Nov 8, 2002 By Frances Borsodi Zajac 7 min read

Steven “Rusty” Petit and Brad Sampey, two actors with southwestern Pennsylvania roots, can’t wait to come home after spending the past several months on an exciting journey during a national tour of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s “State Fair.” But Petit, 28, a native of Sycamore, Greene County, and Sampey, 26, of Connellsville aren’t homesick or tired of the grueling and hectic schedule that keeps them on the road as they travel from one town to the next for another performance.

Both actors are looking forward to returning to Fayette County at 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 15, when the national tour makes a stop at the State Theatre Center for the Arts in Uniontown.

As they step onto the stage under the bright theater lights, the actors will glance out into the audience, hoping to catch a glimpse of the familiar and smiling faces of their friends and relatives whose attention will be focused on them.

“It’s nice to come back close to home where everyone can see me,” said Petit, who was interviewed by cell phone while on tour with the Candlewood International Production, which has been playing shows across the country. The schedule includes performances in Texas, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Ohio and New York. The show opened Sept. 19 and will continue to play through Nov. 26.

When he was asked about what life is like on the road, Petit said, “It’s exciting and a lot of fun. You get worn out, but it is a lot of fun.’

Petit, who maintains a residence in Orlando, is the son of Larry and Stephanie Petit. He has an older sister, Kristen Woodling, whose husband is named Jeremy; a brother Randy, whose wife is Alissa; and another sister, Sheri.

A 1992 graduate of Waynesburg Central High School, Petit graduated from Penn State University in 1997 when he earned bachelor degrees in theater and animal science. Petit had performed in the show choir in high school and then joined the Singing Lions show choir at Penn State. Although he originally entered college to study animal science, he said, “The more I got into theater, the more I wanted to do it.”

Petit, who plays Wayne Frank, the 21-year-old son in a family of four who attend the 1946 Iowa State Fair, talked about why he enjoys acting.

“As an art form, it’s a great way of expression,” he said. “And you get to meet so many amazing people. It’s a nice way to bring something special into people’s lives.”

Sampey, who continues to reside in Connellsville and is the son of Lee and Joy Sampey, said he is looking forward to performing at the State Theatre. He has a sister, Beth Martin, whose husband is also named Lee, and a nephew named Todd.

“It’s good to come home,” he said. “I played on the stage with West Virginia Public Theater, and I felt that I was at home. It’s good to go out and come back to it.”

Although he wasn’t familiar with the “State Fair” production when he received a phone call about accepting a role in the production, Sampey said he is now having a wonderful time.

“It’s typical Rodgers and Hammerstein,” Sampey said. “It’s a good all-American musical – something we need now.”

Sampey performs the role of Lem, a farmhand who is also the bass in the farmer’s quartet, and the chief of police.

“I’m having a blast,’ Sampey said. “Candlewood’s been very good to me, and people are really nice. I’m having a good time.’

A release from Candlewood International, which is based in Connecticut, said “State Fair” follows in the tradition of “Oklahoma” and “Carousel.” It tells the story of the Frank family and their magical trip to the 1946 Iowa State Fair. Romance and adventure abound as each member of the family is out for a different prize – a blue ribbon for Father’s pet pig; first prize, and first prize only, for Mom’s entry in the pie-baking contest; and, for their son and daughter, the hunt is on for the best prize of all, true love.

Speaking about his character in “State Fair,” Petit said, “He’s about 21 or 22 years old. He grew up on a farm and is kind of na’ve. His sister is younger but less na’ve. He goes to the fair and falls in love with an older woman and gets swept away with things.”

The Broadway show, which received 14 Tony nominations, was filmed in 1945 and won an Academy Award for best song for “It Might As Well Be Spring.”

Since he graduated from college, Petit has been working steady at dinner theaters around the country, summer theater at Hershey Park in Hershey, as well as performances on cruise ships.

His credits include several productions at Penn State. They are Joseph in “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat,’ several parts in the musical “Working’ and Twimble in “How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying.’

Petit performed several summers with the Greene Theatre Co. in Waynesburg, playing Harold Hill in “The Music Man’ and Judd in “Oklahoma!’ He also worked several summers at Hershey Park, doing the country music show and a Christmas show.

Petit also played Rohlf in “The Sound of Music’ at Dutch Apple Dinner Theater in Lancaster, Pa.; a cabaret in Rochester, N.Y.; Don Lockwood in “Singing in the Rain,’ at Circa 21 in Rock Island, Ill.; and worked two contracts with Holland America cruise lines, performing in musical revues.

He moved to Orlando, Fla., in 2001 and did five shows with the Mark II Dinner Theatre, including “Show Boat,’ “Hello Dolly,’ “Titanic,’ “Man of LaMancha’ and “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.’

Sampey graduated in 1995 from Connellsville Area High School, where he appeared in a number of productions including Lazar Wolf in “Fiddler on the Roof,’ Sultan in “Aladdin,’ Captain in “Anything Goes’ and was in the senior and barbershop quartets.

He attended Seton Hill College in Greensburg for two years, earning the William Granger Ryan Scholarship for theater and then graduated from California University in 1999 with a degree in theater.

While at Seton Hill, Sampey performed in Andrei/the judge in “The Learned Ladies,’ Francis Flute/Thisbee in “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,’ Effing in “Moon Children,’ Robert Day Beaudricourt in “The Lark,’ Sheriff Amos Legrand in “The Grass Harp’ and Creon in “Medea.’

At California University, Sampey was Pedant in “The Taming of the Shrew,’ in the ensemble singing group show called “Perfectly Frank,’ Mr. Pillar in “The Memorandum,’ Cinderella’s Prince in “Into the Woods.’ With the Mon Valley Ballet Theatre, he played the burgermeister in “Coppelia,’ and the Arabian Sultan in “The Nutcracker.’ For Cal Rep of Pa., he was Sir Dimley in “Once Upon a Mattress,’ and Daddy Warbucks in “Annie.’ For Theatre Now, he was Will Masters in “Bus Stop’ and Luca Fazio in “L’lmbecile.’

Sampey did several performances for West Virginia Public Theatre, including Boris in “Streets of Gold,’ The Herald in “Cinderella,’ “Stephan Hopkins in “1776,’ Sir Lionel in “Camelot,’ Vince Fontaine in “Grease,’ and also appeared in “A Christmas Carol’ and “My Fair Lady.’ He performed in “The Civil War’ for Pittsburgh Musical Theatre and toured with “Sophisticated Rhythms.’

In television, Sampey appeared in “Fright Night Friday’ with CUTV and made a commercial for Adelphia Cable.

He also appeared in an independent film called “The Ketchup King’ that is in post-production.

He is with Docherty Model and Talent Agency out of Pittsburgh.

“I enjoy performing in front of people,’ Sampey said. “My goal is to do voice over – cartoon work. I want to send a voice over tape to Cartoon Network. That’s where I really want to go. I’m a big kid at heart.’

For ticket information on “State Fair,’ call the State Theatre Center for the Arts in Uniontown at 724-439-1360.