Young Adults Theater to present 'Singin' in the Rain'

The Shafter Young Adults Theater will be performing their production of the Broadway hit "Singin' in the Rain" at the Shafter Ford Theater Friday and Saturday, March 31-April 1. The group has been rehearsing for several weeks, learning a variety of dances and singing numbers, bringing the Broadway hit to life.

Led by Mayor Chad Givens, the theater troupe has been performing for the past three years, a welcome addition to the Shafter Children's Summer Theater, which has been in operation for over 20 years.

This season's production is a challenging one, with numbers that require a good amount of technique in tap dancing and jazz, as well as singing.

Givens said that there are a few of his performers that have experience, but the majority of the company are learning these skills as they progress through the production. "We are working on some things to fine tune the play, but it is going very well and we are having a great time," he said.

Taking place in 1927, Don Lockwood and Lina Lamont, played by Luke Kratt and Jayna Pierucci, are prominent Hollywood actors who are seen in silent films all across America! As we see them taking center stage at the Hollywood premier Lina continues to try and woo Don, but he has no desire to be with her at all. They continue to the studio party, but as the times are changing so are the ways that shows are produced and filmed as Warner Bros. is coming out with the first talking film.

Now Monumental Studios, R.F. Simpson, played by Josh Cooley and Rod are working on making their own talking film to keep up, the first of their studio. But they have a problem: Their star beauty in silent film, Lina Lamont, can't sing or dance, and frankly her talking voice is not desired by others either.

They find themselves in a precarious situation, but Kathy Selden, a "real" actress and on stage performer, portrayed by Megan Bloemhof, is able to help them along as she becomes a voiceover for Lina, who cannot do talking films to save her life. Don and his good friend Cosmo, played by Layna Figueroa, realize the talent Kathy has and begin working on a musical instead of a talking film.

They follow their Hollywood stars as they begin working on the new film, working through the script and music, and deal with bad contracts, all while dancing, singing and laughing their way to a brand new film, The Dancing Cavalier.

In addition to the leads, the company is made up of a number of performers who have experience in previous productions, including Lauren Givens, who has performed in several SYAT productions, and Matthew Cordova and Laura Neufeld.

The group was founded when Cris Starrh decided to give the young adults of Shafter, who were aging out of the Children'a Summer Theater, an outlet to continue their theatrical passion and highlight their talents.

Tickets are still available and will be sold at the door as well. Go to shafterfordtheater.com and click on the "buy tickets" prompt, or call the theater office at 661-630-4059.