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Marion teacher has the lead in 'Mame'
Performances will be November 13, 19, and 20, at 8 and November 14 & 20 at 2 p.m. at Pittsford Mendon High School. 'Mame' Dennis is played by Shelly West Thompson of Marion ; Choreographer - Shelly West Thompson; Musical Director - Harold McAulliffe; Pianist/Accompanist - Hugh Brodsky; Costume Designer - Jennifer Guadagro; Stage Manager -Beth Read, assisted by Leticia DeCastro; Scenic Artist - Anne Branagan. Tickets: Evenings/Adults $18; Evenings/Youth (18 & under) $12; Matinees/All seats $12 Call for tickets: 585.586.1500 starting October 12, from 10 to 2 weekdays, and Saturday 10 to 1. Tickets will be mailed to you (time permitting) or held for you at the performance box office. Or Visit the box office located in the Charter One Bank, Pittsford Plaza, 3349 Monroe Avenue, Rochester. Cash, checks, and credit cards are accepted. Shelly has been a teacher at Marion H.S. since she graduated from Bucknell University in 1973. She taught German and English in Montoursville, PA for 12 years, and has been at Marion High School for 18 years. She has written a Performing Arts Curriculum for Marion and runs a Performing Arts Program. She moved to Webster four years ago from Penfield. 'There were not such developed musical theater programs available to students in the 1960s as there are available in high schools now. I worked costumes and choreography during College. My first actual performance in a show was in 1973, when I played Sally Bowles in Cabaret for a community group in Williamsport. Since that experience, I have been continuously involved in all types of theatrical productions.' For five years she worked Summer Stock in Cape May, NJ. She is active in community theatre as an actress, choreographer and director. 'My first choreography experience was in high school with Carnival. My first adult experience was with Cabaret. Since then, I have choreographed 200-250 different productions in New York, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey. My first community theatre directing experience was Brigadoon with Pittsford Musicals. She began taking dance lessons at the age of three and continued through her college years. She studied tap, jazz, ballet, and modern dance. She continued her study of dance by attending dance workshops in metropolitan areas such as NYC, Chicago and Boston. She works with the Pittsford Sutherland Show Choir and choreographs the Marion Show Choir. She is the singer with the 'Krazy Firemen,' the original Rochester Oktoberfest band; they perform more typical jobs as the 'Sound Spectrum.' Currently, she is planning for the Marion musical The Wiz (director/choreographer) and for Pittsford Sutherland's show Pippin (choreographer) She has choreographed for the past 16 years with Pittsford, her first show being Oklahoma! She choreographed Sweet Charity and also played the role of Nikki Pignatelli. She choreographed Anything Goes and also played Reno Sweeney. She said when Pittsford announced the show as Mame, she could never let this show pass by without giving it a shot. 'I love the role, and Mame is a mezzo belter - well, at times, a bass - but it is definitely my cup of tea. I also knew that now I was the right age for the part. There is a part of me that identifies with Mame - her love of life and her thirst to taste as much of that life as she can. Mame also needs to have spunk and energy; for example, she has to dance the college kids under the table in That's How Young I Feel.' She says Pittsford Musicals is friendly and organized. 'I love to work in the theatre, but I am also busy and I appreciate the fact that Pittsford Musicals does not waste people's time. A majority of my friends are related to my work with Pittsford Musicals. I absolutely cannot recommend the group highly enough.' (Shelly West Thompson was interviewed by Mary DuBois, Publicity for Pittsford Musicals)
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Pittsford Musicals has announced the cast and production staff for Mame.