Cry Baby The Musical cast is the first group to perform at the Main St. 56 Theater stage at Batavia City Centre–Tickets available by clicking this link Next on Stage – BATAVIA PLAYERS, INC. • MAIN ST. 56 THEATER
The Batavia Players have officially moved into their new home at Main St. 56 Theater at City Centre as of this past Monday. The stage will see its first production with Cry Baby The Musical, presented by the 2023 Summer Youth Theater.
The Batavia Players have been traveling to different stage locations over the past four years since moving from their location at 56 Harvester Avenue. The group is working from the stage on out to finish up loose ends before Cry Baby opens this Friday at the City Centre stage.
“A lot of wonderful people volunteered time, equipment, and materials to finish the stage lighting and sound, we really were right up to the last minute, we had to be finished by August 5th at the latest,” says Patrick Burk, Show Director.
Burk speaking with the cast and crew before rehearsal on Tuesday evening
With cast and crew, there are 31 people involved in the production of Cry Baby this weekend. Volunteers will be working around the clock to get the rest of the area outside of the stage up and running.
“It’s crazy, especially with a bunch of new people. Over half the cast is brand new to us.”
The group’s goal was to get the new theater ready for production.
Theater Manager Dave Adams making sure the cast and crew are ready for rehearsal on Tuesday evening
“A lot of our decorative painting, our lobby, are marque, the sculpture to be hung in the ceiling, none of that stuff is done, more will be done between shows, but we were literally out of time and out of space and we needed to start pushing and working into our new space as much as we could. So far, we are able to do what we can, and this show works perfectly in this space.”
Left to right- Tom Clark/Lighting, Ross Chua/Audio and Patrick Burk/Show Director/Pres. of Batavia Players and Executive Director of the Main St. 56 Theater.
Burk says things are finally getting back to where it was before the Pandemic.
“It’s no wonder we stayed in business, and we were able to move forward with everything we’ve been doing. It’s been a good few years, this year alone we’re back up to doing 10 shows, mostly without a home.”
Opening night is finally here this Friday at 7:30PM. Burk says after some problem solving during their last rehearsals the show will be ready. Get tickets at this link: Next on Stage – BATAVIA PLAYERS, INC. • MAIN ST. 56 THEATER
“It hasn’t quite hit me yet, but what has hit me is that we have a good group of people, I’m really pleased with the work of the volunteers. It has been amazing with electricians, carpenters, and dry wall people right up until Friday, it’s amazing.”
Video clip from show
The Batavia Players Present:
Summer Youth Theater’s
CRY BABY
THE MUSICAL
Directed by: Patrick Burk
Musical Direction by: Kathy White
Choreography by: Samantha Jane Balbi7:00 PM
Friday, August 11th & Saturday, August 12th2:00 PM
Sunday, August 13th
This jumping, jiving Tony nominee is a rebellious teen comedy event! Based on the cult classic, 1990 John Waters film, Cry-Baby features a delightfully demented book from the writers of Hairspray and a rockabilly score from the co-founder of Fountains of Wayne and the executive producer of “The Daily Show.”
It’s 1954. Everyone likes Ike, nobody likes communism and Wade “Cry-Baby” Walker is the coolest boy in Baltimore. He’s a bad boy with a good cause – truth, justice and the pursuit of rock and roll. Cry-Baby and the square rich girl, Allison, are star-crossed lovers at the center of this world. Fueled by hormones and the new rhythms of rock and roll, she turns her back on her squeaky clean boyfriend, Baldwin, to become a “drape” (a Baltimore juvenile delinquent) and Cry-Baby’s moll. At the other end of the topsy-turvy moral meritocracy of 1954 America, Baldwin is the king of the squares and leads his close-harmony pals against the juvenile delinquents, who are ultimately arrested for arson, sending the drapes all off to prison. It’s Romeo and Juliet meets High School Hellcats.
Filled with unforgettable songs and a truly unique and fresh story, Cry-Baby is a perfect choice for any theatre looking to add a rockin’ good time to their season. Cry-Baby, Allison and Baltimore’s energetic juvenile delinquents will dance their way right into your audience’s heart!
Tickets
Adults $18
Students/Seniors $16
