Theatre Thoughts

The PGSTT Project!

2011-12-16T22:09:00.001-05:00

I am excited to announce a brand new opportunity that we encourage all past PGSTT production members to participate in!

Have you ever wanted to write a play? Got a story idea or concept that you think would translate well on stage? Have you always dreamed of putting on your very own production, but never had the resources to do so? Interested in trying your hand at directing? PGSTT is going to give you your shot!

This year, we are planning on adding a new Spring Performance into our repertoire, and we want you to write it! That’s right, you heard me! We are hosting a competition which we’d like to call The PGSTT Project, in search of the perfect original script to put on a black box theater style production. You send us a proposal of your idea, and if we select it as the winner, you will then get to write the full script and (if you so choose) direct the show itself! Details of the competition have been attached.

Don’t let this opportunity pass you by! It’s a wonderful outlet for your creativity and a great way learn the ropes of putting together an original playwright!

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to ask!

The PGSTT Project

Rules and Guidelines

Guidelines

Anyone who has ever been involved with a PGSTT production (cast member, tech crew, etc.) is eligible to enter the competition.
Contestants are asked to propose an idea for PGSTT’s new Spring Production. Submissions must be your own original concepts.
Your creation must be intended to be performed in a small black box theater with little to no out-of-pocket expenses. It should require:

Limited set pieces and props
Easily accessible costumes (e.g., modern street clothes)
Modest lighting and sound

Content should remain within the Rated G to PG-13 range and should be appropriate for a cast of young teens (between the ages of 13-22).
Performance length should not exceed 1.5 hours, plus one required intermission.
You must be prepared to write a full script of your show within a 1 month turnaround period, should your proposal be selected.
Submission forms must be completed and sent to pgstt@hotmail.com no later than January 23, 2012 in order to be eligible for consideration.
The winner of the PGSTT Project Competition will be selected by a small panel of judges from the PGSTT Board and announced by January 27, 2012.
The winning proposal will be selected based on:

The content of the story and concept
How easily the show can be produced with minimal expenses
How well it can be performed in a black box little theater environment

Should your submission be chosen:

You will be required to work with a PGSTT Project representative (Hark Tagunicar) to create the entire script in one month or less.
You will be offered the opportunity to direct your play, as long as you have the time, availability, and commitment to do so. If you decide to decline the offer, the director will then be assigned by the PGSTT Project Committee.

Production Details

Rehearsals will take place two weekday evenings a week (coordinated with the director) throughout the months of March and April.
If deemed necessary, rehearsals may take place every night (Monday-Thursday) during tech week, leading up to the opening show.
There will be 3 performances, tentatively scheduled to run from May 4^th through May 6^th 2012.
The PGSTT Project will fill all production staff positions with volunteers who could be mentored by adults experienced in all aspects of theater. Interested individuals should contact Hark Tagunicar (contact info below).

Questions? Please contact Hark Tagunicar at pgstt@hotmail.com with “The PGSTT Project” in the title.

The PGSTT Project

Submission Form

Full Name:

Email Address:

Daytime Phone:

Play Title:

Synopsis (no more than 300 words please)

Approximate Duration (must not exceed 1.5 hours, plus intermission):

Characters (please list each one and give a 2-3 sentence description of them and their role in the story):

Briefly describe set and prop requirements.

Briefly describe costuming requirements.

Briefly describe lightning and sound requirements.

Are you interested in directing your play?

Please attach a 5 page sample “script excerpt” from a scene in your show.

Beginning Another Year

2011-09-08T23:17:00.000-04:00

Some might think this is the approach to the end of the year, but for our organization this is the beginning of our new year. The Board of Directors is reconvening to begin the work for our next production. we hope to bring on some new Board members and reinvision the way the board functions. The board needs to restruct itself so that it can focus its energies in the two areas that are most important - funding and support, and planning for the new production. we also need to pick a show for next summer. send us your suggestions for shows. and if you would like to help our organization by serving on our board, please contact us at pgstt@hotmail.com. Help us ring in our new year.

