Community Theatre’s New Summer Student Play Features Orphans in the Old West; Opens Friday

The Fayette County Community Theatre is preparing for its opening night of the student production of “Abandoned Way Out West” at the Performing Arts Center in La Grange on Friday.

Directed by senior-to-be Deacon Wick, the production is set in a 19th century Colorado mining town that is run by a group of resourceful orphans.

Typically producing traditional plays, the Fayette County Community Theatre decided to shake things up this time around by introducing some music to the production.

“One of the primary reasons we decided to go with this production is because it has a couple songs,” Wick said. “They’ve been thinking of doing it for awhile because they’ve been wanting to transition into trying out some musicals.”

A musical may be a new addition to the resume of the community theatre program, but for most of the cast, this is not their first rodeo.

“Most of them have done music class in school and are naturals at it,” Wick said. “I think a lot of them are better singers than I am.”

Not only is the production style a change for the program this summer, but the amount of preparation time for the cast and crew has changed as well.

“They used to do it over a span of six weeks, but now we’re practicing every weekday for three weeks,” said Lucy Carr, the adult advisor for the production. “It seems to have been a hit for the kids because if they’re in the play, it only takes them most of June rather than a larger chunk of their summer.”

Cast & Crew of “Abandoned Way Out West”

Bianca Carrillo as Aquilina Sophia Herrera as Specs Rachel Herbrich as Meg Reagan Zapalac as Denny Penn Wick as Peg Caden Janda as Dizzy Annie McCain as Tiger Kyle Rose Ulrich as Moxie Zaira Torres as Rocky Lilly Mouton as Charles Crowley Aubrie Plowman as Alana Crowley Hannah Garza as Charlotte Maddox Wick as Lt. Jacob O’Malley Zoe Janda as Widder Maisey Orphan Ensemble: Joseph Walker Abigail Walker Grace Burton Josiah Burton Lyllah Mouton Hazel Freedman Adalynn Wood Ruby Surles Amelia Biernacki Paisley Watkins Tech Leader: Raven Chumley Tech/Crew Hands: Vera Anne Lancaster, Logan and Sydney Lann, Gracelynn Turman, Daniel Walker Student Director: Deacon Wick Adult Mentor: Lucy Carr Although the student production is made up completely of elementary, middle and high schoolers, the professionalism of the cast rivals those of the adult productions.

“They’ve had their books for a week, and they’re already off-book, which means they can’t have their scripts with them while they’re rehearsing on stage,” Carr said. “When I did the community theatre production of ‘Calendar Girls’ last year, we had about four weeks before we went off-book, so it’s really incredible. The kids have really risen to the challenge.”

This is Wick’s first experience at directing, but he’s been participating in the community theatre program for longer than some of his cast has been alive.

Starting his acting career in the third grade, Wick has been passing along his knowledge and experience to his cast as they prepare for their three-show run this weekend.

“He comes alive when he’s in the theater,” Carr said. “When he’s with the kids, he becomes a different person. He knows what he’s doing, and the kids love him. He’s really impressed me, and I would absolutely love to work with him again next year.”

The student production will be opening at 7 p.m on Friday, June 26, along with performances at 7 p.m Saturday and 3 p.m Sunday.

Tickets are available at www.fayettecountycommunitytheatre. com.

Also look for a second summer student production coming up July 24-26, “Little Women” adapted by Marisha Chamberlain from the novel by Louisa May Alcott.