Local musical theater needs community support

“I love the theater as much as music, and the whole idea of getting across to an audience and making them laugh, making them cry — just making them feel — is paramount to me.” -Stephen Sondheim

As a bassist in the orchestras for some 40 musical theater productions in the Centre Region, I have had a vantage point that allows me to appreciate the power of musical theater to transport audiences far from their daily lives.

From high school to university to community theater performances, the Centre Region offers an incredibly rich and diverse array of ways to take in this distinctly American artform. Musical theater not only entertains, it also creates powerful emotional connections and engages audiences in important social issues. For young actors and musicians, musical theater often provides a gateway into, and a lifelong love of, the performing arts.

Musical theater provides a safe place for learning and exploring issues related to both universal topics and boundary-breaking social concerns. It can spark important conversations and even open minds to new ideas. Last month, for example, I played in the orchestra for the State College premiere of the Tony Award-winning “Fun Home,” presented by Fuse Productions. Set in nearby Beech Creek, “Fun Home” chronicles the complex relationship between Alison Bechdel and her father, an English teacher who also ran a funeral home. Bruce Bechdel was a closeted gay man who lived a secretive life and died as a puzzle to Alison while she was struggling with her own sexuality.

There was something especially poignant about “Fun Home.” It was devastatingly sad, hilariously funny, and in the end, hopeful. Members of our LGBTQ community saw parallels in their own lives; other audience members related to the interwoven themes of strong family dynamics, coming-of- age and coping with personal tragedy.

Thought-provoking discussions between the cast and audience members followed each show. Like previous Fuse productions of “Parade” and “Assassins,” which brought controversial themes like anti-Semitism and mental health concerns to light, “Fun Home” reinforced for me just how important musical theater can be — and how I hope that my neighbors in the Centre Region will experience and support more of it.

Nittany Theatre at the Barn brought the wildly funny “Church Basement Ladies” to its summer stock stage. Though a bonafide comedy, the show shed light on how people resist breaking traditions, even when doing so makes a positive difference. The upcoming family-friendly State College Community Theatre production of “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown” brings the social commentary of Charles Schultz to the stage. Love and Light Productions, Penn State’s Thespians, No Refund Theatre and Penn State’s top-five-ranked musical theater department all bring theater magic, entertainment and enriching performing arts to our region.

These musical theater companies, as well as the five area high schools that produce musicals — Bald Eagle Area, Bellefonte, Penns Valley, Philipsburg-Osceola and State College — enrich the arts in our region and give us opportunities to understand important issues, advance our shared cultural diversity and connect with each other on many levels.

Oscar Hammerstein wrote, “I know the world is filled with troubles and many injustices. But reality is as beautiful as it is ugly. I think it is just as important to sing about beautiful mornings as it is to talk about slums. I just couldn’t write anything without hope in it.”

If you have yet to enjoy a local musical theater production, make it a point to join in. You will support our great local arts scene and share in the hope for a brighter future.

This story was originally published October 13, 2017 at 8:10 PM with the headline "Local musical theater needs community support."