Since local travel agent Marie Teets founded Cranberry's Comtra Theater in 1983, the Route 19 venue has staged new productions every three weeks nearly year-round, usually family friendly comedies and musicals.
The directors of the spring shows agreed the theater's family orientation is unlikely to change, but pointed out the line-up offers a few surprises, including an adult drama about sin and redemption.
"Do Black Patent Leather Shoes Really Reflect Up?," which opens Friday, is an example of what Comtra's known for: a nostalgic musical that's both a repeat engagement and a family affair.
Margie Linville directs the show for the fifth time, and said that actors from several of her productions of "Patent" are returning, including her daughter, Carrie Jackson, who plays the show's female lead, Becky Bakowski.
"Patent" concerns children growing up in a Catholic school in the 1950s and is based on John R. Powers' 1975 novel of the same name. It had record-breaking runs in Chicago and Philadelphia and features 1950s style doo-wop songs such as "Doo-waa, Doo-wee" and "The Greatest Gift."
Ms. Jackson played Becky, who must decide whether to enter a convent, during Comtra's first production in 1992. "The experience of seeing my daughter in this role again," said Ms. Linville, "it's so deep in my heart I have a hard time talking about it."
Mother and son Peggy Davis and Bill Davis are reprising their 1992 roles as Sister Ann and Felix, as is Barbara DiLettuso as Mother Superior, who has been in all five productions. A mother/father/daughter team are also in the cast: Larry and Patty Stevens play Sister Monica Marie and Father O'Reilly, while daughter Shelly Brunott plays Virginia.
Director Jeanne Donovic said the comedy "A Bad Year for Tomatoes," which opens April 18, marks a family anniversary. Ten years ago she starred in the show as Myra Marlowe, a role she's reprising. "My son was 11 then, and he's always claimed 'Tomatoes' was his favorite show we've ever done," said Ms. Donovic. "It's his 21st birthday May 2, so this is part of his birthday gift."
"Tomatoes" follows screen star Myra as she settles into tiny Beaver Hollow to rest and write her memoirs, but the inquisitive locals drive her to create a homicidal sister who lives upstairs -- played by herself.
Ms. Donovic said she tried to get the original cast, but besides herself, only Cathy Gialloreto and Sue Baxter, who play Reba Harper and Willa Mae Wilcox, and Tom Licker, who plays the Sheriff, were able to appear. Joyce Hollein, Bruce Travers and Ed Krafft also star.
Director Craig Motycki said he had no choice but to do "Caught in the Net," the sequel to Ray Cooney's popular farce, "Run for Your Wife."
When he did "Wife" in February, he said, he was stopped by one woman during intermission. " 'When are you going to do the sequel?' she asked. It wasn't even the end of the first play."
"Net," which opens May 9, deals with the further adventures of London bigamist John Smith, who keeps his two families in the dark about each other despite their living only blocks apart. Now his son from one family and his daughter from another have connected over the Internet, and are planning to meet in person.
Mr. Motycki said, apart from the two young people, his cast is the same as in February, with Rich Kenzie as John Smith, Gabe Herlinger as Stanley, Audra Lopez as Barb Smith and Mary Romeo as Mary Smith.
Is he tired of directing British farces? Not yet, said Mr. Motycki. "It's one of my favorite things to do. It's not even work."
Director Robert Snodgrass said it was the success of "Dracula" in 2006 that made him consider proposing more dramas to Ms. Teets, who approves all shows.
To convince her to stage "Rain," a morality play set in 1930s' Pago Pago and adapted from a story by W. Somerset Maugham, Mr. Snodgrass said he had her screen the 1932 film version starring Joan Crawford as fallen woman Sadie Thompson.
"She came back and said, 'Yes, let's do it,'" he said.
When Sadie becomes trapped on a tropical island, she and missionary Alfred Davidson are locked in a battle of wills that results in Sadie's spiritual conversion -- but spells doom for Davidson.
Mr. Snodgrass said a play such as "Rain" represents a departure for Comtra, but he thinks the show, which has not yet been cast, will succeed with audiences when it opens May 30.
"The conflict, the tension between these two people. It's perfect for the space," he said, referring to the Comtra being a theater in the round, with close seating.
"Do Black Patent Leather Shoes Really Reflect Up?" plays Comtra Theater, Route 19, Cranberry, at 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and April 4, 5, 11 and 12. Tickets are $15. Call 724-773-9896.
First Published: March 23, 2008, 4:00 a.m.