Hairpray Begins

2011-06-20T10:03:00.003-04:00

Wow, what a start to another year. I missed auditions for the first time in 10 years. Auditions are a great time to see old friends and meet some great new people. I returned from a trip to find we had some amazing young people come into our program this summer. We still had missing actors needed to fill out our cast, but we have had a few actors step up and fill in the blanks. So far the cast has been so much fun. They came together to help out in a car wash fundraiser. They participate with amazing energy in our rehearsals and they have even met outside of rehearsals to review choreography and blocking on their own time. Our program faces some serious financial difficulties, but the Board of Directors is working to find the necessary funding to keep our program up and running. I really look forward to seeing how this cast brings Hairspray to its ultimate glory. The production staff is working amazingly hard to create a great show. Heather and Hana are working very well with the cast. My special thanks go out to Gloria and Mark for all the work they have done to keep this show moving forward. Thank you cast for being so much fun.
Marguerite

Footloose Auditions

2010-04-22T21:46:00.000-04:00

Prince George’s Summer Teen Theatre (PGSTT) is excited to begin another summer of exciting Music Theater with our production of FOOTLOOSE, THE MUSICAL.

Auditions are May 17 and 18 at 7 pm at Emmanuel United Methodist Church, 11416 Cedar Lane, Beltsville, Md. Call backs May 19 at 7pm. Rehearsals will be Monday-Thursday nights in Beltsville beginning May 24.

Performances are July 17, 18, 21, 24, 25, 31 and August 1at High Point High School, 3601 Powder Mill Road, Beltsville, MD on. More information about our program please visit our website, www.pgstt.org.

We welcome Darnell Morris as our director. He will be joined by Nicole Martin as choreographer and Yumi Baker as Music Director.

We are seeking a large cast of local teens (13 – 20 years old) to bring this exciting musical to life on our stage. Please prepare 16-32 bars of 2 contrasting Contemporary Musical Theater pieces (i.e. up tempo piece and a ballad, please no Stephen Sondheim). You may not be asked to sing both pieces. Bring legible sheet music clearly marked and in the appropriate key. An accompanist will be provided. No taped music or a capella singing. Come prepared to dance, sneakers or jazz sneakers please.

Footloose, Footloose, Kick Off Your Sunday Shoes by Rick Bergman

2010-03-13T11:41:00.001-05:00

The opening music of Footloose always brings back a flood of memories from childhood for me. I remember the first time that I saw the movie and the opening song being played over scenes of random feet dancing. No faces, no identifying features, just a bunch of feet dancing to the title track, Kenny Loggin’s Footloose. The movie is on the surface a simple story about rebellious teenagers and a strict Christian town. It put Kevin Bacon on the map and made him a huge star. When I was younger it was all about the music and dancing, but as I got older I noticed so much more. I realized that it isn’t about rebellious kids, but rather about a young man searching for a father and a father searching for the son that he lost. Their search for those things affected everyone around them in different ways, the father lost sight of his daughter. The daughter made poor choices to get the attention of her father. The teenage boy caused grief for his family because of the reputation that he had created for himself. The movie is so much more than a “dance movie.” It is probably the film from that period in the
1980’s that I have watched the most.

When I heard that Footloose was going to be a stage musical, I was a little leery. I did not think they could capture the heart and poignancy that the film had. I did not think any performer could be up to snuff when compared with the actors in the film. But, I went and saw it and I have to say I was impressed. The story is captured beautifully and the musical shows us that the story is timeless. I am more excited about this summer’s production than I have been for any others. I love the story and music of Footloose and can’t wait to see what our artists, both teens and adults, bring to this story.

We are proud to announce that our director this year is Darnell Morris, a local producer, director, choreographer and actor who brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to our stage. He has assembled a team that will stretch our actors in new ways and teach them the wonderful art of creation. Most recently, Darnell has produced RENT at the Kensington Arts Center. This is one of the first amateur productions of RENT in our area. We are very excited about working with him and bringing him into the PGSTT family.

If you have never seen Footloose, you owe it to yourself to find it and watch it. Put it on Netflix, find it on television (VH1 is notorious for running it 2 or 3 times a weekend) or find an old VHS copy. Sit down with a bowl of popcorn and enjoy. When you are done, if you are a teenager come to auditions and join us in creating an awesome show this summer. Audition dates are May 17 and 18, 2010 and callbacks are May 19. For all of the information visit us at www.pgstt.org We look forward to seeing you and don’t forget that sometimes you just have to “footloose, footloose, kick off your Sunday shoes.

