R-ACT's new Rochester theater hosts first show

ROCHESTER − After 30 years, R-ACT Theatre feels it's finally found a home.

And Rochester's community-based theater group can't wait to show off its new Segriff Stage, a venue at 134 Brighton Ave., which opens its curtains for debut performances July 8-9 and 15-17.

That first Segriff show will be "Make 'Em Laugh," an evening of three locally written, one-act comedies.

In one of the comedies, "The Pitch," written by Chippewa Township's Lawrence Spinnenweber, two wannabe screenwriters pitch their movie idea to an important Hollywood producer.

In "Who's Afraid," the Wolf appears on a TV talk show to tell his side of the story, while in "Nik of T.I.M.E," a time agent travels back from the future to fix a mistake. Both were written by Jeff DeSantis of Baden.

Also to be staged for opening performances is "Nik of T.I.M.E," where a time agent travels back from the future to fix a mistake, and "The Pitch," centered on two wannabe screenwriters pitching their movie idea to an important Hollywood producer. Both were written by Jeff DeSantis of Baden.

Showtimes are 7:30 p.m. July 8-9, and July 15-16, and 2 p.m. July 17.

Tickets cost $12, available on the R-ACT website  ractproductions.com or to reserve at showclix.com/events/17764.  Tickets will not be available at the door.

New home

A nonprofit community theater, R-ACT − an acronym of Rochester Area Community Theater − is a group open to anyone with a love of the performing arts.

The troupe has bounced around to numerous sites, staging plays at places like Rochester High School, the Rochester Fire Hall, the Rochester Borough Building, New Brighton Junior High, the Holiday Inn in Big Beaver, the former Avenue Theater in downtown Rochester, the former Armando's in Rochester Township, the Masonic Hall in Bridgewater, St. Monica's Church, the former Dockers restaurant in Bridgewater, Rochester Methodist ChurchGrace Lutheran Church, and the Venue at Harmony Ridge in Harmony Township, plus popular annual holiday performances at the Merrick Art Gallery in New Brighton.

"From our start, R-ACT’s mission was to bring affordable quality entertainment to Beaver County," a founding member, Gloria Little, said. "We have been gypsies for over 30 years. Now that we have a permanent home, we can get back to the basics of producing plays to make our audiences laugh, cry and just be entertained."

Like many community theater groups, R-ACT persevered through the pandemic with virtual performances.

Now, after three years of renovations to a vacant 19th-century building that originally housed a ribbons and bows shop, R-ACT is ready to stage live plays again in its own theater.

"We're excited because people can see we're back," Beverly Dicken, another founding member, said.

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Segriff Stage is named after the late-Bob Segriff, a Rochester Area School District employee, who conceived the idea of a local theater group early in 1992. In those pre-internet days, Segriff gauged interest by taking out an ad in The Times. Nearly 45 volunteers stepped forward to form Rochester Area Community Theater, which debuted in 1992 with a one-night-only musical tribute to Richard Rodgers of Rodgers and Hammerstein fame. Next came Neil Simon's "Barefoot in the Park."

Dicken and Little agree Segriff would have been very pleased with R-ACT's quaint new theater, which has brick walls and original wood floors, and risers holding elevated seats repurposed from the Fort Cherry School District in Washington County.

"Every seat has a good view," Dicken said.

R-ACT has slated a sneak peek fundraiser for the Segriff Stage on June 30. Says a Facebook posting: "Come see our new home. Light refreshments and a brief tour of the Segriff Stage. Suggested donation of $100 (contributions will be accepted online or cash/checks at the event.) Help us put the finishing touches on our new space. Support local theater as we launch a new community space."

The cast

Cast members of "Who’s Afraid" are Zac Cageao (Wolf), Michael Phelps (interviewer), Zack Mitrecic (Larry), David Holoweiko (Darryl), Shane Calderone (Brian), Victoria Rhea (Red).

The "Nik of T.I.M.E." cast: David Holoweiko (Alan Bronson), Kelsey Rhea (Nikita Marner), Michael Phelps (Carl Nelson), Victoria Rhea (Brian).

For "The Pitch," the cast is Zac Cageao (Rick Schwartz), Shane Calderone (Evan Collins), David Holoweiko (the producer).

For more information about this or upcoming shows, contact the R-ACT office at 724-775-6844 or visit ractproductions.com.