Fest time of the year: The Strand celebrating festivals from around the world
ZELIENOPLE ‒ The Strand Theater is presenting "Oktoberfest and More Fests" this weekend because it is the fest time of the year.
Director of The Strand Initiative Ron Carter said that they should have Oktoberfest because Zelienople was founded by German immigrants, but instead they are going to celebrate festivals from all over the world.
"There is a limit to how many Oom-pah bands and beer-drinking songs anyone can endure for one evening, so our original show is a celebration of fall festivals across the country and around the world," he said.
When Nick Navari, the producing artistic director, was hired in June, he was told the show was coming up so he needed to write it.
He had many festivals to pick from: North America celebrates the Apple Festival, Thailand has a Lantern Festival, Mexico has its Day of the Dead, and, West Virginia even has its 35th annual Roadkill Festival, complete with a Roadkill Cook-off.
Navari's "Oktoberfest and More Fests" is a veritable smorgasbord of music from all over the country and the world.
There will be a German and an Irish drinking song, but the show features 21 songs that are fun takes on festivals you've probably never heard of.
"Come prepared to sing along because you will know every song. Even if you don't want to sing along you won't be able to stop yourself," Navari said.
To celebrate the Newport, New Hampshire's Apple Pie Festival you will be singing, "American Pie" and for the Netherlands Low Land Festival you will be belting out "Friends in Low Places."
Written and directed by Navari with music director Bruce Smith and a three-person cast: Luke Carter, Michael Goffus and Katelyn Karpinski, whose skits will keep you laughing between the songs. The three are employees of the worst publicity firm in the universe and instead of 30-minute blurbs they come up with this two-hour show. They did it just for you.
"This is an original show that you won’t be able to experience anywhere else. It’s written and produced only for Strand audiences," Carter said.
"Oktoberfest and More Fests" is part of The Strand's "Tis the Season" holiday subscription series that includes "Irving Berlin's White Christmas" and "Godspell," which is $90 for all three shows plus discount, date and seat changes and a free concert available only to subscribers.
What: 'Oktoberfest and More Fests'
Where: The Strand Theater, 119 N. Main St., Zelienople
When: 7:30 p.m. Oct. 14 and 15. 2 p.m. Oct. 16
Admission: $25 to $35 Reserved seating
Information: www.thestrandtheater.org, 724-742-0400
This article originally appeared on Beaver County Times: Zeienople's The Strand celebrating festivals from around the world