PGSTT Night at the Silver Diner

2010-01-20T21:56:00.001-05:00

Night we had a fundraiser at the Silver Diner in Laurel. We would like to thank everyone who came out to support us! Below are a few pictures from the evening.

Director Search

2010-01-07T22:46:00.002-05:00

Prince George's Summer Teen Theatre (PGSTT) is looking for a director for our summer 2010 production of FOOTLOOSE. If you are interested please contact us by January 13, 2010.

Our selection committee will sit down with each director candidate and discuss the director’s vision for FOOTLOOSE. They will then select the director who best fits our mission to provide teens instruction, skills and knowledge in the various theatrical arts.

For more information email us at PGSTT@hotmail.com, or visit our website at www.PGSTT.org.

Holiday Fun by Traci Dougherty

2009-12-30T21:40:00.000-05:00

For the past few years PGSTT has been hosting a holiday reunion party for the previous summers cast and crew. This year we decided to celebrate with some fun '80s costumes and music in honor of our upcoming 2010 production of Footloose.

All though this is a relatively new tradition I love the chance to get our "kids" together. PGSTT draws teens from all over Prince George's County and the surrounding areas. With people coming from so many high schools and colleges there are many people who wouldn't see each other if it wasn't for this mini reunion.

After all the eating and catching up we all sit down for a viewing of the past summers production. For most of the cast and crew it is the first time they get to see the production from the audiences point of view.

My favorite part of the party is always the viewing. People really get into it laughing at mistakes, quoting lines, singing and dancing along with the numbers.

Fun food and lots of memories. It's just another reason why I have been a member of the PGSTT family for so many years.

PGSTT, A Summer Institution by Rick Bergmann

2009-12-23T09:00:00.002-05:00

1967 was a busy year for the United States. We were at war in Vietnam. It was the height of the hippie movement, the “summer of love.” In the Heat of the Night with Sidney Poitier and Rod Steiger won best picture at the academy awards. Other box office draws were The Graduate, Bonnie and Clyde, Doctor Doolittle, and The Dirty Dozen. On TV we were watching The Flying Nun, Ironside, and The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour. Elvis Presley married Priscilla, the Beatles released Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band, and the musical Hair premiered Off-Broadway. The word “bell-bottom” was introduced to the dictionary. Gas was $0.33 a gallon.

It was also a year of firsts. Thurgood Marshall was confirmed as the first African-American Supreme Court Justice. Dr. Christian Bernard performed the first heart transplant. The First Superbowl was played. We celebrated Earth Day for the first time. The first microwave hits the consumer market and Sesame Street had its first broadcast. And in Beltsville, MD PGSTT is formed and its first production, Lil’Abner premiered.

When I became part of the PGSTT family in 1999, I did not know the rich history of our organization. I also did not know that I would be writing about it 10 years later. I started life in PGSTT as a stage manager. What I noticed almost immediately is that there was a strong commitment to teaching the theatre arts to those involved.

All of the actors were given the opportunity to learn how to build and paint a set. Actors were told they were responsible for their costumes and taught how to care for them. They were taught how to apply their make-up for the stage. PGSTT is an organization that is built around two words, education and family.

We strive to educate our casts and crew in order to expand their appreciation of theatre. We attempt to break down the walls that often separate individuals within the theatre community. You are no longer an actor, a part of the crew, the light guy, the sound guy, the producer, the director, or the stage manager. You are a member of the family. You may come in to our program knowing how to do only one of the jobs I listed, but by the end of the summer many have learned how to do at least one of those other jobs. We strive to foster a community where a student who comes through our program feels free to try one of the other jobs that are associated with theatre.

In my 10 years with PGSTT I have seen many students begin as actors and actresses and end up as directors, choreographers, music directors, stage managers, light designers, sound designers, producers, and many other jobs. Fostering a love and respect for the entire spectrum of theatre arts is what we are about.

