Two years ago, Morton’s youth theater program, M.A.P. Kids, was cancelled due to the resignation of the executive director.
When the students who usually participated in M.A.P returned to school, they agreed that the summer simply was not the same.
Brian Comella, currently entering his senior year at Morton High School, e-mailed the Morton Park District and asked for the program to be reinstated.
The new theater program, Morton Youth Theater, hit the stage last year with a song and dance variety show and will return in July to perform “Bugsy Malone.”
Comella said it is a great show for MYT because it was written for young performers. Bugsy Malone takes place in New York in the 1920s and tells the story of two rival gangs whom fight each other with pies.
That is right, pies.
This pastry production is full of family fun, musical numbers, and a wonderful group of people, Comella said. In fact, the MYT community is what keeps him coming back each year.
“Coming here isn’t like work for me,” he said.
For Comella, the most rewarding part of MYT is connecting to people over the years and watching a show come together.
“The closer the kids are and the more fun they’re having, the better the show is,” he added.
The cast, made up of 29 talented young Mortonites, is under the stage direction of Maghan McMenamin, Brian Comella and Alexis Moore. Brother-sister team Austin and Megan Simpson are in charge of music and choreography.
As the staff and crew rehearse, they anxiously await the construction of Bertha Frank’s brand new stage. While the name and performance space have changed, the spirit and passion established with MAP kids continues to grow through MYT, Comella said.
This is a theater company that truly believes “the show must go on,” Comella said.
Bugsy Malone takes the stage at 7 p.m. July 17 and 18 and 2 p.m. July 19 at the Bertha Frank Performing Arts Center. Tickets are available through the Morton Park District, at the door, or via cast members. Student tickets cost $5, and adult tickets cost $8.
