Summer at the State: The State Theatre to host two summer musicals
This summer The State Theatre Center for the Arts will host not just one summer musical, but two, as the downtown Uniontown theater will present “Annie” and “Chicago.”
Returning for a fourth year is director John Wagner and stage manager Kristen Tunney who currently reside in New York City, but return to their hometown in the summer for the musicals.
“It is kind of a project John, the director, and I started. I come back each year. I am from Brownsville, and I think bringing art to the community is important,” said Tunney. “I love the State Theatre, and I think what we do is important to the people in the show and the people who come to see them.”
In the past, summer musicals have included favorites such as “Hairspray” and “Mary Poppins,” but this year, these are two musicals the director has had his eye on for a while.
“We have been trying to get the licensing for these two shows for several years. They are both shows that John wanted to do. This year we got permission to do them,” said Tunney. “We have had a good time doing one summer show and it seemed like this year it was the right year to do two (shows) to give people the opportunity to participate.”
“Annie,” which will feature a wide variety of ages in the cast, will be performed 7:30 p.m. July 14 and 15 and 2 p.m. July 16.
“It’s a classic story. I think they can expect to see everything you would see with a production of ‘Annie.’ We have 20 kids in our orphan ensemble. We have more children in our general ensemble,” said Tunney. “It is great for kids to come out and see the story play out of Annie, a little girl that brings hope to people who ae feeling down during the Great Depression. I think that story is relevant to everybody to have that hope when you go through a challenging time.”
Two weeks later at 7:30 p.m. July 28, 29 and 2 p.m. July 30, “Chicago” will take to the stage.
“For ‘Chicago’ I think it is a show that John is really excited about,” said Tunney. “Our choreography for the cast, and we have people as far as Pittsburgh coming for that show (make it stand out). Just a spectacular musical is something they (the audience) can expect.”
For Wagner, people will be able to find something in both shows that they will want to experience.
“I think people are going to come to both productions and they are going to see that both shows are high energy and both shows have memorable music and songs that they are going to recognize right away. Songs they are going to sing and hum days after they see the production,” he said. “There is going to be a lot of great chorography and great performances from actors that are community members here in Fayette County.”
When it comes to these local actors, Tunney hopes that people realize the talent that is available in the local community.
“Something that we want them (the audience) to take away is how lucky we are to have such incredible talent in our area.
All of our actors are local. They are from the local tri-county area. The amount of talent we have here and the incredible theater that is right in their backyard, and the opportunity to come and see fantastic theater,” said Tunney about the draw of these musicals. “The value for the arts is something that both John and I come back for. We are both New York based right now, that we feel it is important for people from the area to have that opportunity.”
For John, he hopes that not only are people impressed by the talent as well, but that people take away a positive message from the performances.
“One, I hope that they take away there are grea things happening in this area. Two, I hope they take away, particularly with ‘Annie,’ for me it is a show about hope, because this poor girl has really nothing else to lose. She is really at the bottom, yet she remains so hopeful and she goes out into the world and every person she encourters she changes their outlook on life. It is one of those, ‘Is the glass half empty or half full?'” he explaned. “Even if things are terrible, if you change your outlook the world around you will change. Life can get to us and get us down, but if you change your focus and try and surround yourself with positivity, the world around you will also hopefully change and we can influence the world around us.”
Tickets to “Annie” are $15 for adults and $10 for children 12 and under. Tickets to “Chicago,” which is only recommended for an adult audience, are $15.
Go online to statetheatre.info, call 724-439-1360 or stop by the box office to purchase tickets.