The Talisman Players presented its first children’s production, “Pinnochio,” to sold out shows in Kutztown.
All shows were sold out at Trinity Lutheran Church in Kutztown on Feb. 9, Feb. 10, Feb. 11 and Feb. 17, as well as a Brunch and a Show of “Pinnochio” presented at Kutztown University in the Georgian Room at Old Main on Feb. 18.
“Honest John is gleefully gloating over the fact that all of our shows are completely SOLD OUT! Not even a small beetle, oh I mean cricket, could sneak into a corner and see this show! We thank our community for continuing to support this local community theatre! We are more than blessed to have you all cross into our lives!” posted the Talisman Players on Facebook on Feb. 12.
In response to the sold out shows, director and choreographer Tom Nardone of the Talisman Players said, “As a relatively new community theatre in Kutztown (established in 2014), we are thrilled! We are tremendously thankful for the support of Trinity Lutheran Church and Kutztown University who give us rehearsal and performance space. We are gratified that we continue to gather more and more talented thespians while audiences are recognizing the quality of our theatre group and supporting our productions.”
Nardone believes the Talisman Players have developed a following. They had 1,200 people come out to see “Fiddler on the Roof” while “How to Succeed” brought out 800 people and they had a sold out run of “George Washington Slept Here” last March. “Pinnochio” is their first production geared for children with all shows sold out.
“I think all of our shows are family friendly,” said Nardone. “These are fun shows. I think we’re trying to gear ourselves to families. Talisman Players has always been built around families, family people coming together.”
Nardon believes it is important to present good children’s theater.
“You look at the faces of the kids, this is good children’s theater,” he said. “You don’t need all the bells and whistles, you just need good acting and it has to be honest and I think you’ll get the reaction you need.”
The small stage at Trinity Lutheran Church offered an intimate setting and brought the action out into the audience as the cast of more than 25 children and adults brought the characters from “Pinnochio” to life with singing, dancing and humor.
Kutztown High School sophomore Crede Cooper portrayed Pinocchio, the wooden boy with a golden heart.
“It was so much fun to play,” said Cooper, admitting that it was difficult at first to get into the little boy character, “But it was so much fun and working with everyone was incredible. It’s a really good cast.”
Cooper hopes the children in the audience learned the message of the show, “Make your dreams come true, by doing that yourself. You have the power to do that for yourself.”
He also hopes the audience had fun watching “Pinnochio.”
Kutztown University senior Megan Laudenslager portrayed Jiminy Cricket, Pinnochio’s conscious, a role that she said was really fun, though at first she was not sure how to portray a cricket.
For the children in the audience, Laudenslager said, “I hope that they had a really magical theater experience. I remember being a kid and coming to shows like this. It just really inspired me, so I hope we inspired some little kid out there to want to do this. It’s always fun.”
KU junior Vicky Diehl loved portraying The Blue Fairy. A highlight of the show was Diehl’s magical voice singing “When You Wish Upon a Star.”
“I think it’s every little girl’s dream to be a fairy or a princess and now I’m living out my dream,” said Diehl. “I hope that I can inspire little girls to get involved in theater and be a fairy like I was.”
Diehl also enjoyed that participating in the show allowed her the opportunity to spend time with her mother, Gretchen Boyer, pianist for the show.
“We’re families,” said Nardone about the Talisman Players.
Numerous cast members acted along side family members, including Cooper’s brother Asher who portrayed Gideon. Alyssa Bridges portrayed Matches while Joshua Bridges was a Puppet and a Pleasure Island Kid.
Kutztown University biology professor Greg Setliff moved from his role as a Talisman dad to portray Gepetto.
“This is my very first time ever on the stage ever in my life,” said Setliff, still wearing his Gepetto mustache, glasses and gray hair wig after a Saturday afternoon show.
His daughter Vivien Setliff portrayed one of the Pleasure Island Kids; Vivien has performed for Talisman Players in the past, including “Fiddler on the Roof” and “How to Succeed.” He was helping her read for her part and the director, Tom Nardone, asked Setliff to read for Gepetto and he got the part.
“It’s fantastic,” said Setliff about his first acting experience. “It’s a loving, supportive community theater. It’s been a really great experience.”
Setliff said there are multiple benefits to his family participating in Talisman Players.
“They’re not on a screen. They’re out in the world which is great,” said Setliff. “We’re building a community here. Community theater is great for everyone, not just the participants but everyone involved. We’re happy to be a member of that.”
Next, in April, the Talisman Players will present an evening of “One Acts,” for which Brandi Falco and Rob Weidman will make their directing debuts. Call 347-728-4459 for audition information.
According to their website, https://talismanplayers.com/, the Talisman Players of Kutztown originates from The Talisman Players of Staten Island, New York, a community theatre group for more than 30 years founded and directed by Tom Nardone, an educator and consultant. His daughter, Christine Nardone Storch, graduate and faculty member of Wagner College, was his Musical Director. Eventually, Christine took over as Director and formed her own theatre company The Jr. Talisman Players and in Kutztown she also owns and operates Christine’s Music Together. Christine and her family moved to the Lehigh Valley area in 2012, soon followed by Tom and his wife Carol in 2013. Shortly after, the Talisman Players of Kutztown was created in 2014 to present community theater productions in Kutztown.
For more information about the Talisman Players, visit https://talismanplayers.com.