Building the organization on the love and respect for the craft is what has kept PGSTT going strong for 42 years. Since 1967 we have not missed one summer, something that is rare within the theatre community. Our desire to develop the creative mind has helped us to maintain our program summer after summer. Teenagers coming through our program are not talked down to, they are given an opportunity to shine, to learn, and to create. This is why we are one of the longest running community theatre groups in the country.

As with all theatre, not everything goes right. Those of us who have been producers know this; there is always one more thing to be done, one more errand to run right before opening night. As an actor, there is always one scene you just can’t get right, or one dance move that you are always a beat behind on. How many times has a director looked at the stage and thought, I wish that set piece looked just a little different, or you know that costume piece does not look quite right. But all of those worries seem to disappear on opening night. The magic of opening night is one of the best feelings there is. The lights go down and the curtain opens and all of the hard work pays off. The joy in watching people creating something is amazing. Watching the audience react to scenes that you have been watching the cast create over the last few months is an awesome and wondrous feeling.

I have so many happy memories from my my years as a part of PGSTT and look forward to having so many more.

I believe in PGSTT by Tina Harris

2009-12-16T09:00:00.001-05:00

In ’94 my two teenagers asked if they could audition for a musical, I said yes, they got parts and so began a 15 year relationship with PGSTT. Wait a minute I don’t even have teenagers anymore so why am I still involved?

I believe in what the program stands for, introducing teenagers to all aspects of musical theatre, on stage, back stage, in the pit, make-up, taking direction and finding their place within the whole. There is so much to do and learn and the kids who have participated in the program have always stepped up and done whatever was necessary to make it happen, “The Show Must Go On”.

So what does being in each show teach us? Teamwork, patience, cooperation and how to follow direction and most of all how to handle the unexpected.

The stage, like life and makes us at one moment a star and in the next makes us a member of the Chorus. It is challenging you at every turn, but when it all comes together the pride reflected in each of the performers faces shows that glow of I did it I made it happen.

A lot of the kids don’t have acting, singing or dancing experience, so it’s amazing to see what 3 months of hard work and dedication can produce.

You make personal attachments and it is so wonderful to see familiar faces return to audition again and again, to love and hate what they are doing but always taking the time to make it happen.

I’ve spent a lot of time over the years driving and waiting, lending a hand where I can and supporting a program that I believe gives our actors and actresses a head start with the challenges they will all face in the future whether its on a stage or off.

My first Experience with PGSTT by Jaime Thorpe

2009-12-09T09:00:00.003-05:00

I had never heard of PGSTT until I started dating my now husband, Matt Thorpe. He told me all about this theatre program that caters specifically to teenagers that puts on really fun and wonderful shows. I was very interested in auditioning because I had just graduated high school and wanted to continue to do theatre but wasn't sure where to look. I was a bit intimidated at first, being not only new to the group but also from AACo and not knowing anyone else involved besides Matt's family. Once I auditioned and rehearsals started, I felt that I had been a part of the group from the beginning. The cast really welcomed me into their family and I was really sad when Grease came to a close. It was because of the experience I had my first year with PGSTT, that I came back 3 more years to be a part of the cast, before joining the Board of Directors and stepping behind scenes to lend my hand as assistant director in 2 additional productions.

Reflection on a PGSTT Family by Marguerite Connolly

2009-12-02T13:16:00.000-05:00

My son Matthew discovered his passion for theater as he headed into his teen years. As the oldest of my four children and as a single parent I encouraged my children to find those things they enjoyed that were close to home to cut down on driving time to drop off and pick up. High Point High School is not close to home. His biggest disappointment was not being able to audition for Carousel because he was not yet 13. Through the generosity of his friend’s families in providing him rides he came on as stage crew for that show. The next two years the program moved to Prince Georges Community College, much closer to our home and by that time Matt’s younger sisters were willing to help out the program as well. With each summer we as a family began spending more time at the theater and I will never forget my youngest daughter Mary, 5 or 6 years old at the time, coming out of the theater with her new friend Kaitlin covered in paint because they were helping paint the sets. That was Hello Dolly and I was asked to help out in the Box Office and front of house. From then on PGSTT became a family affair. For 2 shows, On The Town and Wizard of Oz I got to enjoy seeing all four of my children on stage. The program became the focus of our family during the summer months. Because this program was so much fun for my kids and was providing them with so many great lessons, friends and opportunities I wanted to help the program to continue, so I joined the board. I learned so much about how this program was built and I have spent 9 years trying to guide it to becoming the best program in the area. I have a wall covered in show posters signed each year by the cast and they are one of my most prized possessions. The teens that have come through our program have been a joy to work with and some have become treasured members of our extended family. As I have watched my children and the children in the program mature and continue in their love of theater I feel so grateful for having some small part in their development and feel blessed for having spent time with them on their journey through life.

