Talent and passion lead to the formation of the Musical Theatre Guild and to its continuation for 50 years of Memorable Moments
From its beginnings in a Penn Township living room, the Musical Theatre Guild has spanned five decades and more than 120 productions.
The guild will mark its 50th anniversary with a celebration March 31 at the Atrium.
Archives are being scavenged and memories are taking on new life as current participants seek clues from the past in preparation for the gala, which will feature a buffet dinner, dancing and musical highlights spanning the 50-year history.
For Joy May of Penn Township, it seems like just yesterday when it all started. She and her late husband, Dick, hosted the gathering in their living room in April 1963 where the first MTG officers were elected. The group had already produced “The Pajama Game” in 1962.
“It really is a special feeling to have been in on the beginning of something that has been so amazing for so many years,” she said, giving credit for the group's launch to Bill Lehnerd and Carl Gnade. “Bill had a gift, and he and Carl had chemistry, they worked well together and produced some fantastic shows,” May said.
May was in the chorus for the first several shows and had a starring role in “Where's Charley?” in 1965. Then she sat out to raise her family.
She has fond memories of the early years when the biggest challenge for MTG was space.
“We practiced in some pretty strange places: warehouses, old churches, wherever they'd let us rehearse,” she recalled. She remembers one venue that they really got to rocking, literally. “We were practicing a dance number and when we all started to dance, the floor creaked and swayed and we thought the whole building was coming down,” May said.
May's family has sold tickets for every single show the Guild has performed.“My in-laws had a music store and they started selling tickets. When we started our store in 1975, we continued the tradition and do so to this day,” she said.May's all-time favorite show was “Anything Goes” in 1973, when she was part of the chorus.“The music was wonderful and we had so much fun together. We really had to dance in that show and none of us were really ‘dancers,' so it was quite memorable,” May said.Peg Dumbaugh of Connoquenessing Township and her husband Wilbur “Bill” entered the MTG fray along with the Mays.“I remember the night that my husband, Bill, went out to his first meeting concerning the formation of MTG. He said he was going to make sure he didn't get too involved,” explained Dumbaugh.But he sang a different tune when he got home. “When he returned several hours later, I said: ‘So what are you, president?' His answer was ‘yes,' and I was not surprised,” she said.Wilbur Dumbaugh was the first president of the guild and also starred with Claudette Sanzotti in “The Pajama Game,” the first MTG musical that took place 50 years ago.Peg Dumbaugh's respect for the core people involved was based on their individual talent and passion.
“The late Bill Lehnerd directed ‘Fiddler,' and my husband never forgot the question Lehnerd asked him that caused Bill to reexamine the role and change his approach to it,” she said.“Lehnerd stopped Bill during one of the early rehearsals and asked: ‘Is Tevye angry?' It was an insightful moment. The Tevye who appeared on stage opening night was gentle and endearing,” she said of her husband's performance.“I think MTG has been able to maintain its presence in our community for 50 years because Butler is a community filled with exceptional talent,” said Dumbaugh. She noted that it is encouraged in the school system where music opportunities are presented early and theatrical productions have always been important.“MTG is one of the major outlets for this talent, and I have no doubt that the future for MTG is bright,” she added.Vincent and Claudette Sanzotti of Butler have been involved with music their whole lives. They too were in on the early days of the guild. Claudette starred in the first show while Vincent served as musical director.“The biggest challenges early on were time, talent and money,” he said. “We've enjoyed working with so many talented, gifted people in a community which has always supported the arts.”“We hope the Musical Theatre Guild has many more years of memorable musical theater moments,” he added.
Robin Kriley of Penn Township has been involved with the Musical Theatre Guild since 1977 and is currently on its board of directors. She has participated either on stage or behind the scenes in 41 shows.“It's the people who are MTG, those who work to keep the organization going and those involved in the shows, that keep me coming back,” Kriley said.The economy aside, Kriley thinks technology could be the biggest challenge now facing the MTG.“The Internet and cable TV both provide immediate and inexpensive access to so much that many people aren't aware of the value of ‘live' entertainment,” Kriley said. “We have an entire generation who has never seen a live show. They've never experienced audience reaction and the effect it has on the actors and the production as a whole. There's a definite excitement in live theater that Internet and TV can't duplicate.”Kriley's most treasured MTG memory was made in 1996.“In 1996 MTG did ‘Oliver,' and my family had three generations in that show. My mother, my daughter and I were all in the chorus for the show so we had several scenes together,” she said.The Musical Theatre Guild has gone through its share of changes in its 50 years. The group has seen many stars rise and has experienced loss in the MTG family, perhaps none more jarring than the death of Bill Lehnerd who had birthed the idea of the the group.Lehnerd passed away in May 2009. The MTG Production Center now bears his name.When being interviewed for the Butler Eagle article about MTG's 40th anniversary, Lehnerd said, “The initials MTG have become synonymous with good musical theatre and our audiences have come to expect it.”<B>IF YOU'RE GOING</B>WHO: Musical Theatre GuildWHAT: 50th Anniversary GalaWHEN: 6:30 p.m. March 31WHERE: Atrium, 1031 New Castle Road, Prospect (Route 422 west of Butler)TICKETS: $40 per person, includes appetizers, dinner, commemorative booklet, entertainment, dancing and reminiscing. Checks should be made payable to MTG and sent to: MTG Anniversary, Box 2001, Butler, PA 16003-2001, by Monday.
