The Not So Common Players have been bringing providing Clifton Park and the surrounding Capital Region with theatre fun for 10 years. The group will celebrate its anniversary over three days with a performance called An Uncommon Encore Celebration, a collection of favorite songs and acts from various shows its performed over the years.
The theatre group boasts local talent in all its shows and has made a unique name for itself because of its outdoor summer performances on the Clifton Commons stage. It has put on 25 performances, used thousands of actors and actresses and attracted audiences of 35,000 people or more.
Sally Burke is a chairperson on the board and has been involved since its inception and said she loves to see the group grow and the shows improve each year.
`This particular show is a spectacular culmination of 25 shows; a total musical review and it’s a little bit from every show, for two hours of fabulous musical entertainment. About 40 people have come back from different shows to perform, some are chorus members, some soloists,` said Burke.
She said the Not So Common Players have done `You’re Gonna Love Tomorrow,` `Little Shop of Horrors,` `Annie Get Your Gun,` `Guys and Dolls` and a few that were locally written by a local playwright. The group is sponsored by the Town of Clifton Park, which financially supports it. On Jan. 1, it became a not for profit corporation, which means it will now start looking for its own financial support from other places.
Molly McGrath has performed in four shows and will be a part of the anniversary performance. She said she has worked with most of the resident theatre companies in the area but Clifton Park is one of her favorites.
`It’s great and a really nice feeling to be a part of the anniversary show. It’s neat to give back to the company that’s done a lot for a lot of people,` said McGrath. `It’s a great review with amazing local actors, actresses, directors and choreographers involved. It’s a neat way to see a lot of different local talent for free.`
Burke said she is ready to see what the next decade holds for the Not So Common Players.
`I’m just very excited how we have come along these past 10 years and I can’t wait to begin the next 10. Clifton Park residents seem to love us, as well as others from the Capital Region. More people come to our shows each time as they become familiar with us and we started out with a following of nobody and now have 1,400 people on our mailing list,` said Burke.
`An Uncommon Encore Celebration` will have three performances at the Clifton Park/Halfmoon Library: Jan. 22 and 23 at 8 p.m. and Jan. 4 at 2 p.m. Admission is free but donations are accepted.
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