GatesCommunityTheater.org

                                 
In this section of the website, we will have information on the shows that Gates Community Theater has done in the past few years.

In 2000, Gates Community Theater was first established. The very first show that we did was "It's A Wonderful Life," which was a musical based on the movie. This GCT show also won us the NYS Recreation and Parks Society Arts and Humanities Award.

Directed by: Rob Sharman

A Wonderful Life reintroduces us to the town of Bedford Falls, and the Bailey family, at a very difficult time during one Christmas season in the early '30s - the Depression years. The struggling father of the family, George, faced with the failure of his Savings and Loan business due to the thievery of an unscrupulous competitor, wishes he had never been born and contemplates suicide. But a bumbling guardian angel named Clarence shows him that his home-town would have been a much sadder and hopeless place if he had never lived. Renewed in spirit and inspired by his love for his family, he returns home on Christmas Eve to discover that the many townsfolk he has helped through the years have rallied around him and donated enough money to rescue his Savings and Loan company. 

(Source: Mainstage Management Website)

In December of 2001, Gates Community Theater performed their 2nd show, "The Sound of Music."

Directed by: Rob Sharman

The final collaboration between composer Richard Rodgers and lyricist Oscar Hammerstein II, who passed away nine months after the opening, The Sound of Music is based on Maria Von Trapp's autobiography, The Story of the Trapp Family Singers. Originally, the musical was to contain only actual music that had been sung by the Trapps in their concerts, plus one original song by Rodgers and Hammerstein. The talented songwriting duo balked at this, however, and eventually they were allowed to contribute the entire score.

(Source: Imagi-Nation Website)

In December of 2002, the Gates Community Theater put on its 3rd production, which was "Here's Love," a musical version of the well-kown Christmas movie, "Miracle On 34th Street."

Directed by: John Barthelmes

Kris Kringle takes on the cynics among us in this musical adaptation of the popular holiday favorite. In his inimitable style, Meredith Willson, the author of "The Music Man" and "The Unsinkable Molly Brown," tells us the classic story of the year. A white-bearded gentleman claiming to be the real Santa Claus brings about a genuine "Miracle on 34th Street," spreading a wave of love throughout New York City, fostering camaraderie between Macy's and Gimbel's Department Stores, and convincing a divorced, cynical single mother, her somber daughter and the entire state of New York that Santa Claus is no myth.

(Source: MTI Shows Website)

In December of 2003, the Gates Community Theater put on its 4th production, the well-loved musical, "Annie."

Directed by: John Barthelmes

"Annie" is a spunky Depression-era orphan determined to find her parents, who abandoned her years ago on the doorstep of a New York City Orphanage run by the cruel, embittered Miss Hannigan. In adventure after fun-filled adventure, Annie foils Miss Hannigan's evil machinations, befriends President Franklin Delano Roosevelt and finds a new family and home in billionaire Oliver Warbucks, his personal secretary Grace Farrell and a lovable mutt named Sandy.

(*Summary Source: MTI Shows Website)

In December of 2004, the Gates Community Theater produced their 5th show, "Cinderella."

Directed by: Patrick D. Burk

The timeless enchantment of a magical fairy tale is reborn with the Rodgers & Hammerstein hallmarks of originality, charm and elegance. Originally presented on television in 1957 starring Julie Andrews, Rodgers & Hammerstein's CINDERELLA was the most widely viewed program in the history of the medium. Its recreation in 1965 starring Lesley Ann Warren was no less successful in transporting a new generation to the miraculous kingdom of dreams-come-true, and so was a second remake in 1997, which starred Brandy as Cinderella and Whitney Houston as her Fairy Godmother. As adapted for the stage, with great warmth and more than a touch of hilarity, the hearts of children and adults alike still soar when the slipper fits.

(*Summary Source: R&H Theatricals)

In December of 2005, Gates Community Theater presented their 6th production, the Disney musical "Beauty & The Beast."

Directed by: John Barthelmes

Step into the enchanted world of Broadway’s modern classic, Disney’s BEAUTY AND THE BEAST. Based on the Academy Award winning animated feature, the stage version of Disney’s BEAUTY AND THE BEAST includes all of the wonderful songs from the film, written by Alan Menken and the late Howard Ashman, (the team responsible for LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS), plus new songs written especially for the Broadway version by Mr. Menken and Tim Rice (ALADDIN, AIDA).

Your audiences will be transported to a lovely French provincial town where the beautiful Belle lives with her father – a dotty inventor. When her father doesn’t return from a trip to the local fair, Belle rushes off to find him. To her dismay, she discovers he is being held captive in an old castle by a horrible beast. She trades her freedom for his and the “tale as old as time” begins.

How Belle tames the unfortunate Beast and his ultimate transformation into a handsome prince continues to enthrall audiences on Broadway nightly. In an unprecedented move, Disney has allowed MTI to license stage performances of the show to its customers while the show continues to play in New York. Filled with spectacular costume and set opportunities, or even more simply staged, Disney’s BEAUTY AND THE BEAST offers a great opportunity to bring your entire community together for family theatre at its best.

(Summary Source: MTI Shows Website)

In December 2006, the Gates Community Theater produced its 7th show, the well-known Dr. Seuss musical, Seussical!

Directed by: Robert Strauss

"I can see that you’ve got quite a mind for your age!
Why, one Think and you dragged me right onto the stage!
Now, I’m here, there is no telling what may ensue
With a Cat such as me, and a Thinker like you!"

So says the mischievous Cat in the Hat at the onset of this fantastical, magical, musical extravaganza! Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty (Lucky Stiff, My Favorite Year, Once On This Island, and Ragtime) have lovingly brought to life all of our favorite Dr. Seuss characters, including Horton the Elephant, Gertrude McFuzz, Lazy Mayzie and all of the Whos of Whoville!

These classic, colorful tales are seamlessly brought together by Jojo, a young boy and “thinker of strange and wonderful thinks”! As each story unfolds you will marvel at how relevant and profound Seuss’s subtle themes are; making this musical one that appeals to all ages.

The score emerges as a Seussian gumbo of musical styles, ranging from Latin to pop, swing to gospel, and R&B to funk! So let your toes tap, your fingers snap, and your imagination run wild, for

"If you open your mind,
Oh, the Thinks you will find
Lining up to get loose!
Oh, the Thinks you can think!
Oh, the Thinks you can think
When you think about Seuss!!"

(Summary Source: MTI Shows Website)

In December of 2007, the Gates Community Theater performed their 8th production, which was their first musical, "It's a Wonderful Life." We selected the show to help celebrate the 50th anniversary of Gates Recreation & Parks Department, which is oversees our community theater.

Directed by: John Barthelmes

A beautiful and melodic score has been added to James W. Rodgers' faithful and popular adaptation. Capturing both the spirit and the period of the original, the musical selections offer a wide variety of delightful and heartwarming melodies that can be easily managed by quality actors with natural but untrained voices. The songs have been carefully woven into the fabric of the book not only to set mood and atmosphere but to heighten action, delineate characters and establish underlying themes. Like the play version (also available in the catalog), the musical is easily accessible to community and school groups. Staging has been kept to a minimum requiring only a simple unit setting with limited props, costumes and lighting effects. All the great characters are here: George ("Something Important"), Mary ("Quiet Wishes: Simple Dreams"), Clarence ("I Want to Fly"), Violet ("I Love to Dance"), Uncle Billy and Aunt Tilly ("Whoops! Another Year's Gone By"), and Potter ("Easy Living"); 22 songs in all. Solos, duets, ensembles and full chorus numbers all have pleasing and catchy melodies

(Summary Source: Dramatic Publishing website)