Spring Break
Alana a great treat for the whole family
Alana opens tonight at the Majestic Theater and runs until May 24
Brandie Barnett
Issue date: 5/8/09 Section: Diversions
Wednesday, May 6, the stage of the Majestic Theater lit up as various local community actors came together at a dress rehearsal for the musical drama "Alana," which opens May 8.
As the cast of children, teens and adults scrambled for makeup, costumes and warm ups, sound and stage crews busied themselves with lighting, background touch ups, and sound testing - everyone hurrying to prepare themselves for opening night.
The play, written by Shelby Stoner, is a story about a baby named Alana who is left on the doorstep of "Mrs. Morgenstern's Home For Children." It is the story of her life, love interests and the villain who wants Alana to work in his sweatshop and be a maid for his wife.
"It's a feel good play," says Caren Parmenter, who plays Marie, one of two French maids. Everything ends up with a happy ending. "It's a real sweet play," adds director Charles Ippoliti.
"Any child of any age can come see it with their parents. There are some comedic parts in it so even people who love comedy can come see it." The play holds no religious, political, or controversial bias. "[Stoner] wrote it so that anyone from any background could come in and enjoy it," says Ippoliti. "The biggest controversy is the villain."
Straight from the beginning, the cast seemed full of life and talent. During warm ups, the months of practice and rehearsal showed.
The group was poised, dedicated, right on cue - something any director would be proud of, especially for the children of the cast.
"The kids are great and amazingly talented," says Parmenter. "This is a great opportunity. I've seen a lot of the kids grow into their roles."
The children of the cast play the orphans living in the Home For Children with Alana.
"It hasn't been hard," states Ippoliti. "I'm so impressed with the level of talent. They're fabulous to work with and very dedicated."
And not only the children. Everyone seems very devoted to the play, even though it is a lot of work.
As the cast of children, teens and adults scrambled for makeup, costumes and warm ups, sound and stage crews busied themselves with lighting, background touch ups, and sound testing - everyone hurrying to prepare themselves for opening night.
The play, written by Shelby Stoner, is a story about a baby named Alana who is left on the doorstep of "Mrs. Morgenstern's Home For Children." It is the story of her life, love interests and the villain who wants Alana to work in his sweatshop and be a maid for his wife.
"It's a feel good play," says Caren Parmenter, who plays Marie, one of two French maids. Everything ends up with a happy ending. "It's a real sweet play," adds director Charles Ippoliti.
"Any child of any age can come see it with their parents. There are some comedic parts in it so even people who love comedy can come see it." The play holds no religious, political, or controversial bias. "[Stoner] wrote it so that anyone from any background could come in and enjoy it," says Ippoliti. "The biggest controversy is the villain."
Straight from the beginning, the cast seemed full of life and talent. During warm ups, the months of practice and rehearsal showed.
The group was poised, dedicated, right on cue - something any director would be proud of, especially for the children of the cast.
"The kids are great and amazingly talented," says Parmenter. "This is a great opportunity. I've seen a lot of the kids grow into their roles."
The children of the cast play the orphans living in the Home For Children with Alana.
"It hasn't been hard," states Ippoliti. "I'm so impressed with the level of talent. They're fabulous to work with and very dedicated."
And not only the children. Everyone seems very devoted to the play, even though it is a lot of work.
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