Middle Schoolers Bring ‘Moana’ to Life

April 30, 2025 |

By Bonnijean Cooney Adams | Posted in: Entertainment

Students from Founders' Middle School will present Moana Jr. as their annual spring musical. (Submitted photo)

Founders’ Hall Middle School students Tori Thomas and Skylar Crenshaw have been friends for years, a relationship they agree has helped them bring their well-known characters to life for the spring musical “Moana Jr.”

Thomas plays Moana, who is on a quest to restore the heart of goddess Te Fiti, stolen many years ago by demigod Maui (Crenshaw).

The show is based on the 2016 Disney movie “Moana,” whose storyline and songs already were familiar to the cast of sixth, seventh, and eighth graders when auditions were announced.

It opens at 7 p.m. Thursday (May 1) with all shows performed in the Francis McClure auditorium in White Oak.

‘Peter Pan’ Hooks Audiences at Serra

April 23, 2025 |

By Bonnijean Cooney Adams | Posted in: Entertainment, McKeesport and Region News

The cast strikes a pose during rehearsals for one of the dance numbers in Serra Catholic High School’s production of “Peter Pan” musical. (Submitted photo courtesy Jesse Bush, Serra Catholic High School)

Tasked with selecting the annual spring musical at Serra Catholic, director Jesse Bush said he wanted to do something different to give the students a new experience.

“I try to pick a variety of styles of musicals. Last year was the ‘Addams Family,’ year before was ‘Little Shop of Horrors,’ and I thought it was time to do something a little more lighthearted,” he said.

The result is “Peter Pan,” based on the 1954 Broadway version starring Mary Martin as the boy who won’t grow up, which opens Friday (April 25) at 7 p.m.

Musical ‘Titanic’ Sets Sail at MAHS

April 01, 2025 |

By Bonnijean Cooney Adams | Posted in: Entertainment, McKeesport and Region News

Director/choreographer Erin Seaberg, in green shirt at left, gives pointers and makes adjustments during a recent rehearsal for the spring musical at McKeesport Area High School. (Bonnijean Cooney Adams photo for Tube City Almanac)

When the creative staff was considering what show to select for this year’s McKeesport Area High School musical, they agreed on one thing.

“We were looking for an ensemble show,” Producer/Pit Director Sarah Persin said. “We have a lot of talent.”

They decided on “Titanic the Musical,” based on the true story of the RMS Titanic, which sank after hitting an iceberg on its maiden voyage in April 1912. More than 1,000 people died in the disaster. 

Some students said they were surprised when they found out what the musical was going to be. Some had heard of it, while others initially thought it was going to be the Jack-and-Rose story like the 1997 movie.

Christie’s ‘Orient Express’ Pulls into MLT

March 13, 2025 |

By Bonnijean Cooney Adams | Posted in: Entertainment

Patrick Daniels (left) plays detective Hercule Poirot, with Mike Good as his friend and fellow investigator Monsieur Bouc. (Bonnijean Cooney Adams photo for Tube City Almanac)

McKeesport Little Theater’s latest production is a return to the murder mystery genre in Ken Ludwig’s adaptation of “Murder on the Orient Express.”

The classic play is based on a novel by the same name by Agatha Christie. It features one of her favorite characters, Belgian detective Hercule Poirot, and opens Friday (March 14) at 7:30 p.m.

Christie’s novel, as many of her other works, was inspired by real life experiences.

In the play, a young girl named Daisy Armstrong had been kidnapped and murdered, similar to what occurred to Charles Lindbergh’s son in a story that rocked the world in 1932. Christie also once was a passenger on the real Orient Express.

Looking for Nemo? Start at Little Theater

January 10, 2025 |

By Bonnijean Cooney Adams | Posted in: Entertainment

Members of the McKeesport Little Theater Juniors rehearse for the musical production, "Finding Nemo Jr.," which opens tonight. (Submitted photo McKeesport Little Theater/Jennifer R. Vertullo)

Still hoping to find Nemo? Then head to McKeesport Little Theater for the musical production of “Finding Nemo Jr.”

Although based on the 2003 Disney/Pixar movie of the same name, the stage show includes lots of catchy tunes and choreography – and some puppets – to portray familiar characters from the Great Barrier Reef to the Big Blue World.

Opening today (Jan. 10), and continuing weekends through Jan. 19, an enthusiastic cast and crew affiliated with the MLT Juniors program will bring the story of an adventuresome young clownfish to life.

MLT’s ‘Cyclone’ is a Wild Musical Ride

September 14, 2024 |

By Bonnijean Cooney Adams | Posted in: Entertainment

The entire cast of “Ride The Cyclone: The Musical” all appear onstage for the entire production. In front, Sarah Sidorchuck as Constance Blackwood and Sierra Mitchell as Ocean O'Connell Rosenberg. Center row, Caedon Vogel as Mischa Bachinski and Sam Savolskis as Noel Gruber. Back row, Matthew Mlynarski as The Amazing Karnak, Joe Kosha as Ricky Potts, Randi Walker as Jane Doe, and Jade Goodes as Talia, Virgil, and various other ensemble roles. (Photos by Bonnijean Cooney Adams for Tube City Almanac)

The death of six members of a private Canadian high school chamber choir in a roller coaster accident might not seem a likely subject matter for a musical – especially one with lots of comedic and sometimes raunchy moments, and a variety of song-and-dance numbers mixed in.

Brooke Maxwell and Jacob Richmond wrote the book, music, and lyrics for “Ride The Cyclone The Musical,” which opened Friday night and continues through Sept. 22, at McKeesport Little Theater.

First performed in 2008, it is a relative newcomer to the world of musicals, but its popularity has grown.

“I’m thrilled to have the regional premiere of ‘Ride The Cyclone’ happening at McKeesport Little Theater,” producer Jennifer R. Vertullo said. “It’s a rising cult classic that has the attention of our next generation of theater-goers.”

Tiger Band Brings Smiles With New Show ‘Recess’

September 06, 2024 |

By Bonnijean Cooney Adams | Posted in: Entertainment, McKeesport and Region News

CORRECTION, NOT PERFECTION: Two students, Deshea Davis and Marek Krol, were incorrectly identified. We apologize for the error.

McKeesport Area High School’s Tiger Band opens tournament competition for the season on Saturday at Penn-Trafford. This year’s show, titled “Recess,” includes use of a swing set as part of the show. (All photos: Bonnijean Adams for Tube City Almanac)

McKeesport Area High School Marching Band’s 2024 show is designed to bring smiles to faces of all ages during “Recess.”

“It was a fun and upbeat concept,” Band Director Drew DeCarlo said, “and most likely was the best time for students when they were in elementary school. We wanted a show this year that everyone would understand.”

He and his staff started their yearly brainstorming sessions in January, DeCarlo said.

“We talked about our strengths and weaknesses for this season, and had many ideas. We didn’t have a nailed-down concept until about March. We all settled on ‘Recess,’” he said.

MLT Presents New Play at Duquesne U.

August 22, 2024 |

By Bonnijean Cooney Adams | Posted in: Entertainment

Nancy Caronia as Rivka Blumenthal and Alex Naglich as Michael Primmer rehearse ways they might be able to resolve a tricky situation in “They-Said, They-Said.” (Submitted photo courtesy McKeesport Little Theater)

Fans of McKeesport Little Theater have another opportunity to show their support at the world premiere of an original one-act play as part of the 33rd season of Pittsburgh New Works Festival.

McKeesport Little Theater is producing “They-Said, They-Said,” by playwright Brenda Kenworthy of Garden Grove, Calif., as their entry to the festival.

For those not familiar with the process, PNWF annually solicits original, one-act plays, which are narrowed down by a panel of judges. The top 15 are selected to become full productions.

MLT Review Features Juniors Past, Present

July 31, 2024 |

By Bonnijean Cooney Adams | Posted in: Entertainment

MLT juniors alumna Lydia Richardson reviews the script with director Dorothy Fallows. (Submitted photo courtesy Jennifer R. Vertullo)

The cast is having lots of fun during rehearsals for the latest McKeesport Little Theater Juniors production — and the audience should be thrilled with the results.

“McKeesport Little Theater: A Decade in Revue — Once a Junior, Always a Junior,” is a fundraiser that showcases alumni and some current members of the Juniors program.

With Dorothy Fallows directing, producers Amy Majewski and Lori Stramaski writing the script, music direction by Sean Thorton, and choreography by Samantha Mitchell, the revue opens Friday, Aug. 9, and runs Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 10 and 11.

Fallows has been head of the Juniors program for more than 30 years. When planning started, she said she reviewed their musicals for the past decade.

Actors Encouraged to Audition This Weekend

July 10, 2024 |

By Bonnijean Cooney Adams | Posted in: Entertainment

(File photo)

McKeesport Little Theater is one of 15 regional companies casting actors when auditions are scheduled Saturday and Sunday (July 13 and 14) to fill more than 50 roles for Pittsburgh News Works Festival’s 33rd season.

Auditions will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m at the Genesius Theater at Duquesne University, 1225 Seitz Street, Pittsburgh 15282. Pre-registration is requested.

“We are one of the original participants and we’re very excited about these auditions,” said MLT’s Jennifer R. Vertullo, who will produce the world premiere of one of the original one-act plays selected for this year’s festival.