A new community theater group called Spotlight Community Theatre-Jeffco will put on its first public production on May 19 at the Sunset Park outdoor stage, 816 Parkview Drive, in Festus.
Residents from all around Jefferson County will take part in the production, which is called the Acting Troupe Showcase and will feature three one-act plays beginning at 6 p.m.
Admission is free.
“It features 37 actors and three troupes. Two of the troupes consist of teens, and the other consists of adults,” said Courtney Wisely, the organization’s founder and executive director.
“Each troupe is doing a 30-minute comedy.”
The show should provide plenty of laughs, said Wisely, who will direct the performances.
“The first act is ‘10 Ways to Survive the Zombie Apocalypse,’” she said. “It’s done by one of the teen troupes. It’s methods to survive the Zombie Apocalypse. The second act is the other teen troupe doing ‘All the Bases.’ That one’s about a group of kids trying to put on a play that makes everyone happy.
“The adult one is called ‘Bad Auditions by Bad Actors.’ That one is about casting auditions for ‘Romeo and Juliet,’ where each of the people auditioning is worse than the last one.”
Attendees are advised to bring chairs or blankets to sit on to watch the performances. Concessions will be sold.
The cast for “10 Ways to Survive the Zombie Apocalypse” includes Festus-area residents Aubrey Etter, Kailynne Martin, Luke Wallace, Chaz Seitz, Kane Seitz, Chloe Schackmann, Krissy Gastreich, Balan James and Avin Luo; and Imperial residents Macy Ott and Kennedy Eldridge.
Those in the “Bad Auditions by Bad Actors” cast include Festus residents Carly Giger, Dan Hewitt, Haylee Evans, Charlie Labitska, Karen LaPlant and Marji Peters; Hillsboro resident Nikki White; House Springs resident Monica Lee; Arnold resident Eric Haynes; Imperial resident Debra Leland; and De Soto resident Dawn Blanton.
The cast for “All the Bases” include Festus residents Lynnlee Bloodworth, Courtney Cozine, Via Julien, Simon Wallace, Javeon Russell, Cali Facio, Diego Facio, Francie Surdyke, Alex Kester, Andrea Moore, Zach Rector, Chaise Hammon, Tobi Beck and Angela Moore; and Imperial resident Abigail Hunziker.
Wisely formed Spotlight Community Theatre-Jeffco in early March, when 80 people attended a public meeting at the building where she operates her main business, Magic Maids, at 108 Walnut St., Festus. She said that as of May 3 she had 244 people involved in the organization in some way.
“I’m surprised at all the interest in it,” she said. “It’s wonderful. Everybody has been so willing to jump in and help out.”
She said the group still needs volunteers to help build sets, run concessions, make props, sew costumes, help raise funds and handle other tasks needed to conduct a performance.
In case of rain on the night of the Acting Troupe Showcase, the event will be moved indoors at a location to be determined, she said.
“Check our Facebook page for that information,” she said.
For more information about the organization or its event, go to the Spotlight Community Theatre-Jeffco page on Facebook or spotlightjeffco.org.