UPPER BURRELL, Pa. -- After months of rehearsal, the Penn State New Kensington student cast members of "Beyond Therapy" have nailed their lines, cultivated a stage presence and perfected the timing. When the curtain goes up at 8 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 13, in the Forum Theatre, they will be ready for the zany action.
The Penn State Players are on their marks and anxious to open the three-day run of the fall production that is directed by Bill Mitas, instructor in theater arts.
“The students are very enthusiastic about the show, and we added a few extra rehearsals at their request,” said Mitas, who is directing his 11th campus production. “Everyone is working hard, and the dedication of the cast and crew has been very impressive.”
The farcical comedy focuses on two residents of Manhattan, Prudence and Bruce, who are seeking stable romantic relationships with the help of their psychiatrists, Drs. Charlotte and Stuart. Bruce and Prudence are deeply into therapy. Prudence's macho therapist is urging her to be more assertive while Bruce's female therapist wants him to meet women by placing a personal ad. Both learn to live beyond therapy
Jonathan McCabe, a science major from Lower Burrell, and Laura Gensamer from Shaler handle the lead roles of Bruce and Prudence. Erin Bruce of Apollo and Leonard Morris from New Kensington are cast as the psychiatrists.
“Jonathan and Laura do a stellar job with the lead characters,” Mitas said. “Erin Bruce and Leonard are both hilarious as the therapists.”
Mitas also had praise for the work of Nathan Traini, also from New Kensington, and Aarush Gupta, an engineering student from Cheswick. Traini took on the role of Andrew, a minor character who adds understated humor to the production. David Hyde Pierce played the role on Broadway. Gupta is the stage manager who was pressed into a thespian role when another student couldn’t make rehearsals.
“Nathan brings a great subtle character to the crazy actions of the production,” Mitas said. “He seems so calm and reserved but is the craziest of the bunch. Aarush had to step in to play the role of Bob after a student dropped out due to his busy academic schedule.”
Written by Christopher Durang, the play opened off-Broadway in 1981. The cast included Sigourney Weaver as Prudence and Stephen Collins as Bruce. It moved to Broadway a year later. The show is popular in college, regional and community theaters.
Mitas, who holds a master’s degree in entertainment technology from Carnegie Mellon University, joined the campus faculty in 2009. Last year, he was honored with an Excellence in Teaching award at the campus’ annual Academic and Student Achievement ceremony. The award recognizes campus faculty contributions in teaching. The principal criterion is excellent classroom performance, but excellence in other activities such as advising, supervision of learning outside the classroom and course development are also considered.
For this year’s production, Mitas brought in an assistant director, Watipaso Kumwenda, a student in the biomedical engineering technology program. Like Gupta, Kumenda also pulls double duty as a comedic actor.
"Wati is really a great addition as assistant director,” Mitas said. “She plays an extra in the restaurant scenes along with Alexis Tatusko, Isabella Bordonaro and Allison Blue. "Their facial expressions and reactions are a wonderful addition to the bazaar actions taking place on the stage.”
The crew includes Subhashini Charyulu on props, and Joseph McManus, Phillip Marra, Kate Oberneder and Courtney Frappier as stage hands.
Tickets for the production are $5 for students and $10 for the general public.
For more information, call 724-334-6032.