Ages And Stages

In a modern version of “let’s put on a show!” Staples Players’ final production of 2011 is an original revue.

How else did fit dozens of talented performers — including many graduating seniors — onto the stage?

“Ages and Stages” — created by directors David Roth and Kerry Long, and Players alum Justin Paul — incorporates scenes and songs from over 2 dozen plays.

Part of the very talented "Ages and Stages" cast. (Photo/Kerry Long)

There are big dance numbers, comedy sketches, barbershop quartets — just about any kind of performance you can imagine.  Most are funny — very funny.

“The overarching theme is the ‘stages of life,'” Roth says.  “From birth and early childhood through adolescence to young adult dating and marriage to having babies — that’s the generational cycle that we’ll show.”

Included are songs by Paul (Staples 2003) and his writing partner Benj Pasek.  Bradley Jones (Staples 1975) — a dancer in the original “A Chorus Line” for many years — is staging a terrific dance number for Players.

(For a sneak preview of barbershop quartet members August Laska, Max Samuels, Clay Singer and Tyler Jent singing “Hello, Mary Lou,” click below.)

“Ages and Stages” will be produced in Staples’ Black Box Theater.

“It’s a very intimate space,” Roth notes.  “We’ve never done a large musical production there.  It’s a great space — but seats are limited.”

(Tickets for this weekend’s performances (Thursday, May 26, 7:30 p.m.; Friday, May 27, 7:30 p.m.; Saturday, May 28, 4 and 8 p.m.) are available at StaplesPlayers.com.  Prices are $15 adults, $10 students, except for the final performance — a benefit for Save the Children‘s tornado relief effort — which is $25 adults, $15 students. 

In the words of performer Charlotte Weber, “This shows is about the normal cycle of life.  What people in the South are experiencing is definitely not normal.  We’re glad we can help provide a little relief to help other children experience the same joys and triumphs.

NOTE:  This show is rated “PG,” for some adult language.)