a character in "How to Succeed," beats stress in his executive office by knitting at his desk.
As for the shows, Michael Wadham, the area theater community's Mr. Enthusiasm, directed "How to Succeed in Business," which features Coleman Hemsath as J. Pierpont Finch and Joanna Draper as Rosemary. Sheri Zugelder staged the junior show.
As usual, former VYT youths have come back to work in set design, construction and other backstage duties. One of them, Ryan Vallo, is doing the narrations from the book "How to Succeed."
"When I got involved nine years ago, we had 13 in our junior show and 25 in the 'senior' show," board president Susan Zupp said. " This year we have 72 in 'Dalmatians' and 68 in 'How to Succeed.' It's really been growing like crazy the last four years. We have great parent volunteers. We just have a good thing going."
"101 Dalmatians" will be presented again at 7 p.m. Thursday and 3 p.m. Friday and Saturday, July 24-26. "How to Succeed" will play at 7 p.m. today, July 20, and Friday through July 27, both at Smith Middle School, 3625 Little York Road. Tickets are $5-$8. Call (937) 264-1113.
Bit parts
The Lebanon Theatre Company won honors in several categories for four productions at the Cincinnati area's 2008 Association of Community Theatre awards ceremony: "Enchanted April," "Putting It Together," "The Most Happy Fella" and "The Glass Menagerie." LTC member Bob McClain won the Mario Pitocco Award for innovative technical theater.
Role call
Musica!, a professional mixed choral ensemble based in the Miami Valley, will have auditions for all voice parts from 7 to 9 p.m. Tuesday, July 22, at Grace United Methodist Church, 1001 Harvard Blvd. For more information, or to schedule a tryout, contact director Robert Jones at (937) 684-7493 or 275-9488, or by e-mail through the Web site, http://musicadayton.org/personnel.htm.
Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2377 or tmorris@DaytonDaily
News.com.
