Schenectady Light Opera Company’s 81st season is set to begin next week by showcasing some of the hottest young talent in the Capital District.
SLOC is performing The Music Man and `Annie` in November, both geared toward a younger audience with a younger cast.
The first show, `The Music Man,` is an all-children’s cast with 75 performers ranging in age from 8 to 18.
Sara Smigen, 17, a Niskayuna High School senior, is playing Marion in this year’s production of `The Music Man.` This is Smigen’s first role with SLOC, but she is not new to performing or to musical theater. She performed in Niskayuna’s production of `Beauty and the Beast` last spring.
The cast of `The Music Man` has been working together since September. Smigen said the three-hour practices four times a week can get tiring, but she enjoys the work. She also said it is interesting working with so many cast members with such a wide variety of ages.
`It’s a different experience, but everyone gets along and works together. We talk a little too much because we’re kids, but at the end of the day we are all there because we want to be there,` she said.
This is the fist time that SLOC will be performing at the new GE Theater at Proctors.
Donna Z. Bayter, SLOC spokeswoman and co-producer of `Annie` said the company is looking for a new home with more space and handicapped accessibility. She said it is too soon to tell whether the GE Theater would become SLOC’s permanent location, but it is a possibility.
SLOC is also staging `Annie,` with a cast of 23, including 10 young girls. The show is scheduled to run for three weekends instead of the usual two, so two different girls are scheduled to play Annie.
Suzanne Rayome, who directed last season’s production of `Hello, Dolly,` is playing Hannigan in `Annie.` She said she is excited to throw herself into the role.
`This is my fourth time doing Annie,` she said. `This is a kids’ classic and it is the perfect time of year for it. As a teacher I also like working with all the kids.`
Rayome said the talent the company has assembled for `Annie` and `The Music Man` rivals any community theater company.
`The talent in this area is amazing. I was blown away every time I saw someone audition,` Rayome said.
Emily Franklin, 11, of Loudonville is one of the young talents; she is playing Annie. She is a veteran SLOC performer who got involved with the show because her family is also involved with musical theater.
`I’ve always wanted to play this role,` Franklin said. `It is fun to hang out with all the cast members.`
Jessica Carrozzi, 9, of Richmondville is the second actor playing Annie. It’s her first stint in musical theater, but she isn’t new to performing in front of audiences, including singing in local parades.
Carrozzi said the hardest thing is paying attention during rehearsals and learning to take direction.
This show’s director, Matthew T. Teichner, said although SLOC is a community theater company, he gives his actors a professional experience. The actors work with an acting coach and Teichner has his hand in everything from lighting to set design and choreography.
`The kids are very talented and eager to learn. A lot of them are taking classes at the New York State Theater Institute and they are really catching on,` he said.
Under Teichner’s direction, the characters in `Annie` are more developed than usual, which gives the audience a different look at the play.
`Everyone has seen `Annie` 1,000 times,` Teichner said. `It is an old-style comedy, so this is going to be a different spin off.`
`The Music Man` runs from Thursday, Nov. 15 to Sunday, Nov. 18. For tickets, call the Proctors Box Office at 346-6204. `Annie` runs for three weekends beginning Thursday, Nov. 29, and running through Saturday, Dec. 15. For tickets, call 877-350-7378 or visit www.sloctheater.org.“
