Theatre Box community theatre group has been a staple in the Floral Park community for more than 30 years and now has a grand total of 85 productions. The group puts on three performances a year, one in the fall, spring and summer.
This spring, the community theatre group is doing a production simply titled A Taste of the Tony’s, a musical revue with songs and dance numbers from Tony-nominated shows from the 1950s all the up to 2010. The decision to not to put on a “traditional musical” was made by Theatre Box committee members as a way to reach out and widen the scope of performers outside of the Floral Park area. Director Claudia Wilson considers the revue more of a “jukebox musical.”
Wilson admits that selecting the songs for each decade was a bit painful.
“Five songs were chosen for each decade,” she added. “except for the 1970s, supposedly there was not a lot going on in terms of musicals.”
A variety of songs include numbers from older productions such as “Hey There” from The Pajama Game, and “Honey Bun” from South Pacific and move onto songs from current musicals such as “Good Riddance” from American Idiot and the melancholy “Falling Slowly” from the musical Once.
According to Wilson, the production is for those who “sing in the shower or into a hairbrush in their bathroom, and really want to just go out there and sing their favorite song from a musical; this is their moment in the sun.”
Wilson said that she has no concerns about whether or not a performer is considered “good or not good.”
She continues, “Eighty percent of these performances are all about being enthusiastic and showing the audience how much fun you’re having. That enthusiasm carries over into the performances.”
With opening day nearly just a week away, cast and crew are busy polishing up last minute song and dance numbers. Choreographers Judy Brown and Lisa Hatcher-Perez take on the task of creating dance numbers throughout different decades with confidence. Brown and Hatcher-Perez both agree that their job is to “follow what the music says and tells you what to do.”
Both choreographers have a background in theatre and dance training. Brown received her Bachelor of Arts at SUNY Brockport theatre program and also received her A.A. in acting from Nassau Community College’s theatre program, the same program Billy Crystal attended.
Hatcher-Perez received her Bachelors of Fine Arts from Adelphi University.
It is very clear that A Taste of the Tony’s is truly a collaborative effort. Wilson worked very closely with all involved and Hatcher-Perez adds that she is “easy to communicate with and has a very clear vision of what she wants.”
Musical Director Frank Sanchez has received great praise from his counterparts for his help not only with the songs featured, but with also some of the group choreography.
Show Producer Kate Rudgers-Lenzo added, “Being involved with this production has been a joy. The unique format of the revue has allowed us to venture into new territory and also welcome some wonderful new performers to the Theatre Box family.”
The Theatre Box “family” is definitely expanding. Newcomer, singer and dancer, Sarah Jean Beirne recently moved to Long Island from Connecticut. She brings to Theatre Box experience as a cofounder of two community theaters in Connecticut. Along with cofounder Ashley Smith, the two created the theater groups: New Town and The Blackbox.
Beirne attended the Regional Center for the Arts in Bridgeport Connecticut. She feels comfortable at Theatre Box stating that the members are “very accepting to outsiders, which is refreshing and everyone is very welcoming.” Beirne added that the group is “more care free as compared to other places, and they are all about making it fun.”
Show cast includes: Nancy Meagher, Donna Lindskog, Sarah Lindskog, Geri DiBari, Laurie Radziewicz, Rebecca Davidson, Sarah Beirne, Kelly Conrad, Shana Lee, Barbara Terpening, Steve Hoffman, Paul Mastrella, John Benvenuto, Joseph D. Marchione, Jeff Gedacht, John Terpening and Xavier Alisse,
If you love classic show tunes, then you’re sure to be in Broadway heaven as Theatre Box of Floral Park presents the toe-tapping A Taste of the Tonys, a musical revue featuring more than two dozen unforgettable songs from the Great White Way. The curtain goes up for six performances at United Methodist Church of Floral Park at 35 Verbena Ave.
A terrific lineup of singers and dancers will bring to life familiar favorites as well as a few hidden musical gems from such great shows as The Music Man, The Sound of Music, Oliver, Pippin, Chicago, Thoroughly Modern Millie and Mary Poppins.
Show times are May 1, 2, 7 and 9 at 8 p.m. and Sundays, May 3 and 10 at 2 p.m. Tickets are $15 for adults, $10 for seniors and $5 for 18 and under. Visit theatrebox.org or call 516-900-2031 for more information.
