3B’s musical ‘Bright Star’ also headed to Newark
By DAVID DUPONT
BG Independent News
Bridget Drew was sorry to see “Puffs, or Seven Increasingly Eventful Years at a Certain School of Magic and Magic”” end its run on the Oak Street stage last November.
“I love that show,” said Drew who directed the Black Swamp Players production.
She knew that the regional conference of the Ohio Community Theatre Association was coming up in June. So, after consulting her cast she suggested sending “Puffs,“ as the Players’ entry.
“I just wanted another chance to do it even if we don’t win anything,” she said. “I just wanted to do this show.”
[RELATED: Black Swamp Players’ ‘Puffs’ piece brings comic magic in a familiar wizarding world]
She and the cast of 11 had that opportunity last weekend when the PCTA Northwest conference was held in the Maumee Indoor Theatre, and this band of quirky and lovable losers won another opportunity to bring their comic adventures at a certain school of magical arts back to the stage.
On Labor Day weekend they will travel to Newark for the state conference.
This is first time in almost a decade that the Black Swamp Players will be sending a play to the state conference. The last time was in 2016 when a segment of “The Black Bonspiel of Wullie MacCrimmon” was presented.
[RELATED: Black Swamp Players taking late director’s dream play to state conference]
“Puffs” is one of three productions from nine entries selected to be performed at the state event.
The other two are 3B Productions’ musical “Bright Star” and the Williams County Community Theater’s comedy “Love/Sick.”
[RELATED: 3B’s ‘Bright Star’ shines on]
Individual acting and production awards were also given out at the conference.
“Puffs” won for outstanding ensemble and Samantha Heater and Nick Yates honored for excellence in acting and Steve Bishop receiving a merit in acting.
Having “Bright Star” selected for the state competition makes that weekend a busy one for Yates and Drew, who are members of that cast as well. They played the comic duo Lucy and Darryl. Both received merit in acting recognition for their work.
Other familiar faces winning honors in the “Bright Star” cast were: Merit in Music Direction to Janine Baughman; Merit in Vocal Performance to Lane Hakel; and Merit in Acting to Aidan Thomas.
Other 3B winners were: Outstanding in Musical Theatre Performance to Emma Skaggs in the lead role; Outstanding in Directing to Joe Barton; Excellence in Ensemble for Musical Theatre Performance; Excellence in Choreography to Brittany Kupresanin; Merit in Set Design to Jesse Bernal; Merit in Musical Theatre Performance to Wesley Grudzien; Merit in Acting to Emma Glover; and Merit in Costumes to Tammy Fitch and Joe Barton.
Drew said that 10 of the11 “Puffs” cast members will be able to make the trip to Newark. (Elizabeth Coronado will cover for Kylie Schmehl, who is unavailable). Drew has booked an Airbnb for the cast.
The Black Swamp Players have launched a fundraising campaign to raise $2,500 to help offset the cost of the cast to travel to and register for the conference.
Three out-of-state adjudicators will judge the plays.
The segments will be presented at the state conference under the same rules as at the regional conference
Each troupe gets 40 minutes to set up and present their work.
Drew selected a 38-minute segment that includes each character being introduced and continuing until the middle of the third year.
“Everyone gets a good feature in that section,” she said.
Drew decided not to bring even the minimal sets used at Oak Street. The play employs a lot of props, and the cast is in constant , sometimes frenetic, action. That’s easier to accomplish without the scenery.
So the BSP set up in less than a minute.
It’s more difficult, though, for musicals which may need a sound check.
The performance at regionals went off well, though there were a hitches with two sound cues caused by unfamiliarity with the board, which was being run by Drew. No one seemed to notice, she said, and the actors just rolled with flow.
