Sewickley Area Theatre Company gives local talent opportunity, and brings exceptional, affordable theatre to the community.
“ Hairspray”
Hard Act to Follow
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Sewickley Area Theatre Company gives local talent opportunity, and brings exceptional, affordable theatre to the community.
Growing up in the Sewickley area, it was difficult to find quality community-based theatre for adults,” says David Ford, president of Sewickley Area Theatre Company.“ We had performing arts camps in the summer months and the school districts’ musicals in the spring, but nothing throughout the year. I found myself frequently traveling outside of my own community, and sometimes traveling great distances, to pursue my passion.”
Ford always found the lack of theatrical opportunities striking in an area so rich with history, culture and the arts. With the many former and current stars of stage and screen living in the Sewickley area, it was truly an ideal borough to tap into the local talent necessary for producing affordable, high-quality theatre productions.
And so Sewickley Area Theatre Company( SATC) was born. Founded in 2013, SATC’ s objective is to provide two full-length musicals with additional plays and special events throughout the year. SATC employs local talent in all aspects of production, preventing theatre enthusiasts from having to leave the community for quality entertainment. Whether you’ re in high school, working a full-time job or retired, SATC provides a platform for all to participate in and enjoy the arts.
Additionally, the group aims to extend cultural appreciation of the arts throughout the community through productions, educational opportunities and the involvement of volunteers.
BY NICOLE TAFE
SATC is led by a Board of Directors with vast experience in all aspects of theatre production. In addition to Ford, president of the company, Jeff Way is vice president and co-founder, Katie Rogers is treasurer, and Chelsea Bartel is secretary. Lou Valenzi, Jerry Comunale and Pam Gregg comprise the group’ s advisory board.
All of the aforementioned positions are volunteer. While the group does pay independent contractors from time to time( e. g. music directors, choreographers, pit musicians, technical directors), the actors and majority of the production team are volunteers.
The group has worked with artists of all levels of experience, from professional to semi-professional to amateur, and usually receives a nice variety of each category at any given show audition.“ While a lot of our actors have enjoyed their experience with us enough to audition again for our shows, we take pride in the fact that there are continuously new faces on stage,” says Ford.
The shows are chosen in a judicious process managed by the Board of Directors. General members of the organization compile a list of shows of interest that is narrowed down to those that fit the vision of the company and the current season. This list is then sent to the advisory board for detailed recommendations and ultimately voted upon by the Board of Directors.“ We typically try to produce shows of contrasting styles during any given season,” says Ford.“ One‘ lavish’ traditional show and one intimate,‘ off-the-beaten-path’ show.”
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