“Robin Hood” Rehearses in Preparation for Weekend Musical

by Sarah Steighner

A young and eager “Robin Hood” cast gathered excitedly backstage at the Casino Theater waiting for dress rehearsal practice to begin in anticipation of this weekend’s show.

The Armstrong Community Theater will perform “Robin Hood” the musical Thursday through Saturday at the theater in Vandergrift (Westmoreland County) featuring their cast of children in kindergarten to eighth grade.

The highly attentive cast practiced reciting their lines while feeding off the energy they drew from being on stage. The girls twirled around in their dresses while the boys couldn’t seem to put down their sword props as last adjustments to costumes and microphones were made

The murmur of scripted lines and the low hum of songs broke out as musical director Troy Dinga went over some last minute reminders. Though soon the cast jumped into position as a complete run through of the musical began under the command of Director Hannah Younkins.

This is 20 year old Younkins’ third year directing the kids play for the Armstrong Community Theater (ACT). The ACT Board of Directors picked “Robin Hood” as this year’s musical after Younkins’ suggestion.

“It’s gone pretty well for us. We have a lot of kids in 8th grade, so it’ll be their last year. There’s a lot of talented kids to work with, (and) a lot of kids I know well. So, it’s good fun to work with them again,” Younkins said.

Younkins graduated from Freeport High School, and is currently attending Franklin and Marshall College in Lancaster for a degree in History. She acted both in high school, and college and has participated in over 15 shows for ACT.

“I think we have a lot of people that have been committed to the theater for a long time. I started acting in the kids shows, about ten years ago. We also have a lot of families that are involved. It’s a very close community, but we’re always looking for new people,” Younkins said.

The lead character, Robin Hood, is played by 13 year old Donovan Jack. Jack has previously only been in one prior play, “In Search of the DoDo Bird,” at Kittanning Junior High School. However, he is already extremely involved with other activities.

“I play clarinet, piano, saxophone, some trumpet and oboe. For school I’m in Science club and I was the vice president of student council for Kittanning Junior High School. (I’m) in Leo club, (and) I was the treasurer for science club. I play basketball and baseball,” Jack said.

As Jack was dressed in his full Robin Hood attire, he disclosed that the sword fighting and archery contest were his favorite parts of the play. While the cast has only been practicing for less than two months, Jack explained that things have really started to come together lately.

“They (practices) have been going pretty well. I can see a lot of improvement from Sunday to Monday. On Sunday we were doing all right, but we were forgetting some lines. But it’s coming along really well,” Jack said.

“Robin Hood” will be performed by the Armstrong Community Theater for three nights tomorrow through Saturday. Doors open at 7 PM, while the musical starts at 7:30 PM at the Casino Theater located at 145 Lincoln St. in Vandergrift (Westmoreland County). Tickets are $10 each, and will be available at the door.

‘Senior Games’ Began Under Summer Sun Monday

By: Sarah Steighner

The Armstrong Area Agency on Aging began their week of senior games at the Cabin Greens Golf Course early Monday morning.

 

This is the 29th year that the agency has been providing a week of activities and games in the community for seniors. Anyone over the age of 55 in Armstrong County was allowed to pre-register for activities at the cost of $4 for as many games as they wanted.

 

The games take place Monday through Thursday at various locations around Armstrong County including the Community Park, Kittanning Care Center, Rails to Trails, Kings Lanes, and the Richard G. Snyder YMCA.

 

Thursday afternoon, a banquet will even be held at the Kittanning Senior Center for all the seniors to get together one last time, and present awards to a Senior Sportsman and Sportswoman of the year.

 

About 11 teams consisting of four members each made for 44 senior golfers to have signed up for Monday mornings golf outing at Cabin Greens, located along Ford City Road in Freeport.

 

Sam Gruber, 83 of Freeport, was one of the senior golfers in attendance. While having played golf at the Golf-Cabin Greens for about 15 years this was Gruber’s first time participating in the Area Agency on Aging’s Senior Games.

 

Now retired, Gruber said golf and travel are two of his favorite hobbies. He even owns a golf course in North Carolina, named Tally Ho Farm.

 

“It (Tally Ho Farm Golf Course) was named the seventh toughest golf course in the America’s according to Golf Digest,” Gruber said.

 

Signing people in and giving them their free t-shirts at the golf outing was Mellisa Facemyer. Facemyer is the Administration Assistant at Area Agency on Agency where she supervises clerical staff and covers training. She explained the senior events and some differences in this year’s schedule.

 

“We’ve added some events that our non-psychical. So it’s mainly to get the socialization, and the competiveness; getting people together out and moving, and doing something,” Facemyer said.

 

Facemyer also explained what all services the Agency offers through its organization located at 326 South Water Street.

 

“The Agency provides social services, like in home services, light house cleaning, bathing services. We have congregate meals at the senior center, home delivered meals, we have employment services, insurance counseling, medical transportation, (and) center transportation; pretty much anything they (seniors) need,” Facemyer said.

 

Later in the day, the senior games continued at the Richard G. Snyder YMCA where two teams of seniors played each other in a volleyball tournament. Each team had six members, and the best out of three games won.

 

Heading the Volleyball tournament was Sandy Fennell, Appraisal Coordinator at the Agency. Fennell described the atmosphere surrounding the seniors participation in the games.

 

“The senior citizens love it. The participants look forward to it every year, it’s a time of renewing their friendships, the competition which they love, and just doing the activities,” Fennell said.

 

Senior Games continue through Thursday. Tomorrow’s games will take place at the Kittanning Community Park starting at 8AM. Activities will include a corn game, bocci, hoop shoot, football, javelin, and shot put.

Bowling will also take place at 12:45 PM at Kings Lanes.