Let’s Hear It For The Teenager by Rick Bergmann

2009-11-25T21:04:00.002-05:00

The headline in the Beltsville news read “Rec Council Forming Teen Theater.” That was it, 5 words announced the arrival of a teen theater that had come before it. It sought to incorporate teens in all facets of theater, not just on stage but behind the scenes as well. PGSTT has never been afraid of its core participants, TEENAGERS!!! Teenagers are the pride and joy of PGSTT, we would be nowhere without them. Throughout its 42 years of history our program has embraced the idea of the teenager. We have strived to do shows that often appeal to the idea of the teenager. Shows such as Grease, West Side Story, Bye Bye Birdie, and the upcoming Footloose all speak to the idea of being a teenager in different periods in time. We have seen over 2500 teenagers come through our program and each one of them has shown a talent and interest in the arts that have made the world around them a little better. In a time when schools are cutting funds to arts programs and many schools don’t have the resources to fund theater programs we often give a teenager their only chance to show what they can do. My favorite type of participant is the shy child who comes to our program because they always wanted to try to be in a play but didn’t know how. They show up at auditions and don’t have a song to sing, they are shy and awkward in the beginning but after 8 to 10 weeks of rehearsal they command the stage. I can recall teenagers who have shown up and asked if they could turn towards the wall to sing their audition song because they were nervous, or ones who asked if they could close their eyes or sit down and sing. We have seen many males come through who swore they couldn’t dance but by the end of production were burning up the stage with their dance moves. It is a great pleasure working with teenagers and watching them often portray characters well beyond their years. They bring a freshness and boldness that is sometimes lacking in Community Theater. So let us salute the teenagers, because without them, there would be no PGSTT.

Diapers and Grass Skirts by Hark Tagunicar

2009-11-18T06:00:00.001-05:00

Theater was something I was always interested in, even as a little kid. It was always fun to imagine you were something you weren’t. I remember at recess in elementary school when my classmates and I would pretend we were all characters from Street Fighter II. We would pretend to throw fireballs at each other and execute spinning kicks upside down and whatnot. (That took some talent, let me tell you!) Of course, all the really cool kids got to be Ken and Ryu – while I was stuck being the “medic” in the background ready to patch people up when they got K.O.’d from the fight. That was my first taste at being the “supporting chorus member” behind the star celebrities.

Ok, so my acting roots weren’t always that violent, and sure it had a hint of LARPing (Live Action Role Playing) more than anything else, but later I would get my chance on stage in our school play when I was 11 years old. No, I wasn’t a rock or a tree or any other stationary object. I had an actual speaking part! And I also had to wear a diaper….. and only a diaper….. on stage….. in front of hundreds of people….… both complete strangers and people I would see in class the very next day………… AND I LOVED EVERY MOMENT OF IT!!!!

Since then, I tried to audition for every show I could through middle school. I just couldn’t get enough of it! Then high school came around, and I unfortunately got swamped. Oh the joys of the Eleanor Roosevelt High School Science & Tech Program! Theater took a back seat in my life behind my studies – rightfully so. But I wished that I was able to find time for it. When I finally graduated from high school in 1999, several of my friends told me about a group called PGSTT that was in desperate need of guys for their upcoming performance, South Pacific. (Oh how things never change!) As chance would have it, one of the main character roles – Captain Brackett - was vacant and needed to be filled. I went in and auditioned for the part. For some reason I managed to acquire the role – and I didn’t have to wear a diaper to do it! But I did have to wear a grass skirt on stage during the actual performances! I guess my acting career had officially jumped up in the world!

