Ambridge theater presents musical about a young woman finding her way
AMBRIDGE − A youthful cast leads "The Mad Ones," the off-Broadway hit presented by Iron Horse Community Theatre.
"'The Mad Ones' is a tremendously written and scored contemporary musical about a young woman trying to find her way through the big decisions facing her as she gets older," director Josh Taylor-Martin said. "The cast is doing amazing work and I can't wait to add the energy of the audience to this experience."
Miralhi Taylor-Martin of Sewickley (daughter of the director) and Maya Anabella of Mount Lebanon play the featured roles of Sam and Kelly.
"Watching the characters' friendship and challenges is a total roller coaster of emotions," director Taylor-Martin said.
'I had seen some of the other work this cast has done, and I couldn't wait to get into the rehearsal hall with them, he said. "So much talent on the stage at Iron Horse − you'd have to be mad to miss it."
A plot synopsis from Iron Horse founder London Cain:
"18-year-old Samantha Brown sits in a hand-me-down car with the keys clutched in her hand. Caught between a yearning for the unknown and feeling bound by expectation, she telescopes back to a time before her world had fallen apart. As she relives her senior year, we meet Sam’s well-intentioned helicopter mother Bev (Janaya Daniele of Williamsport) and her high school sweetheart of a boyfriend Adam (Max Peluso of Sewickley) but it’s her painfully alive best friend Kelly that haunts her. Kelly was everything Sam is not − impetuous and daring. She pushed Sam to break rules and do the unexpected."
Ultimately Sam must make a decision: Will she follow her mother’s dreams for her, or will she summon the courage to drive away from her friends and family into a future she can’t imagine?
"The role of Sam is complex and takes a lot of stamina," Taylor-Martin, the actress playing that role, said. "It’s a role that I know for certain I wouldn’t have been able to play at this time last year. I love her development as a person and she will always be a close character in my heart because she truly evaluates and probably overthinks each decision.”
Castmate Anabella said, "This show deals with heavy topics and the relationships are so specific, and that’s one of the struggles with theater: How is one supposed to feel so close to a stranger? But with this cast, it was so easy. We all instantly clicked and found comfort in each other."
Show dates are Aug. 12-13, 19-21, and 26-27. All show times start at 7:30 p.m. except the Sunday matinee on Aug. 21 at 2.
Tickets cost $20; $18 for seniors (64+) and students, available in advance at ironhorsetheatrecompany.com
More:Ambridge's Iron Horse theatre promises to 'Make ‘Em Laugh'
Scott Tady is entertainment editor at The Times and easy to reach at stady@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Beaver County Times: Iron Horse Theatre presents musical about young woman finding her way
