‘The Happy Elf’ coming to Cal U

By TAYLOR BROWN
tbrown@yourmvi.com
For the third consecutive year, Mon Valley community members will join California of Pennsylvania University students onstage and behind the scenes for its holiday production.
The Cal U Department of Music and Theatre will debut “The Happy Elf” next month.
The holiday production, based on a song by Grammy award-winner Harry Connick Jr., will premiere 7 p.m. Dec. 6 with additional performances 7 p.m. Dec. 7 and 8 and 2 p.m. show times Dec. 8 and 9 in Steele Hall Mainstage Theater.
Children from area school districts will attend a school matinée 10 a.m. Dec. 7.
All other performances are open to the public.
A family-friendly musical comedy, the show tells the story of one of Santa’s helpers, Eubie the Elf, whose view of the holiday season is put to the test when he sets out to bring Christmas joy to a dreary town called Bluesville.
Director Dr. Michele Pagen said she is excited to bring such a heart warming show to the stage for another year.
“We are again excited to do a fun holiday performance that the audiences love which has such a heart-warming message,” Pagen said. “It’s also always a thrill to have many members of the community come together with our students and bring this show to life.”
Assisting Pagen with the production this year are: stage manager Mark Barrett; choreographer Maria Gismondi; assistant choreographer Katey Sheehan; music director, Brian Eisiminger; costume designer Joni Farquhar; sound coordinator Serena Olsen; prop coordinators Deanna Marchese and Sarah Martin; scenic designer Sabrina Hykes-Davis; and lighting designer Deborra Bergmark Peelor.
Student cast members are: Marissa Sorenson, Zachary Slate, Garrett Smyth, Jeshua Myers, Jeromy Mackey, Noah Dohanich, Sarah Sproul, Erin Stump, Alexandra Wilson, Amanda Rhoades, Bethanie Patterson, Chase Dirienzo, Deanna Marchese, Hailey Hart, Hailey Moninger, Kimberly Rhoades, Macy Gross, Mollie Ehrlichman, Molly Behan, Sarah Martin, Serena Olsen and Holly Grainger.
Community cast members are: Aidan Huba of Brownsville, Holden Kelly of California, Hunter Antonucci of Daisytown, Noah Neil of California, Sydney Cole of Charleroi, Sydney Willson of Vestaburg, Adelyn Scalise of Finleyville, Ally Grodz of California, Aryanna Davis of California, Ava Kovscek of Brownsville, Danielle Grodz of California, Ian Grodz of California, Delaney Johnson of Dunlevy, Emma Bates of Carmichaels, Emma Evans of Fayette City, Emma Leach of Elizabeth, Eva Kelly of California, Gina Bittner of Charleroi, Gloria Kovscek of Brownsville, Heidi Kovscek of Brownsville, Hunter Leach of Elizabeth, Jocelyn Macz of Monessen, Kate Bucci of Monongahela, Kyleigh Pagac of California, Lucy Meiss of Brownsville, Macie Huba of Brownsville, Mark Kovscek of Brownsville, Mia Klein of California, Mia Scalise of Finleyville, Nate Kovscek of Brownsville, Quinn Barbero of Stockdale, Riley Bedner of Monessen, Rosewyn Roberts of Belle Vernon, Ruby Roberts of Belle Vernon and Traelynn Alton of Bentleyville.
If you’re going
Tickets are $12 for adults, $6 for those 55 and older and 12 and younger.
Cal U students with valid CalCards pay 50 cents, plus a $5 deposit that is refunded at the show.
For ticket information, or to charge tickets by phone, call the Steele Hall Box Office at 724-938-5943.