'Prodigal Sons' Valencia woman writes second musical
After seven years of presenting “Esther the Musical,” Jeannie Allen of Valencia has written a second musical major production, “The Prodigal Sons.”
The full-length show with new music written by Allen deals with two sons who live on a dairy farm in Oregon in the ’80s.
The younger son demands his inheritance and loses everything through wild living in Reno. He winds up in a pig pen.
He then returns to his father, broken and destitute. The father loves him and forgives him, throwing an extravagant party to welcome him back. His older brother is angry and jealous and refuses to forgive.
Allen titled her production “Prodigal Sons” (plural) because the older son also distances himself from the father because he won’t celebrate his brother’s return.
“So now he is on the outside like his younger brother was before,” Allen said.
Brian Louttit of Valencia plays the younger brother and Sam Bartley, also of Valencia, the older brother. David Sloboda of Butler portrays the father.
The cast also includes:
Davlin Smith and Hubert Voltz, both of Butler; Linda Norris, Bob Norris, Jonathan George, Nicole George, Dalton Smith, Theresa Pugliese, Elizabeth Louttit, Marissa Louttit, Delaney Butzme, Samantha Bartley, Sarah Bartley, Meghan Dezzutti and Kelly Strutt, all of Valencia;
Skip Cooper and Katie Olsen, both of Mars; Carol Jamison of Evans City; Jim McKee, the Rev. David Allen, Paige Allen and Grant Allen, all of Gibsonia;
Mary Phillips and Chloe Phillips, both of Baden; Kathryn Rickenback of North Hills; Justin Smith of Wexford, and Lynne Walsh of Castle Shannon.
Show time is 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 3 p.m. Sunday at Glade Run United Presbyterian Church.
Admission is $10. Fifty percent of the proceeds will go to David Allen’s ministry, “Remaining Factors.” He will make a cameo appearance in the show and sing his country song “Don’t Get Detoured.”
