Page 8 November 19, 2015 TORRANCE TRIBUNE TerriAnn in Torrance By TerriAnn Ferren Photos by TerriAnn Ferren As the end of 2015 approaches, our thoughts turn toward Thanksgiving and the upcoming Christmas, Hanukkah, and New Year’s holidays. Our weather has finally cooperated with the ‘season’ and fall is finally upon us. One sign that the holidays are near, are all the preparations – not just the store decorations and television commercials, but the people rehearsing for holiday shows. Local symphonies, theatre groups, and choral groups, not to mention school children in rehearsal for their shows - which includes music departments, dance departments, and theatre departments, are all getting ready for their holiday performance season. It seems everywhere I look, I am aware of groups preparing for their end of year show. Last week, I peeked in on a rehearsal of the South Bay Conservatory. They were hard at work rehearsing scenes, songs, and movement for their holiday show, Oliver! For over fifty years, the South Bay Conservatory has been inspiring youth in the South Bay to shed their fears and step up on a stage. The conservatory’s commitment to providing a safe place for youngsters and young adults to spread their creative wings is legendary in the city of Torrance. This non-profit organization offers two levels of training. The Youth Musical Theatre Company, for students age 6 – 12, and the Premier Musical Theatre Company presenting fulllength Broadway shows. Charles Dickens’s tale of Oliver Twist, written in the late 1830s, is the story of an orphan boy who navigates the streets of Victorian England. He falls into the hands of pickpockets and the Artful Dodger. The story was adapted and made into an awardwinning play and film, Oliver! It has become a classic through the years. Linda Dryer, Treasurer and Executive Director of the South Bay Conservatory took time to meet with me, as the performers were beginning their rehearsal under the direction and chorography of Larry Watts. Oliver! Is Coming “We are doing Oliver! The Musical in the James Armstrong Theatre. It is a wonderful play and has been around for a long while. It has great music and is a great opportunity for our youth to perform, and our director thought it would be a good production. Larry Watts is our director and has been with us for fifteen years,” began Linda. South Bay Conservatory prides itself on being an educational program. Linda shared with me that the performers know they are responsible for the show, and they work hard. They are in charge of their own costumes, moving set pieces on and off while on stage, helping each other, and working as a team. “They have been rehearsing from September 22 and open on November 20th which is a short period of time,” added Linda. The participants for this show range in age from nine-years to adult. I found out this particular show has adults - whose children are also in the production. Parents of the cast members stepped up to fill-in the adult parts of this particular show. What a great idea! This opportunity offered by South Bay Conservatory for parents to participate with their children was eagerly accepted. “We didn’t know we had such talent with our parents. This is not their ‘day job’ - and we are very pleasantly surprised, and they are doing an awesome job. And they feel it is a very special opportunity to be on stage with their children,” said Linda. “Larry Watts is not only a fabulous director, he is a costumer. Larry and his partner Tom, own their own costume shop and they design, build, and paint the sets for the show. They do it all - which is quite rare,” said Linda. Linda told me they have five families participating - where parents and their children are both in the show. I was able to catch up with some of the cast as they waited for their scenes. Theo Sherman, age 8, told me he is in the ‘food’ scene of Oliver! Lillian Carrier, age 19 told me Oliver! is her favorite show of the three that she has done with the conservatory. “I think each time it is a unique experience and there is always something different that happens. I love working off of the audience reaction, the energy that comes from it – it is just fun for me,” said Lillian. She told me she intends keeping a hand in acting, even though it won’t be her major in school. She performs simply because it is a lot of fun. “I have been doing this since I was six-years -old,” added Lillian. Next, I spoke with John Scognamillo, who plays Fagin. “This is my second time. About two years ago, I did Scrooge. My son, - my kids have been in it. My son, James started off, and now Julia is with it. . . . I have always wanted to do it [act] and decided to jump in with a couple of bit parts and I really enjoyed and I thought I am up for it again when they asked,” said John. His daughter, Julia has several parts and John told me he loves being with his family. John told me he was shy when he was younger, so this is a recent interest. In his third show with the conservatory, Michael Stefansson plays Mr. Bumble alongside his two daughters: Kristin, age 9, who plays Oliver, and Kayla, age 12, who plays the Rose Seller, and also is a member of the ensemble. “It is phenomenal. It is amazing to be on stage with them. What is really cool about it - is not just the performing – which is amazing, but we will have this memory and it will be on DVD. We did the Christmas show, Scrooge, and since it is a Christmas show, it is now a Christmas tradition to watch ourselves,” beamed Michael. Michael’s wife, Diana, is heavily involved off stage organizing and promoting the show. He confessed the family sings show tunes all the time at home around the house, and in the car they sing along with the Broadway show tunes on XM Radio. At that moment, I had to laugh, visualizing this talented, gifted family, singing along with the radio while driving along on the San Diego Freeway! Watching these talented and gifted parents Theo Sherman, age 8. John Scognamillo, who plays Fagin. “Almonds” flowing into the bin. Lillian Carrier plays Mrs. Sowerberry. Michael Stefansson plays Mr. Bumble. See TerriAnn, page 12
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