By Alyssa Brinza
Stage 62 has “Something Rotten” in store this summer season.
The theater troupe, which started in 1962, has been a fixture at the Andrew Carnegie Library Music Hall in Carnegie since the 1980s. The group works to produce quality theater in a fun and safe environment, according to President Anna Gergerich.
“We love what we do and we want more theater in the world,” she said.
The group puts on about four shows a year. Around February they do a winter show for young audiences, a small musical or play in May, as well as a summer and fall musical.
On Friday and Saturday July 28 and 29 at 8 p.m. and Sunday the 30th at 3 p.m., the group will take on the hilarious Broadway comedy, “Something Rotten.”
“High schools in our area have done it,” Haley Hiller, producer of the show and four year secretary on the board of Stage 62 said.
Stage 62 will be the regional premiere of the show for non-professional community theater.
However, due to renovations at the Andrew Carnegie library this show will be held at Carlynton High School to the excitement of Director Robert James, a Carlynton alum and former director of the school's theatrical performances for 20 years.
“It’s like going home,” he said of going back to not only Carlynton but to Stage 62. James was on the board of Stage 62 for about 25 years before the pandemic.
“It’s big and fun,” said Hiller. The show is full of Stage 62 veterans but also is filled with newcomers to the group. “We got people from all over the Pittsburgh area and even people as far as Westmoreland county.”
With the combined effort and dedication of Gergerich, James, Hiller, and the rest of the cast and crew, they have recently started rehearsals.
“I can already tell this is going to be an amazing cast,” James said.
James and Gergerich said anyone can and will enjoy this show. James described it as a show that “looks at Shakespeare” but ultimately “does not take him seriously, he’s the villain.”
And though the show is full of Shakespearean and musical theater references, James said that “you can walk in there and hate Shakespeare and hate musicals, but love every minute of it.”
Hiller describes the cast as a “power house”of “incredible voices, talent and dancers.” While Gergerich describes the show as “so funny your face will hurt, a lot of heart, and crazy costumes”.
Tickets for the show are available at Stage62.org.
You can also see updates on the cast, rehearsals and more information on the troupe Facebook page.
As for the fall musical, "Crazy For You," the group said auditions are to be announced and will be posted on social media and the website.
They will be held around the end of August and beginning of September.
Last year, Stage 62 celebrated its 60th anniversary but Hiller said they have exciting things planned for next year, the troupe's 62nd anniversary.
“We love the number 62,” she joked.
They will not only be celebrating 62 years of quality theater but 62 years of community. James described Stage 62 as “community theater in the most pure sense” as they’ve donated and worked with local food banks, Dress for Success and other community-based organizations.
“We love the community, we are the community,” James said.