University Theatre: "A show full of opportunity, infused with hope, and practical for the times"
University Theatre opens its second show of the season this week.
Elegies: A Song Cycle, will be presented virtually at 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday Nov. 13, 14, 20 and 21, as well as 2 p.m. matinee performances on Saturday and Sunday Nov. 14, 15, 21 and 22.
The production will be presented online . Ticket are also available online: $10 for a single viewer; $25 for group viewing/watch party; and free for YSU students, faculty and staff.
Maria Fenty Denison, program coordinator of YSU Musical Theatre, is the production’s director. Amanda Beagle provides music direction and Amy A. Wright is choreographer.
Written by Tony Award-winning lyricist and composer, William Finn, Elegies is a heart-felt song cycle that addresses memory and loss with both compassion and humor. A song cycle is a group of songs designed to be performed in sequence as a single entity.
“In Elegies we found a show full of opportunity, infused with hope, and practical for the times,” Fenty Denison said. “Due to current safety protocols for theatre, students gained training in fields that they may not have otherwise. The dedication of the creative team has been incredible, and we are grateful for their hard work as we make this performance come alive.”
The cast includes Torrance Bajuszick, (Saxonburg, Pa.) Theatre/Musical Theatre; Leah Beckert (Sharon, Pa.) Theatre Studies; Savannah Bell (Ambridge, Pa.) Theatre; Lexi Cerny (Pittsburgh, Pa.) Theatre/Musical Theatre; Machiah Davis (Beachwood, Ohio) Theatre/Musical Theatre; Lexi Denney (Canfield, Ohio) Theatre/Musical Theatre; Adrienne Day (Youngstown, Ohio) Dance Management; Adam Dominick (Lancaster, Ohio) Theatre/Musical Theatre; Belle Elliot (DeGraff, Ohio) Theatre/Musical Theatre; Lacey Farina (Schenectady, NY) Theatre/Musical Theatre; Samantha Gurd (New Middletown, Ohio) Theatre/Musical Theatre; Erica Hays (Newport, Ohio) Dance Management; Cassidy Hopkins (Erie, Pa.) Exercise Science; Kyle Hudson (Kensington, Ohio) Theatre Studies; Morgan LaCamera (Lowellville, Ohio) Theatre; Noah Landry (Poland, Ohio) Saxophone Performance; Destiny Magee (Columbus, Ohio) Dance Management; Mia Matthews (Columbus, Ohio) Dance Management; Sydney Moore (Braddock, Pa.) Dance Management; Taryn Patterson (New Waterford, Ohio) Psychology; Hannah Rosser (Youngstown, Ohio) Theatre Studies; Donovan Rubante (Edenburg, Pa.) Theatre/Musical Theatre; Kamryn Rudolph (Weedville, Pa.) Theatre/Musical Theatre; Dagmar Stahl (Canfield, Ohio) Dance Management; Destinee Thompson (Akron, Ohio) Theatre/Musical Theatre; Haley Tura (Canfield, Ohio) Vocal Music Education.
In addition, guest artists include veteran local actors, Maureen Collins, James McClellan and YSU faculty member Kivie Cahn-Lipman. Collins is co-founder of Easy Street Productions, a Youngstown theater troupe that has been entertaining in the Valley for 33 years. McClellan has spent his life performing in association with the Mahoning Valley’s various community theaters and arts organizations, including Easy Street Productions, Ballet Western Reserve, The Youngstown Playhouse, Oakland Center for the Arts and YSU Theatre. Cahn-Lipman holds degrees from the Oberlin Conservatory of Music, The Juilliard School, and the University of Cincinnati.
Other technical staff includes Properties Designer Wendy Akers; Sound Recording Engineer Jack Ciarniello; Scenic Designer Todd Dicken; Video Production Supervisor Ryan Donchess; Production Manager and Technical Director Ryan Fitzpatrick; Virtual Choir Conductor Brendan Gage; Costume and Makeup Designer Katherine N. Garlick; Video Production Coordinator Miles Douglas Garrett; and Lighting Designer Tim Grich.