Talcott Library welcomes Spotlight Youth Theater as special guests

By Marianne Mueller

REPORTER

As part of Talcott Free Library’s summer reading program, “Read to Win” Spotlight Youth Theater was welcomed as the evening’s special guests on Thursday evening, June 23.

Kelly Schemel of Spotlight Theater read a fun children’s book featuring the Berenstain Bears who become involved with a production of “Grizzly Stillskin.”

Spotlight’s Area Coordinator, Christy Dayton handed out scripts from Disney’s themed sheet music to all of the younger library patrons. Magnolia Maurer gave a brief synopsis about reading scripts.

“You can see how reading works in theater. Without reading there would be no television,” shared Dayton.

Spotlight Youth performed a medley of songs from past productions, and familiar tunes starting with “You’ve got a friend in me,” from Toy Story.

Dayton explained the lyrics behind a song from a show called, “Newsies.” This story is based on the real life News Boy strikes of 1899. Mr. Pulitzer raised newspaper prices so high that the papers were destroyed in protest,” said Dayton.

The snowball effect of fun shined through in the number “Freak Flag” from Shrek.

Young ones danced in their spots and were also joined by youth from Spotlight Theater during upbeat numbers!

“Super Califragilisticexpialidocious” from Mary Poppins had feet tapping. Many adults and young ones were singing along to “Love is an open Door from Frozen.

“We do three shows a year, all at Hononegah,” said Dayton. “Our last show was Tarzan.”

Four tickets to any Spotlight show were given away in a drawing. This fall Spotlight Theater is returning to the Hononegah High School Performing Arts Center in a production of Oklahoma.

More fun followed the Spotlight visit as all attended an ice cream social. Ice Cream was generously provided by the Dairyhuas and the program was sponsored by Friends of Talcott Library, the Dairyhaus and Hononegah Woman’s Club.

Currently 454 children in addition to a great number of teens and adults are enrolled in the summer reading program.  The program began on June 8 with a spectacular program by Maggienifficent Erdman followed by a game day the following week. Spotlight Theater added to the fun with their program. Mr. Steve, “The Master Facilitator of Fun provided fun on June 30.