What can I say? It was love at first sight! This would begin a beautiful relationship of more than 11 years – and I am happy to say it is still going strong to this day! PGSTT has provided me with a plethora of memories, and I intend on sharing as many of them with you as I can!

My first experience with PGSTT "The George Story" by Matt Arnold

2009-11-11T20:09:00.002-05:00

There are two accounts which I can consider my first experiences with PGSTT. My very first experience was watching my two sisters in Hello Dolly. One of them had the role of Minnie Fay, one of the supporting female roles in the show. I don't remember much about the show in particular, it was roughly 10 years ago, but I do remember thinking to myself "I want to do that when I'm old enough."thanks!

The second account which I can call a "first experience" was the auditions for a show I was in 2 years later with PGSTT, The Wizard of Oz. I was nervous, very nervous. My sisters reminded me of PGSTT's desperate need of male actors and that I was going to get into the show no matter what, this did very little to calm my nerves. This was my first audition for any musical, I had no idea what I was getting myself into. I had no idea i was about to be welcomed into the arms of a 2nd family, a "summer" family, that I would re visit for the next 7 years.

For my song I sang "Lida Rose" from The Music Man if I recall properly, (if it wasn't that it was "What do I need with Love" from Thoroughly Modern Millie (ironically the final show with PGSTT that I was in)).

After that we had to read monologues. I read a monologue from "You're a Good Man Charlie Brown" where Charlie is sitting and eating lunch and notices the very cute red headed girl. I remember just thinking to myself "It's like reading out loud during English class." I read the monologue and acted (or what I thought to be acting.) If I were to remember one specific detail of that audition it was that when I was done I looked up and saw the directors all at least smiling, and the music director actually laughing. From there on I began to feel more and more comfortable singing and acting and being myself with the fellow cast members around me.

Through that summer I began to learn about my favorite part of musical theatre, the people involved in the show and the friendships I developed. PGSTT became the beginning of many friendships that to this day remain strong, some of which started during the Wizard of Oz.

PGSTT is a Family Affair by Traci Dougherty

2009-11-04T23:00:00.000-05:00

I recently read an article on parent involvement in schools and found it interesting that one of the things great school have in common is a large amount of parent involvement. Schools with high parent involvement have better test scores, higher GPA's and less behavior problems. This got me thinking about PGSTT and the great families I have met there over the years.

When I was in high school participating on stage didn't think much of the parents that were at the rehearsal everyday helping out, let alone the ones behind the scenes at home that I didn't ever see. While I was having fun learning song and dance numbers these unsung theatre heroes were toiling away to make sure everything off and on stage ran smoothly.

When I found my way back to PGSTT in 2003 I learned very quickly that it doesn't matter how talented the cast or how wonderful the director without those parents the show is almost impossible to pull off. Families help make costumes and props, build sets, sell adds, make baked goods, run concession stands, usher, sell tickets, design the program, organize backstage snacks, cast parties, after show dinners, help with hair and make up , play in the pit, work backstage, solicit donations and so much more.

As performers we got all the glory, the applause, the spot light, the congratulatory flowers. What do these families get? They put in just as much time and energy (sometimes more). I can only speak for myself but I like to think most of those other people feel the same way. I love the thrill of watching a kid finally learn a difficult dance step, the excitement of trying a costume for the first time, the joy of curtain call on opening night when everything has finally come together. I'm not even ashamed to admit it brings tears of pride to my eyes when they take that bow. I like to think that is what my parents felt when they were helping out back in the 90's.

More then 10 years later my mom and dad still help out behind the scenes, along with my sister, brother and even my brother's girlfriend have been down to High Point to help out. My family is not special we are just one in a line of many and when my family moves on one day there will be plenty more families to take our place, moms, dads, brothers, sisters, grandparents, cousins, aunts and uncles all working together for 43 years to make PGSTT great and I am proud my family gets to be one of them.

