Group will undertake 'The Undertaker' at BC3
BUTLER TWP — A new comedy called "The Undertaker," written by Jack Burford of Beaver Falls, will premiere at 8 p.m. tonight and Saturday and Sept. 7 and 8 at the Succop Theater on the Butler County Community College campus.
"It's an original show," said Larry Stock, director of B3's Cultural Center, which includes the Succop Theater.
The play is a former winner of the Pittsburgh New Play Festival.
The show is being directed by Karen Blumling of Cranberry Township. She has a degree in motion picture and television production from University of California, Los Angeles.
"I've worked backstage at the Comtra Theatre for a while and met people there, and Jack Burford said casually one day, 'I've written a couple plays,' and I said I'd love to read them. After I read 'The Undertaker' I said, 'I think you've got a winner here.'"
So they put together a little money — the whole budget for the show is about $3,000, Blumling said.
"I talked to my former professor Larry Stock at B3, and he helped me and guided me along the way," she said.
The conglomeration of actors and friends is renting the Succop Theater on the BC3campus to be able to stage the show.
But they couldn't afford to rent the space there for rehearsals, so most have taken place in Blumling's basement. "We rehearsed night after night after night in my cellar," she said. "It's different confines and direction."
Now, however, they're nailing down the details during tech week at the Succop.
One budget-saver came in the form of music for the show. "I got online and just searched for 'scary music' and came up with a CD 'Music to Die For.' The CD was $15. The music was perfect. So I sent a little e-mail saying I was wondering how much it might cost to use it."
She eventually got a call from the composer in Boston, who said he'd worked for Hollywood and Broadway shows. He said he got his start in community theater and so let Blumling use the music for the show for $300.
"I was just like a little kid and it was Christmas morning," she said excitedly.
A friend of one of the cast members also composed three original songs for the show.
"To get to put on our production, to work in a theater like the Succop, is a privilege. It's just been an honor," she said.
Main cast members, along with Burford, are Susan Skosko, Ralph Stano, Lauralee Zelesnak and Josh Yankovic.
Tickets are $15 for adults and $10 for students, however, Butler County teachers and students may attend for free tonight and Sept. 7. Tickets will be available at the door.
Call 724-284-8505 for information.
<B>WHAT: </B>Original comedy "The Undertaker" by Jack Burford of Beaver Falls, directed by Karen Blumling of Cranberry Township<B>WHEN: </B>8 p.m. tonight and Saturday and Sept. 7 and 8<B>WHERE: </B>Succop Theater on the Butler County Community College campus<B>ADMISSION: </B>$15 for adults and $10 for students; however, free tickets are available to Butler County teachers and students for tonight's show and for the Sept. 7 show. Tickets will be available at the door.<B>INFORMATION: </B>724-284-8505
