Genesius staging 'Cinderella'; Primary Stages presenting 'A Christmas Story'

Nov. 27—Genesius Theatre presents Rodgers + Hammerstein's "Cinderella," the 2013 Tony Award-winning Broadway musical from the creators of "The King & I" and "The Sound of Music," starting Dec. 9 and running through Dec. 18.

Genesius alumnus from the 1970's and Wyomissing High School graduate Douglas Carter Beane, a five-time Tony Award nominated playwright/librettist/screenwriter, rewrote the book for this timeless classic, originally created by Rodgers + Hammerstein for television, airing Feb. 22, 1965.

With its fresh new take on the beloved tale of a young woman who is transformed from a chambermaid into a princess, this hilarious and romantic musical combines the story's classic elements — glass slippers, pumpkin, and a beautiful ball — along with some surprising twists.

This Cinderella is a contemporary figure living in a fairytale setting. She is a spirited young woman with savvy and soul who doesn't let her rags, or her gowns trip her up in her quest for kindness, compassion and forgiveness. She longs to escape the drudgery of her work at home and instead work to make the world a better place. She not only fights for her own dreams but forces the prince to open his eyes to the world around him and realize his dreams too

Beane started at Genesius back in 1974 and was part of the original Genesius Brats until 1979.

"When I was 16, Michael O'Flaherty (co-founder of Genesius) pulled me out of the chorus and suggested I write some fairytale adventures for the stage to do at Genesius," he said. "They would be done as a Saturday morning children's theater series with Larry Fecho at the helm. That was the beginning of my life as a theater writer. With 'Rodgers + Hammerstein Cinderella,' I wrote for Broadway now finding its way to the Genesius stage, why it's about the most perfect circle one could have in a life!"

Beane also went onto write two musical revues, in 1976 and '77, that were presented by Genesius, and the late great Crystal Restaurant, that were both performed outdoors as an elegant dinner theatre event in the garden area of Penn Square.

He said of Genesius: "Am I wrong that I want Genesius to live forever? That it will continue to show young people the joy of creating art and that it nurtures the soul of the community? Genesius was there for me when I was a lad and it made me dream of Broadway and brightened my spirit. I know it's doing the same for others now and that's why it will always be great!!!"

Genesius's production is directed by long-time Genesius actor, and recent director of the Genesius outdoor production of "Hair," James Haggerty. The show is produced by Genesius artistic director L J Fecho, music directed by Chris Evans, conducted by Joshua S. Underwood, choreographed by C J Whitmire, with scenic design by Spencer Moss Fecho, Shane Hails and James Haggerty, lighting design by Thomas Hudson of Scary Good Productions, sound design by Albert Garcia, costume design by Cathy Miller, hair and wig design by Diane Keck of Thanx Hair Artistry, production managed by Becka Malanios, stage managed by Sara Huard, and assistant stage managed by Ellen Rochlin.

The cast includes Genesius newcomer Cheynenne Malfaro as Ella, Evan Watkins as Prince Topher, Danielle Pflum as Lord Pinkleton, Rick Fisher as Sebastian, Lorna Graham as Marie, Jahlil Little as Jean-Michel, Michele King as Madame, Sarah Althen as Gabrielle, and Daphnee McMaster as Charlotte.

For show times, tickets and more information, see genesiusdifference.org.

----PrimaryStages Productions presents "A Christmas Story" at the Yocum Institute for Arts Education, Schumo Theater, West Lawn, from Dec. 3-11.

The show is based on humorist Jean Shepherd's memoir of growing up in the midwest in the 1940s. It follows 9-year-old Ralphie Parker in his quest to get a genuine Red Ryder BB gun under the tree for Christmas. Ralphie pleads his case before his mother, his teacher and even Santa Claus himself at Higbee's Department Store. The consistent response: "You'll shoot your eye out!" ]

All the elements from the beloved motion picture are here, including the family's temperamental exploding furnace; Scut Farkas, the school bully; the boys' experiment with a wet tongue on a cold lamppost; the Little Orphan Annie decoder pin; Ralphie's father winning a lamp shaped like a woman's leg in a net stocking; Ralphie's fantasy scenarios and more.

Tickets are $15 for students and $20 for adults. For show times and more information, see yocuminstitute.org.

Art

A new cultural exhibition entitled "Mountain Mary: Contemporary Visions of the Sainted Healer," exploring the life and legend of Mountain Mary, Anna Maria Young (1744-1819), immigrant pioneer, farmer and sainted healer of the Oley Valley, has opened at the new DeLight E. Breidegam Building, headquarters of the Pennsylvania German Cultural Heritage Center at Kutztown University.

Featuring new works by contemporary artists and historic artifacts from the Oley Valley, the exhibition presents Mountain Mary's colorful and often contradictory legend, which continues to embody the traditions and positive values sustaining the region's folk culture.

For generations, Mountain Mary has inspired pilgrimages and spiritual reflection among the people of the region who continue to retell her legend, sing ballads of her heroism and portray her at cultural festivals. From her humble beginning as a young German-speaking immigrant from war-torn Europe, to her journey of 30 years living in the wilderness as a revered hermit, Mary rose to the level of a folk hero among the Pennsylvania Dutch for her legacy of healing, generosity and kindness. Establishing herself as a skilled healer, productive farmer and leader in her community, Mountain Mary's story is a quintessential American pioneer narrative of virtue, cooperation and humility in the face of war, illness and adversity.

The exhibition features local artists working in a variety of forms and media, including Ben Rader, Henry. W. Sharadin, Stacy A. Luyben, Leroy Genzler, Paul Wieand, Gladys Lutz, Jourdain Kinnander, Rachel Yoder, Patrick J. Donmoyer, Marshall D. Rumbaugh, Tammy Zettlemoyer, Joshua R. Brown and Schon Wanner. An exhibition catalog available for purchase explores Mary's legend through these works of art.

Gallery hours are 10 a.m. to noon and 1 to 4 p.m. Mondays through Fridays, at the Breidegam Building, 15155 Kutztown Road, Kutztown. For more information, visit www.pagerman.org/mtmary, follow PGCHC on Facebook, call 610-683-1589 or email heritage@kutztown.edu.

----Yocum Institute for Arts Education, West Lawn, will present the exhibition "Albert Ciervo, Getting Plastered" in its Holleran Gallery from Friday through Jan. 20, with an opening reception Friday from 5 to 7 p.m.

A Berks County native now residing in Philadelphia, Ciervo studied at Kutztown University and the Art Institute of Philadelphia.

He said all the works in this show are done with Venetian plaster in a process he's been experimenting with for 10 years.

"I've always been interested in frescoes and so I started making pictures with the plaster in an effort to create a sort of modern fresco," he said. "The pieces represent things from my childhood to artists I enjoy to things that just pop into my head."

Gallery hours are 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Mondays through Fridays and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays.