9B
George Harrison Revisited
The magical journey of the Beatles era returns to the Hofstra stage when The Godfrey Townsend Band, with musicians from the Alan Parsons Project, join the Indian Kirtan ensemble Gauravani and Kindred Spirits to perform “Here Comes the Sun” – The Musical, Mystical Journey of George Harrison. This celebration of the music and spiritualism of the legendary musician commemorates the 10th anniversary of Harrison’s passing. Singer-guitarist Godfrey Townsend, with Hofstra Professor Joshua M. Greene as host, leads the dynamic program, which features those beloved tunes from The Beatles’ songbook, with Indian Kirtan music and meditative chanting. Friday, Nov. 4, 8 p.m. $15. Hofstra University’s John Cranford Adams Playhouse, South Campus, Hempstead. (516) 463-6644.
Let’s put on a show!
Behind the scenes of community theater
Now add some music …
La Cenerentola (Cinderella)
Capitol Heights Lyric Opera presents La Cenerentola (the Cinderella story) – the ultimate rags to riches tale – told by Gioachino Rossini in one of the most delightful comic operas ever written. Mezzo-soprano Frances Devine is the lovely Angelina, who is treated like a maid by her father and selfish stepsisters until her goodness and beauty win her a kingdom and the hand of Prince Ramiro, sung by tenor Marcos Vigil. Saturday, Nov. 5, 2 p.m. Elmont Memorial Library Theater, 700 Hempstead Tpke., Elmont. (516) 334-5280. TREASURE HUNTING
Book/Ephemera Fair
Book lovers – and folks who love to browse among interesting items – will find much to explore at the annual Book & Ephemera Fair. Exhibitors from Long Island and across the nation gather to present an array of rare and unusual old books, maps and prints, among other items. You’ll also find a wide selection of antiques and vintage memorabilia. From the frivolous to the sublime, a we a l t h o f out-of-print books, posters and prints, are waiting for you along with a treasure trove of other incredible finds. $6, $3 ages 12-21. Hofstra University’s Student Center Multipurpose Room, 200 Hofstra Dr., Hempstead.
Mary Malloy/Herald
WILLIAM O’BRIEN, who plays young Patrick Dennis, rehearses a scene with Reneé Socci, who plays the title role in Island Park Theatre Group’s “Mame.” By MARY MALLOY mmalloy@liherald.com
“We’ve gotta have a g reat show, with a million laughs ... and color ... and a lot of lights to make it sparkle. And songs – w onderful songs. And after w e get the people in that hall, we’ve gotta star t ‘em in laughing right away. Oh, can’t you just see it?” – J udy Garland, “Babes In Arms,” 1939. Yes, we can see it – b ut we only see the final product. Putting on a sho w involves planning, decision-making, scripts, music, stage production, props, lighting and a host of other details that, if done right, the audience will r eally never know about. Who are some of the people w ho make it look so easy?
The producer
“I really don’t think the p ublic knows how involved it is putting on a show,” said John Cestaro, president of the Island P ark Theatre Group board of directors and producer of Island Park Theatre Group’s latest musical, “Mame,” set to open in November. Cestaro, a retired bank vice
president, is currently broker/owner of JVC Realty Corp in Island Park. He has been with IPTG for 20 years, and has been pr oducer for the last 12. T he other boar d members ar e Hillary Kass Nussdorf, Reneé Socci, Sal Canepa, Frank Cestaro, Barbra Rubin-Perry, and Debby Wilson. Cestaro has appeared on stage in many Long Beach and Island P ark productions, including “Fiddler on the R oof,” “The Sound of Music” – and e ven as M. Woolsey Lindsey in Long Beach Theatre Guild’s production of “Mame.”
The directors
Hillary Kass Nussdorf, 59, has been with Island Park Theatre Group for 25 years and currently serves on its board as vice president. “It takes so much with so few people and so little time ,” said Nussdorf. “When we put out the casting call, w e’ve already been working on the sho w for three to six months.” Having been a part of both pr ofessional and community theater, Nussdorf is well aware that with local thea ter and performers, life g ets in the way. “People – including me – have jobs and families … it’s a big commitment, we
Although this her first y ear with the Island Park Theatre Group and her first time as a musical dir ector, Danielle Reed, 23, of Freeport, is no stranger to the arts. “I started performing in grammar school, and got involved in community theater in college,” she said. Reed has also directed children for choral and band perf ormances. She works as an administra tor for the non-profit organization, “Belief for Relief,” as well as teaching at the Rockville Centre Music Studio and the Y oung Musicians Institute, in Hempstead. She also performs at local venues and is pr oficient in many languages and instruments. “Being a [musical] dir ector gives me so much more perspective on how hard directors work and worry about the final pr oduct,” Reed said. “I’ve had motivational directors and
Continued on STEPPING OUT TWO
IPTG’S ‘MAME’ The Island Park Theatre Group (IPTG) was formed in the 1980s as a means of bringing wholesome Broadway-like shows to the Island Park and neighboring communities. In the early 90s, IPTG moved from the Island Park Methodist Church to the professional stage of the Lincoln Orens Middle School. IPTG is self-funded, and relies on advertising, dues and sponsors to produce its shows. This season’s production is the musical “Mame” at the Lincoln Orens School, at Trafalgar Blvd, Island Park. Performances: Nov 12, 8 p.m.; Nov. 13, 3 p.m.; Nov. 18, 8 p.m.; Nov. 19, 8 p.m.; and Nov. 20, 3 p.m. For tickets and more information, call (516) 431-3320.
November 3, 2011 — SOUTH SHORE PARENTS TODAY - Herald Community Newspapers
ON STAGE
understand that – but we do have to live up to professional standards.” By day, Nussdorf works in the health office at East Elementary Sc hool in Long Beach. She also runs “Center Stage Studios,” a city-endorsed and sc hool-approved acting program for children. She also teac hes ballroom dancing and offers private lessons. Assistant Director Debby Wilson has been involved with community theatre since 1998 – her first sho w was IPTG’s “Once Upon a Mattress.” She has w orked with this g roup and the Long Beach Theatre Guild. “Mame is my first experience with sta ge directing, and I am very glad to be able to learn by working alongside a r eal pro like Hillary,” said Wilson, who works for Long Beach public schools as a secr etary in the Compr ehensive Arts (music/fine arts) department. “So I guess you could say that my day job is not all that different from my night job. “Being on this end of the process is very creative, but in a muc h different way. We have to come up with the sta ging and the set tha t gives the actors what they need to work with.”