Spotlight Community Theatre’s “Rising Star Revue” will feature some of the acting troupe’s younger members.
The performances will include “Gran’s Guide to Stop an Ogre (Also Works for Witches and Bullies),” a one-act play, and “The Teen Talent Showcase,” featuring a variety of talent from Spotlight’s youth.
Shows will take place at 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday at Radiant Life Church, 11533 Gamel Cemetery Road, in Festus. Tickets cost $10 and may be purchased at spotlightjeffco.ludus.com or at the door.
The cast and crew include people from all around Jefferson County and beyond.
Courtney Wisely, Spotlight’s founder and executive director, said Radiant Life Church is a good venue for the show.
“It’s really an awesome space,” she said. “It’s got a large stage and a lot of room for seating.”
According to a written statement from Wisely, “Gran’s Guide to Stop an Ogre (Also Works for Witches and Bullies)” is about two children, Zach and Lilly, arriving home from school upset about troubling experiences. Zach’s friend was getting bullied and Lilly feels left out by ‘mean girls’ who rule the school. Their grandmother tells them a seemingly unrelated magical story that might just help them deal with the bullies.
The play’s director, Linda Potter of De Soto, said the show is entertaining and instructive.
“I am beyond excited to showcase the incredible talent that these young people have as they share a message about the difficulty of dealing with bullies and overcoming tough situations through this beautiful story,” she said. “I hope you enjoy watching it as much as we enjoyed creating it.”
Charlie Labitska of Festus is the assistant director, and Taylor Swain of Festus and Alice Ditto of Oakville are stage managers.
The cast includes Ava Rose of Bloomsdale; Jacob Kyle of Byrnes Mill; Maxwell Crow of Crystal City; Addie Cage, Emma Ali, Evan Lalumondier, Harrison Clements, Hazel James, June Gans, Landon Sanford, Maci Mueller, Naomi Stemwell, Renee Shoemake and Scarlett Gans, all of Festus; Landon Kley, Stella Umfleet and Vivienne Hilligoss, all of Hillsboro; and Dorothy Thomas, Hannah Post and Knox Thomas, all of St. Louis.
“The Teen Talent Showcase” features troupe members ages 16 to 18 in a scripted performance of a theatrical nod to Broadway and will include singing and dancing. Musical instruments will be played, and the young actors will portray characters in short theatrical themes or monologues.
Lucky Perry and Amy Perry of Festus are co-directors of “The Teen Talent Showcase.” Debbie Anderson of Festus is the music director.
The co-directors praised the talent of the performers in a joint written statement.
“(These are) without a doubt some of the best teens that we’ve had the privilege to work with,” the Perrys said. “Each and every one of them are working so incredibly hard to bring a quality show to our audience. As directors, we cannot praise these kids enough. Each one is helping out the other one, making sure that each individual has their moment to shine on stage. That is a quality that is hard to find in theater, especially with teens, but it’s something that Spotlight Community Theatre thrives at.”
The cast list includes Ember Stone of Arnold; Grayson Hogan and Mason Tucker of Barnhart; Tyler Potter of De Soto; Angela Moore of Dittmer; Alex Perry, Clay Pickrell, Izzy Smith and Novella Puzzo, all of Festus; Riley Hunt of Imperial; Alaina Uding of Pevely; Alice Ditto of Oakville; and Zane Moore of St. Louis.
The Spotlight Community Theatre group is a nonprofit organization founded by Wisely in 2022 and based in Festus.
For more information about the troupe’s productions and other activities, visit its Facebook page at Spotlight Community Theatre – Jeffco or its website at spotlightjeffco.org.