"Our State Fair Can Be Your State Fair." Young People's Theatre Workshop (YPTW) Has A Sure Winner In STATE FAIR

Theatre Name: Young People's Theatre Workshop
Show Name: State Fair
Opening Date: May 25, 2007
Reviewer Name: Ruth Goldman
Date Review Submitted to SMO: May 26, 2007

It's A Grand Night For Singing and it's known as State Fair!

This 1945 musical, re-released for the Broadway stage in 1997 is a toe tappable, knee slappable package that carries a wealth of charm. Much of the music is familiar to Rodgers (composer) and Hammerstein (librettist) fans. Remember, “It’s A Grand Night for Singing” and “It Might As Well Be Spring”? This is truly an old fashioned musical play without being dated. Everybody sings and everybody dances.

The story is about loves and infatuations at the Iowa State Fair and has a riotous scene about food contests and the judges involved. Because of the size of the cast and crew and the fact that it is double cast so you only get to see some of the talent when you go, it is hard to single out those who were exceptional. Let me say that all were exceptional. The singing, acting and dancing are not to be missed.

How do you get over 100 young people, ages 6 to 18 to perform so professionally?

First of all you need a professional team to direct and choreograph the entire production. You will find that here.

For the last thirty years Young People's Theatre Workshop has been run by an extraordinary group of talented actors, singers and dancers and this year the group’s coordinated work is exceptional.

Claudia Carlsson had the huge job of being the (only) Producer. She was splendid in her ability to coordinate all aspects of this production. We can thank her for the smoothness of the technical aspects of the play.

The dancing which was superb was choreographed by Darrin Peters, Liz Seymour (a fifth generation Seymour at The Players Club of Swarthmore), and Mary Filipone.

What is a play without Directors? This production has a team of directors who worked together seamlessly. Sean Murray, Paul Kerrigan, Bob Moore, Liz Seymour, and Darrin Peters complete the list. Note that some people are wearing multiple hats. The direction was tight and even.

Claudia Carlsson and Michele Ferdinand were the co-Music Directors. Any music lover will appreciate the work that went into this aspect of the show. The music direction was exceptional as was the entire orchestra under the baton of Darrin Peters.

Joe Southard, soon to be directing Assassins at The Players Club of Swarthmore designed a complex set and built much of it himself. It was quite an undertaking. There are at least 17 scene changes and they all went smoothly. We can thank Joe for the design and the able stage crew for their choreographed and quick moving of set pieces.

The costume crew did a bang-up job. There were more costumes than I could count and they all were appropriate and really worked for the show. The costumes for the dance numbers were exceptional. They added to the festive mood of the play.

IF YOU GO: The Young People's Theatre Workshop performs at The Players Club of Swarthmore, located in Swarthmore, PA on Fairview Road.

STATE FAIR opened May 25 and runs through June 3, 2007

For ticket information Contact YPTW@aol.com
Phone: 610-558-0988

Ruth Goldman
Ruth@StageMagazineOnline.com
www.StageMagazineOnline.com/reviews