‘Madagascar’ takes center stage at Cal U.
The Mon Valley Performing Arts Academy will wrap up its 2017 summer theater experience for young performers with a fully staged production of “Madagascar: A Musical Adventure Jr.” at 4 p.m. July 29 in Steele Hall Mainstage Theatre at California University of Pennsylvania.
Hosted by Cal U.’s Department of Music and Theatre, the academy, now in its 20th year, gives students 8 to 17 years old an opportunity to study musical theater. After acting, voice and dance classes, technical theater learning and rehearsals, students present a musical complete with stage sets, costumes and props.
Nearly 40 MVPs – Mon Valley Performers – are participating in this year’s academy, which began July 17. Students study and rehearse from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays.
Based on the smash DreamWorks animated motion picture, the upbeat musical follows the adventures of outlandish characters such as Alex the Lion, Marty the Zebra, Melman the Giraffe, Gloria the hip hip Hippo and the plotting penguin as they escape from their home in New York’s Central Park Zoo and find themselves on an unexpected journey to the madcap world of King Julien’s Madagascar.
“We wanted to do something new, and everyone is a fan of films,” said Dr. Michele Pagen, the academy’s director and co-chairwoman of the Music and Theatre Department.
“Most important, this musical is filled with many fun characters,” she said, “and we want the students to apply what they are learning in the production.”
Cal U. students involved in the production include graduate student Emily Cutwright, acting instructor/assistant director; Kacie Kubitza, camp counselor/assistant choreographer; Jesh Myers, camp counselor; Kitty Hoffman, company/stage manager; and incoming freshmen Betty Kline and Garrett Smyth, camp counselors.
The Mon Valley Performing Arts Academy is fully accredited by the National Association of Schools of Theatre, the same organization that has accredited Cal U.’s Bachelor of Arts in Theater program since 2005.
Tickets are $8 for adults and $4 for children, and can be purchased at the door. To order tickets in advance, leave a message at 724-938-4220.