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Sensational seniors
Variety show benefits Mercer County Area Agency on Aging
By jeanne starmack
hermitage, pa.
It’s been eight years already, these friends marvel, that they’ve been putting on the Mercer County Senior Follies.
The annual variety show that raises money for the Mercer County Area Agency on Aging has taken in more than $50,000 in that time, they estimate.
“Hickory High seats 1,000, and we filled the house with both performances last year,” said Donna Murray, the show’s publicity chairwoman.
“It’s crunch time” again right now, Murray said earlier this month as she and others involved with the show met at the Shenango Valley Senior Center to talk about this year’s theme, “Movie Magic.”
Rehearsals started in May, and the show is coming up this weekend at Hickory High School.
This year, the big blockbuster number is “Singin’ in the Rain” by the Senior Follies Chorus, Murray said.
It’s included in a mix of movies music through the decades.
The Production Number Medley is another must-see, said Murray. It includes “Louie Louie,” “Stayin’ Alive,” “The Heat Is On” and “Night Fever.”
Helping out as usual will be Hickory High Drama Club students, said Julie Morris, who is the show’s chorus director and general director as well as the high school’s theater director and the fourth- through 12th-grade orchestra teacher. The students work behind the scenes but also will perform “Hello Dolly Finale Ultimo.”
What’s not included in this year’s show is anything to do with Elvis. He’s been in every one so far, and the follies will retire him, at least for now.
“We’re so glad — Elvis has left the building,” said Kim Glatfelter, the show’s director.
In eight years, the cast has put on memorable shows, but there’s been many memories created behind the scenes, too.
Last year after a Beatles Medley, performers were running off the stage to the dressing room for a hectic costume change, said Glatfelter.
“We were running up the stairs and a woman ripped open her shirt, and there was a high-school kid sitting there,” she said. “We died laughing in the dressing room.”
Three performers missed a call for a big number last year, said Michaleen Sasala, but fortunately, that was only during dress rehearsal.
“We had a 93-year-old line dancer,” said Morris. At 97, the woman no longer dances “but is still doing well,” Morris said.
“A couple of years ago, one of our new people, Steve Smith, was riding a tricycle as Elvis to meet the Fonz,” said Glatfelter, “and he flipped backward on the trike.”
But no matter what happens this year, planned or unplanned, Murray promises the audience will be on their feet for the show’s finale.
“This year’s finale will be phenomenal,” she said.
The finale, “I Had the Time of My Life,” will feature two ballroom dancers, Mark Wagner and Anita D’Apolito.
“The rest of the cast will come up through the aisles, and everyone will be dancing in the aisles before it’s over,” she said. “Guaranteed.”