Photo Flash: Civic Theatre's Genesius
The closing show of Civic Theatre of Allentown's 2008-2009 stage season is a backstage musical with everything- humor, heart... and a scandalous affair. Genesius, the true story behind the improbable rise of Reading's own Genesius Theatre, opens May 8th and runs through May 17th in Civic's 19th Street Theatre. This production is fittingly directed by Civic Artistic Director Bill Sanders, who directed his first show ever at Genesius 30 years ago, and is also celebrating the 20th anniversary of his directorial debut at Civic.
Jane Simmon Miller is the centerpiece of Genesius, the woman whose drive and vision allowed her to establish Genesius in 1971 despite having no money and no building. She soon becomes romantically involved with her co-founder- a man 25 years her junior who she hopes to keep from leaving for grad school. His name is David in the play, but in real life the man's name is Michael O'Flaherty- now the Resident Musical Director of the prestigious Goodspeed Opera House and the co-writer of Genesius. "I felt that to make [Genesius] interesting and ‘real' for today's audience we needed to go deeper," says O'Flaherty, "This was often very disturbing and uncomfortable. The story doesn't cast me in a particularly favorable light, but it's been somewhat cathartic for me to get some of these issues out on the table."
While Michael wrote the music & lyrics for Genesius, LJ Fecho, another Miller disciple and the current Artistic Director at Genesius, wrote the book. Their deeply personal experiences with Jane and her theatre have led them to create a powerful musical that brings to life the very significant talents, foresight and ballsy chutzpah of this truly special lady. "She possessed a cosmic spirituality," says Fecho, "but Genesius is also a deeply personal story about the insecurities and the frailties hidden behind her gutsy façade. She struggled with her own personal demons of fear, jealousy, addictive behaviors and loss, but never allowed any of us to know something was wrong."
Overall, however, Genesius explores the themes of reaching out, mentoring and giving back to those whose lives we touch daily, as Jane mentored Michael, Michael served the same purpose to Bill Sanders. "Genesius is about a theatre, and it is a love story," says Sanders, "but it is also about mentors, friends and those people who come in and out of your life, but stay... in your work and in your intentions always."
Civic's Box Office # is 610.432.8943. All shows will be produced at Civic's 19th Street Theatre, 527 N. 19th Street, Allentown, PA. Free parking for the shows is available along Liberty and Allen Streets near 19th Street and in the Wachovia Bank parking lot at 19th and Liberty (after the bank is closed).
Production sponsors are Coca-Cola and WDIY 88.1, show sponsor is Comfort Suites, and Civic Theatre's 2008-2009 stage season sponsors are Service Electric and The Morning Call.
More information can be found at www.civictheatre.com.
Photos were taken by Heather Wight.
Tammy Hutterer and Harrison Eckert
Tammy Hutterer and Harrison Eckert
Tammy Hutterer and Harrison Eckert
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