By LAUREN SOVISKY
staff writer
In honor of the Alex Clemente fundraiser, Gannon University’s Schuster Theatre teamed up with the Erie Playhouse in a comedic theatrical production over the weekend.
Since 1996, the theater program has held an annual fundraiser for the Alex Clemente Fund for Performing and Related Arts.
This fundraiser provides support for guest artists who either visit the campus to work with students, or provide master classes and workshops away from campus when students travel.
In conjunction with the Erie Playhouse’s 100-year anniversary, the two theaters helped produce “The Glorious Ones.”
With book and lyrics created by Lynn Ahrens and music by Stephen Flaherty, “The Glorious Ones” is a musical comedy that follows a commedia dell’arte troupe during the European Renaissance.
This musical discusses the creation of the troupe and how it caught the public’s eye through some lewd comedy.
This includes the French court and religious leaders who may not have been so pleased by these performances.
The story focuses on seven standard characters in theater including the charismatic leading man, the sly harlequin, the quack doctor, the old miser, the voluptuous leading lady, the devoted dwarf and the elegant “Moon Woman.” Each is on the hunt for love, immortality or fame.
Their adventure continues as they are punished and thrown out of France due to their vulgar performances.
Ultimately this action sets the stage for the characters to discover if the performance life is truly meant for them.
The production was cast by the locals of Erie who often volunteer at the Playhouse, with the production assisted by students and staff of Gannon.
“It was so nice to see a very talented group of actors perform such a comical and moving show,” Seamus Clerkin, a freshman computer science major, said. “They will take this piece to Williamsport this coming weekend and I’m sure they will wow the judges and audience.”
This production will be entered in the national civic theatre competition in Williamsport in celebration of the best in community theatre. In previous years, the Erie Playhouse’s participation in this competition has won it the honor of one of the 10 best community theaters in the nation.
LAUREN SOVISKY
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