Community Theater

Lions and tigers and homework, oh my! High school students are juggling school obligations and roles in the Stepping Stone Players’ musical “Wizard of Oz,” all for the love of theater. Jeremy Zadoorian, 14, is splitting his time this semester between two positions on the Hoover High freshman football team and three roles in the community theater company’s 10th annual musical. It’s a revival production of the group’s first show performed a decade ago. After school, Zadoorian has football practice before rehearsals with an hour in between.

GLENDALE -- The Stepping Stone Players, a community theater group that will produce "Peter Pan" in September, has formed an alliance with the American Assn. of Community Theatres. The association is an organization dedicated to fostering and encouraging development of, and commitment to, the highest standards of community theater throughout the United States, including standards of excellence for production, management, governance, community relations and service.

Magic has always played a major role in the acting career of Romi Dames. Seems it helped in her early years landing parts in Community Theater, and later when she auditioned for “Hannah Montana” and won the role of Traci Van Horn. Now the Burbank resident’s new project is all about magic as she provides the voice for Musa, Fairy of Music, in Nickelodeon’s new animated series, “Winx Club.” The first of four one-hour specials premieres at 8 p.m. Monday. The show is about six fairies learning to use their magical powers at fairy school.

A community theater company is bringing families together, whether it’s in the cast or the audience. The Stepping Stone Players are in final rehearsals for “Once Upon a Mattress” opening Friday at Hoover High School’s Auditorium. It’s the ninth production of the nonprofit theater group, whose vision is to build a sense of community through theater by encouraging the participation of people of all ages and backgrounds. Over the years, more and more family members have auditioned and landed roles in the shows, said director Susan Kussman, who added that they got the roles on their own merit as individuals.

Imagine living a life where everybody around you thinks you can?t understand English. Sounds perfect to me. What if this were true and wacky people you didn?t know started telling you their innermost secrets? Could you stay ?stupid?? Would you break down, speak the truth or use this knowledge to your advantage? These questions and concepts are explored in Larry Shue?s comedy, ?The Foreigner,? being presented by Glendale?s nonprofit community theater group, the Stepping Stone Players at the Hoover Little Theatre.

Margaret Snyder Following the success of last summer's production of the "Wizard of Oz," The Stepping Stone Players community theater group (established by Keppel, Toll and Hoover parents), is busy laying the groundwork for their upcoming production of "Peter Pan." Tonight's fund-raising Masquerade Ball celebration will benefit the group's ongoing effort to involve youth and their families in the nuts and bolts of theatrical production and to continue to bring quality community theater to Glendale.

The Stepping Stone Players, Glendale's nonprofit community theater group, gear up for a new season following their third success with September's production of "Bye Bye Birdie." Spokeswoman and Mark Keppel Elementary parent Lee Briggs said the troupe can continue to grow and develop its goal to provide quality community theater. If you would like to become involved with either production or fund-raising, please call 246-8822 or online www.steppingstoneplayers.

Claudia Peschiutta SOUTHWEST GLENDALE -- It's hard to believe Takui Akopyan was once a shy girl whose voice was rarely heard. At 72, the Glendale resident is as vibrant as the red in her hair. When she isn't working, Akopyan is everything from an actress to a writer to a leader in the senior housing complex where she lives and cares for her 101-year-old mother. "I cannot stop myself," Akopyan says. "Sometimes, I'm thinking, 'I'm crazy.' " But, at one time, Akopyan's main role was being a star.

Magic has always played a major role in the acting career of Romi Dames. Seems it helped in her early years landing parts in Community Theater, and later when she auditioned for “Hannah Montana” and won the role of Traci Van Horn. Now the Burbank resident’s new project is all about magic as she provides the voice for Musa, Fairy of Music, in Nickelodeon’s new animated series, “Winx Club.” The first of four one-hour specials premieres at 8 p.m. Monday. The show is about six fairies learning to use their magical powers at fairy school.

Imagine living a life where everybody around you thinks you can?t understand English. Sounds perfect to me. What if this were true and wacky people you didn?t know started telling you their innermost secrets? Could you stay ?stupid?? Would you break down, speak the truth or use this knowledge to your advantage? These questions and concepts are explored in Larry Shue?s comedy, ?The Foreigner,? being presented by Glendale?s nonprofit community theater group, the Stepping Stone Players at the Hoover Little Theatre.

Lions and tigers and homework, oh my! High school students are juggling school obligations and roles in the Stepping Stone Players’ musical “Wizard of Oz,” all for the love of theater. Jeremy Zadoorian, 14, is splitting his time this semester between two positions on the Hoover High freshman football team and three roles in the community theater company’s 10th annual musical. It’s a revival production of the group’s first show performed a decade ago. After school, Zadoorian has football practice before rehearsals with an hour in between.

A community theater company is bringing families together, whether it’s in the cast or the audience. The Stepping Stone Players are in final rehearsals for “Once Upon a Mattress” opening Friday at Hoover High School’s Auditorium. It’s the ninth production of the nonprofit theater group, whose vision is to build a sense of community through theater by encouraging the participation of people of all ages and backgrounds. Over the years, more and more family members have auditioned and landed roles in the shows, said director Susan Kussman, who added that they got the roles on their own merit as individuals.

Farce in the fine tradition of Moliere is a community theater favorite. "Lend Me a Tenor," which examines the condition of those who are celebrated and those who celebrate, is especially suitable for Glendale, one of the nearest bedroom communities for Hollywood types and those who make films tick. It is the nature of farces to start slowly. They concentrate on contrivances rather than character and "Tenor" is no exception. Never-the-less, the first act of Ken Ludwig's "Tenor" at the Glendale Centre Theatre sets up the inevitable mistaken identities well enough because the players have so much fun being, well ... zany.

JOYCE RUDOLPH Emma Degerstedt's experience playing Annie in the Stepping Stone Players musical is the type most actresses can only dream about. She admires her director and is charmed by her co-stars. Michael Le Beau plays Daddy Warbucks in the community theater production opening this weekend at Hoover High School's Auditorium. "He's funny," Emma said. "We had a photo shoot of both of us. I was supposed to have a serious face, but he kept doing poses and making funny faces and made me laugh.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT IN THE SPOTLIGHT GLENDALE -- The Stepping Stone Players, a community theater company, has filled top positions for "Annie," opening Sept. 5. Directing the musical is Susan Kussman of Glendale, who returns to the company after directing its inaugural production, "The Wizard Of Oz," in 2000. Kussman has worked in the Los Angeles area as an award-winning actress, producer, director and teacher for more than 30 years. She is the recipient of a Drama Logue Award and two L.A. Weekly Theatre Critics' awards.

The Stepping Stone Players, Glendale's nonprofit community theater group, gear up for a new season following their third success with September's production of "Bye Bye Birdie." Spokeswoman and Mark Keppel Elementary parent Lee Briggs said the troupe can continue to grow and develop its goal to provide quality community theater. If you would like to become involved with either production or fund-raising, please call 246-8822 or online www.steppingstoneplayers.

Gary Moskowitz A group of nine mothers of Glendale students made a decision in 2000 to take their collective backgrounds in theater and create their own company. The Stepping Stone Players, now a nonprofit organization with two productions under its belt -- "The Wizard of Oz" and "Peter Pan" -- will take its cast of 49 actors, 20 crew members and four interpreters and begin performances of "Bye Bye Birdie" tonight. The theater group has grown in two years.