The Talisman Players of Kutztown present Arsenic and Old Lace starring Karise Mace and Christine Storch as The Brewster Sisters at Trinity Lutheran Church in Kutztown Feb. 12, 13 and 14.
Show times are Feb. 12 and 13 at 7 p.m. and Feb. 14 at 2 p.m.
Directed by Tom Nardone, the show features Jeff Jones, Seth Noggle, Bruce Rohrbach and Matt Kayhart Porter Holt, Emily Jones, Derek Mace, Dan Raudenbush, Jake Sewall and Rev. Keith Rohrbach.
“It’s a great classic American comedy by Joseph Kesselring that was made into a movie starring Cary Grant in the 40s. About two older acentric aunts with three nephews; one who thinks he’s Theodore Roosevelt, the second who is a wanted escaped murderer (who comes home) and the third a fairly ‘normal’ drama critic who hates the theatre,” said Nardone.
Previously, The Talisman Players began with a melodrama, then Our Town, a junior talisman production of French Farces.
“We have always believed that quality theatre needs to be available at a low cost to everyone so we are committed to doing just that,” he said.
Nardone explained that the The Talisman Players are Kutztown’s new community theatre from New York City.
“The Talisman Players of Staten Island, New York, was a highly respected community theatre group that produced quality theatre for over 30 years,” he said.
The theater group was founded and is directed by Nardone. He said he was an educator and consultant on “improving schools and instructional leadership.” He also created a Junior high school theatre program called Theatre Arts 17.
“The Talisman rich history over the years included children’s theatre, high school productions and premier fundraising events,” said Nardone.
His daughter, Christine Nardone Storch, graduate and faculty member of the Wagner College of Staten Island, was his musical director. Her resume includes Broadway, Off-Broadway, film and television. She eventually took over as director and formed her own theatre company, The Jr. Talisman Players.
Christine, along with her husband RC and her two children, Charlotte and Benjamin, moved to the Kutztown area three and a half years ago. She owns Christine’s Music Together. Tom and his wife Carol followed in December of 2013.
“The Talisman Players have found a home at Trinity Lutheran,” said Nardone. “We are adding to our numbers continuously. We started with the Trinity members and staff but added to our numbers with friends and family. This continues to grow with each production.”
The Talisman Players were encouraged to present a proposal to conduct a junior high school program at the Kutztown Middle School.
“Much to our delight, the School Board accepted it and adopted it and we have just finished our first month of classes,” he said.
Arsenic And Old Lace will be performed Feb. 12 and 13 at 7 p.m. and Feb. 14 at 2 p.m. upstairs at Trinity Lutheran Church in Kutztown. There is a charge for tickets. For more information, email talismanplayers@aol.com or call 917-838-7207.