“Little Shop of Horrors”
The group typically rehearses three to four times per week in the
evenings for approximately two months per show. Rehearsals are held
at St. James Church in Sewickley or the Leetsdale Municipal Building
Community Room.
For SATC’s past full-length productions, the group has leased
facilities from the Quaker Valley School District for performance, and
has used both the middle school and high school auditoriums. The
middle school, with its more intimate space and stadium seating that
slopes down to a flat stage floor, has been host to shows like “Little
Shop of Horrors” and “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling
Bee” whereas the more traditional, proscenium-style high school
theater with fly space has been host to larger-scale shows like “The
Wizard of Oz” and this year’s “Hairspray.”
While Ford has had the good fortune of directing the past four
full-length productions for the group, SATC is always accepting
applications for directors.
“From an administrative standpoint, one of our greatest
accomplishments so far has been securing our 501(c)(3) nonprofit
status with the IRS,” says Ford. While it can be a very laborious
process for many groups, it was not for SATC. “It took us a little over
six months and we received our declaration letter with no corrections
or further information needed in addition to the initial application,”
he adds proudly.
From a production standpoint, all of the shows feel like their
“greatest” accomplishment to those involved with SATC. “I think the
most frequent compliment we receive is surprise at the amount of
talent and the overall caliber of our productions for such affordable
prices,” says Ford.
There are many ways to become involved with SATC. The company
offers general membership to the organization, which entitles
individuals to voting rights within the group as well as discounts on
production and educational opportunities provided throughout the
year. Assistance is always needed off-stage, whether it is on the House
Management Team (e.g. ushers, box office, concessions, etc.) or on
the Technical Team (e.g. lighting/sound, assistant stage managers,
etc.). SATC has also begun offering internship opportunities for
Quaker Valley students as of this past year.
PAST SATC PRODUCTIONS
H A Night at the Tonys: A Musical Revue
H Little Shop of Horrors*
H The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee*
H The Wizard of Oz*
H A Tribute to Mr. Lou Valenzi: A Musical Rev“LOU”
H Holiday “Cheer”
H Hairspray*
*denotes Main Stage productions
“One of my favorite parts about SATC is watching it evolve and
grow,” says Ford. “It is so rewarding to see more and more people
putting their time and dedication into this organization. Everyone
involved now knows the standards that we expect, and watching each
of them rise to the occasion is one of the most gratifying experiences I
have ever had.”
SATC is a true gem for Sewickley and its surrounding areas in
many ways. In addition to providing a platform for participation and/
or enjoyment of the arts to local community members—in a way
that had not been available in the area previously—the company also
takes great pride in bringing new people to their organization and
into the community of Sewickley. SATC’s shows have featured act