AUBURN - The show must go on, despite the weather (90 degrees and blazing hot sun), or the size of the audience (only about two dozen), or any other factors that might make an acting troupe want to pack up and go home.
For the Merry-Go-Round summer youth theater tour, the important thing to keep in mind when they're wilting under layers of elaborate costumes or playing to a crowd that might not be too into the show, is that it's all about the children. For many of the youths who come out to see the free summer shows, this is their only chance to see a play.
This summer, the youth theater company is performing "Aladdin" at 17 different venues throughout the county. The theater has been performing these summer shows for more than 40 years.
At 2:30 p.m. on a scorching Monday afternoon in Cayuga, the four-person troupe dispatched to Cayuga Memorial Hall was setting up the small stage on the lawn in front of the building. Thankfully for the audience, there was a tree providing some shade on the lawn, but it did not reach the actors on their perch.
Before he even started the show, Kevin Alves, a fair-haired bespectacled actor, was already glistening with sweat. The other three actors took a break after setting up to cool off before the show began.
Slowly, children started trickling in with parents, grandparents and babysitters in tow. Kathy Harris, of Cayuga, was the first one to arrive on the lawn. She brought with her Billy, her 10-year-old son, and four children between the ages of 4 and 8 for whom she provides daycare during the week.
"I brought the audience," Harris joked as the children played on the blanket she brought.
Harris heard about the show in her village newsletter, but knew about the youth theater from their stop in Cayuga last year.
"They did a wonderful job last year.
"They did a wonderful job last year. I just wish more of the community come out and see all these talented kids," she said.
Billy remembers last year's production of "The Emperor's New Clothes" fondly, especially the part when a character's trousers fell down, exposing his boxer shorts emblazoned with big red hearts. But he's also looking forward to seeing "Aladdin," despite the heat and sun.
"I know there's a monkey in it, and a guy," Billy said, recalling the animated movie version.
"And there's a floating carpet," chimed in 6-year-old Erin Heindl, one of Harris's young charges.
As it gets closer to show time, a couple more families make a place on the lawn. Barbara Thorsen, who lives in Cayuga, brought her 5-year-old granddaughter Ashley Sennett, who was visiting from Virginia. Ashley had seen the movie, but Thorsen thought it would be nice to bring her to a live show.
"I read about it in the paper and I thought it would be something different to do," Thorsen said.
As cars drove by en route to the post office or the lake, Alves and his fellow actors, Dena Borders, Michelle Foytek and Kevaughn Harvey, continued the story of Aladdin and the magic lamp. Each play multiple roles in the show and the frenetic pace of the production was enough to keep the young audience engaged for the duration of the 35-minute show.
Because of the unique venue, people could come and go as they chose. Two boys biked up and caught the last half of the show and one little girl walked over to join her brother. The children could also watch as they pleased, one little girl choosing to knit while listening to the dialogue.
After the show ended with the moral that you should be careful what you wish for because it just might come true, the audience, the smallest yet for a summer show, bounded away to air conditioned houses and refreshing swimming pools.
The actors took a breather before breaking down the set and loading it into the van. Outdoor theater has its advantages, but unrelenting heat and humidity aren't it.
"It's much tougher to do the shows in the heat," Borders said.
"It's hard on the laundry bill." Alves joked. "It's hard showering four times a day."
If you go:
What: Merry-Go-Round Youth Theater summer tour of "Aladdin"
Where/When: Various sites throughout county. See list below.
July 25 #- 11 a.m., United Church, Genoa; 2 p.m., Presbyterian Church, King Ferry
July 26 #- 11 a.m., Clifford Field, Auburn
July 27 #- 11 a.m., Frontenac Park, Union Springs; 3 p.m., Melone Village, Auburn
Aug. 1# - 10:30 a.m., Wells College, Aurora
Aug. 2 #-11 a.m., Herman Avenue Playground, Auburn
Aug. 3 - 6 p.m., Boyle Center, Auburn
Aug. 4 - 11 a.m., Casey Park, Auburn; 2 p.m., Emerson Park, Auburn
All shows are free.
This summer, the youth theater company is performing "Aladdin" at 17 different venues throughout the county. The theater has been performing these summer shows for more than 40 years.
At 2:30 p.m. on a scorching Monday afternoon in Cayuga, the four-person troupe dispatched to Cayuga Memorial Hall was setting up the small stage on the lawn in front of the building. Thankfully for the audience, there was a tree providing some shade on the lawn, but it did not reach the actors on their perch.
Before he even started the show, Kevin Alves, a fair-haired bespectacled actor, was already glistening with sweat. The other three actors took a break after setting up to cool off before the show began.
Slowly, children started trickling in with parents, grandparents and babysitters in tow. Kathy Harris, of Cayuga, was the first one to arrive on the lawn. She brought with her Billy, her 10-year-old son, and four children between the ages of 4 and 8 for whom she provides daycare during the week.
"I brought the audience," Harris joked as the children played on the blanket she brought.
Harris heard about the show in her village newsletter, but knew about the youth theater from their stop in Cayuga last year.
"They did a wonderful job last year.
"They did a wonderful job last year. I just wish more of the community come out and see all these talented kids," she said.
Billy remembers last year's production of "The Emperor's New Clothes" fondly, especially the part when a character's trousers fell down, exposing his boxer shorts emblazoned with big red hearts. But he's also looking forward to seeing "Aladdin," despite the heat and sun.
"I know there's a monkey in it, and a guy," Billy said, recalling the animated movie version.
"And there's a floating carpet," chimed in 6-year-old Erin Heindl, one of Harris's young charges.
As it gets closer to show time, a couple more families make a place on the lawn. Barbara Thorsen, who lives in Cayuga, brought her 5-year-old granddaughter Ashley Sennett, who was visiting from Virginia. Ashley had seen the movie, but Thorsen thought it would be nice to bring her to a live show.
"I read about it in the paper and I thought it would be something different to do," Thorsen said.
As cars drove by en route to the post office or the lake, Alves and his fellow actors, Dena Borders, Michelle Foytek and Kevaughn Harvey, continued the story of Aladdin and the magic lamp. Each play multiple roles in the show and the frenetic pace of the production was enough to keep the young audience engaged for the duration of the 35-minute show.
Because of the unique venue, people could come and go as they chose. Two boys biked up and caught the last half of the show and one little girl walked over to join her brother. The children could also watch as they pleased, one little girl choosing to knit while listening to the dialogue.
After the show ended with the moral that you should be careful what you wish for because it just might come true, the audience, the smallest yet for a summer show, bounded away to air conditioned houses and refreshing swimming pools.
The actors took a breather before breaking down the set and loading it into the van. Outdoor theater has its advantages, but unrelenting heat and humidity aren't it.
"It's much tougher to do the shows in the heat," Borders said.
"It's hard on the laundry bill." Alves joked. "It's hard showering four times a day."
If you go:
What: Merry-Go-Round Youth Theater summer tour of "Aladdin"
Where/When: Various sites throughout county. See list below.
July 25 #- 11 a.m., United Church, Genoa; 2 p.m., Presbyterian Church, King Ferry
July 26 #- 11 a.m., Clifford Field, Auburn
July 27 #- 11 a.m., Frontenac Park, Union Springs; 3 p.m., Melone Village, Auburn
Aug. 1# - 10:30 a.m., Wells College, Aurora
Aug. 2 #-11 a.m., Herman Avenue Playground, Auburn
Aug. 3 - 6 p.m., Boyle Center, Auburn
Aug. 4 - 11 a.m., Casey Park, Auburn; 2 p.m., Emerson Park, Auburn
All shows are free.
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