Student’s original musical to premiere at Cal U. next week
Dominic Carrola, left, and his brother, Anthony Carrola, match the music to the storyline for “Yet Another Funeral.”
Members of the “Funeral” family are, from left, Sidney Popielarcheck of Washington; Katherine Hoffman of Derry; Nicholas Franczak of Jefferson Hills; Kayla Grimm of Masontown; Saleem Carpenter of Media and Amelia Wisinski of Erie.
California University of Pennsylvania will present the theatrical debut of “Yet Another Funeral,” a musical created by Dominic Carrola, a graduating senior in Cal U.’s commercial music technology program.
Performances will be held at 8 p.m. April 7 and 8 and 2 and 8 p.m. April 9 in Steele Hall Mainstage Theatre.
The fully staged musical is a contemporary romantic comedy featuring a dissatisfied-with-life hotel clerk, a down-on-his-luck journalist, a mysterious stranger, and, yes, more funerals than a typical Broadway show.
Carrola, who resides in Washington, composed the music and wrote the lyrics for the production’s 21 original songs. His younger brother, Anthony, wrote the book, and a third brother, high school student Nick, will perform with the pit orchestra.
Cal U. senior Mike Meketa, another commercial music technology major, handled the orchestration.
Dr. Michele Pagen directs the production, with musical direction by Dr. Yugo Ikach. The two Cal U. professors co-chair the university’s Department of Theatre and Music.
”This is a landmark production,” Pagen says. “To explore and mount an original piece of theater is exciting, terrifying and exhilarating. The performers, the composer, the management team and the tech support team will walk away with an experience that very few people ever have.”
Ikach agrees.
”When you must realize a concept tangibly (not theoretically), you have no choice but to complete it or fail trying,” he said. “That pressure, especially amplified for having to present it in front of an audience, forces you forward. Those are higher stakes than simply taking a test on a subject.
”Your reputation, ego and self are on the line. That being the case, the vast majority of students will rise to the occasion and be forever changed having survived and even thrived under that pressure.”
Admission is $12 for adults, senior citizens and children. Cal U. students with valid CalCards pay 50 cents, plus a $5 deposit that is refunded at the show.
For more ticket information, or to charge tickets by phone, call the Steele Hall box cffice at 724-938-5943. Tickets also will be sold at the door.