New Main Street Theater opens with local talent

SPECIAL TO THE VINDICATOR

COLUMBIANA — “Hooray For Hollywood!,” a tribute to Oscar-winning songs, will be the first live event at the new Main Street Theater. The original production will be presented June 27, 28 and 29 at the newly renovated and reopened theater on the town square, downtown.

Conceived, produced and directed by Gary and Cheryl Kekel, and written by Mark Frost, “Hooray” features a cast of some of the region’s best talent, including Attila Samu, Jim McClellan, Kelsey Crismon and the Kekels. The production is packed with selections from 1935 to the present.

Youngstown television news anchor Glenn Stevens and Regina Reynolds will be the emcees.

Gary and Cheryl Kekel are long-time friends and classmates from Salem who married in 1997. The couple has been involved in many Salem Community Theatre productions, including their own “Not On This Stage, You Won’t” in 2002.

Gary served as music director on singer Maureen McGovern’s first national tour. He also served as music director for a number of shows at SCT, TheYoungstown Playhouse, Oakland Center for the Arts, Ballet Western Reserve and Youngstown State University Theater. He most recently served as music director for “Smoke on the Mountain” at SCT, and was a cast member in the show. Cheryl, who was also in “Smoke,” is a theater veteran who has performed on area stages for more than 30 years.

The Kekels have brought in many of the performers that they have worked with in other productions. McClellan is a regular with Easy Street Productions of Youngstown. His credits range from Easy Street’s “Beauty and the Beast” to roles at Oakland Center for the Arts, Ballet Western Reserve and SCT.

Samu has performed throughout the region, including Carousel Dinner Theater.

Crismon is a senior musical theater major attending the Lincoln Park Performing Arts Charter School where she has appeared in several productions. She has been in a number of shows at SCT, most recently “Zombie Prom.”

Other cast members include Kathie Steeb, a sophomore at Columbiana High School; Cassie Utt, a senior at Salem High School; and Anthony Villa of Boardman.