Remembering a milestone…by Rick Bergmann

2009-10-29T10:53:00.001-04:00

40 Years is a long time, we celebrate it in our culture as some great goal. Think of how many parties you have had for people who have reached the magical number of 40. Well in 2007 PGSTT turned 40. We had been planning for that year since 2005. We knew we were going to do a big show, something that celebrated everything PGSTT was about. We chose “Disney’s Beauty and the Beast” one of the defining Broadway musicals of the past 20 years. It was a show that said we were serious about the theatre. It required a huge cast, an army of behind the scenes crew, costumers, and many other key personnel. It was also a trying year, because our home for a majority of the past 40 years, High Point High School, would be doing some major renovations and we would not be able to perform there that summer. This left us scrambling for a venue; thankfully the Bowie Center for the Performing Arts gave us a space. But this meant more work; we had to find a rehearsal space for 10 weeks, which High Point graciously allowed us into their gym and cafeteria. We had to find a place to build sets. Thankfully, Emmanuel United Methodist Church allowed us to set up shop in their parking lot. We also had to find an army of costumers, makeup people, props builders, and set workers to bring the lush Disney show to life. It was a long and grueling process.

Opening night finally arrived and the evening began with a reception for alumni of the program. It was a time to talk about the program, the shows and what they had meant to each of us. At 7pm, the show began. The wonderful thing a producer gets to do is watch the audience’s reaction to a show. We have seen it 2 or 3 dozen times, but to watch an audience who is seeing it for the first time is magical. “Beauty and the Beast” was great because of the number of families that bought tickets. Little children would gasp at the beast, or laugh when Chip the talking teacup arrived on set. There were lots of little moments that the audience absolutely loved. But it was great to hear from the alumnus as well, because seeing the show seemed to bring back so many memories from their years with the program. In the end, there was thunderous applause and the hard work and stress of the prior 10 weeks of rehearsal and really the prior 2 years of work all seemed to melt away. Everyone in the theatre was transported to the small provincial village in France and invited to be their guest.

My first experience with PGSTT by Rick Bergmann

2009-10-21T07:00:00.001-04:00

I remember seeing audition notices for PGSTT during High School and I knew friends who had done shows with them, but because of summer schedules I could never work out the time to audition. It wasn’t until I had been in college for two and a half years that PGSTT came calling again. A friend of mine was tech directing for 1999’s production of South Pacific and was looking for a stage manager. He asked if it would be something I would be interested in and I said sure, why not. I did not know what I was getting myself into.

I thought I was going to work on a “teenager” production. I was amazed the expectation of PGSTT. Although it was performed by teenagers, the production values were high and the production team was more professional than most companies I had worked with. We had a real working shower on stage, next summer we had a full sized trolley and a hat box that opened up into a hat store. To watch the kids learn and grow that summer was amazing. I still see former members in community theatre throughout the area. That was the summer of 1999 and I am still here. As we go into the summer of 2010, I look forward to watching the performers learn and grow all over again.

PGSTT has always strived for excellence but has never talked down to or talked at the teenagers involved. It has touched so many people. I was a t a reunion of my high school theatre group this summer and when people found out that I was involved with PGSTT, they were instantly excited. We spent time talking about memories of the program and what it meant to each of us. Some of my favorite memories over the last 10 years have to do with my time spent working with PGSTT, it has been and continues to be a very important part of my life.

My first Experience with PGSTT by Traci Dougherty

2009-10-14T09:21:00.000-04:00

I was 16 years old when I first heard of Prince George's Summer Teen Theatre. I was in my 2nd year at Bowie High School and had just finished our Spring Production. Some friends and I thought it would be fun to try out for Anything Goes. I was really never auditioned before and was really nervous. I don't remember what song I sang I do remember that we had auditions in the auditorium with all the auditioners, parents and production team watching. Standing up and singing in that huge theater in front of all those people was terrifying, but I made it through. I was thrilled a few days later when we received the call to say I had made the cast.
It's sad to say I don't remember most of the details of that summer now (it's been almost 16 years). I remember learning to tap dance (I was really bad at it), trying on costumes (I had a really cute navy blue with white polka dot sailor dress), and the cast party (which my family hosted). When I think back on the experience I know it was alot of fun and I went back to PGSTT the next summer and now almost 16 years later I am still involved with PGSTT and hope that we can bring that same since of fun to a new generation of teens.