Armstrong Community Theater cast members practice singing and dancing to “Uptown Funk” at Tuesday’s rehearsal. The song comes at the end of Act 1 of this weekend’s variety show, “Late Night.”
by Jonathan Weaver
Armstrong Community Theater’s 14th variety show will contain several comedic favorites found after the 11PM newscast.
“Late Night” – a variety show featuring about 20 late-night and early-morning sketches or commercials - will feature memorable sketches performed by comedians Johnny Carson, Jimmy Fallon and those cast members on “Saturday Night Live.”
Alex McAuley -of Adrian - and Jared Emminger – of Kittanning - rock out to “Bohemian Rhapsody” during their sketch comedy of “Wayne’s World.”
Directors Paul Wright, Emily Younkins and Cortney Bavera – late-night TV watchers in their own right - are not only helping cast members prepare for this weekend’s three performances, but also perform on stage and will sing together in the second act.
“We cut a lot of stuff that we were thinking about originally – we had a lot of ideas to pull from,” the directors said. “There was a lot of stuff we left out because we didn’t want a four-hour show.
“Believe me, it’s hard not to laugh. In some of these, you have to have a serious face when what you just said was hilarious – which will make it that much harder when you hear the audience’s laughter. Comedy’s very hard.”
Thespians have been practicing – especially the group songs – since the beginning of January.
Teenagers Alex McAuley -of Adrian - and Jared Emminger – of Kittanning - met at rehearsals and teamed up to re-enact the reoccurring sketches “Wayne’s World” and “A Night at the Roxbury.”
“We just kind of went with it. I was told to be ‘Wayne’ – he was told to be ‘Garth.’ I bought a wig, he bought a wig and it worked,” the pair agreed.
While it is McAuley’s third variety show, it is Emminger’s first. The duo practiced while watching online videos of the sketches.
The two-dozen thespians are also performing a few group songs – such as “Uptown Funk” by Bruno Mars and “We Are the World” – and there are a few solos and duets.
Due to some mature language and innuendo featured in the sketches, the show is rated PG-13 – a first for the theater group.
The approximately-two hour show begins at 7:30PM Friday and Saturday, with a 2PM matinee Sunday at the Worthington Civic Center.
Tickets are $10 each and are available at Quality Inn Royle in West Kittanning and Worthington Community Library. Money raised will contribute to the theater group’s other shows this year.