Chagrin Valley Little Theatre

Press Releases

CVLT's new musical asks "Is There Life After High School?" - 4/4 /08

CHAGRIN FALLS, OH - Although we may try to hide it, there's a kid inside of all of us who hangs on to the personal triumphs and defeats we endured in high school. As Ralph Keyes discovered in his 1976 book on the subject, the events and people we knew as adolescents have an indelible effect on who we become as adults. Mr. Keyes' insightful book formed the basis for Craig Carnelia and Jeffrey Kindley's reverent, funny and sometimes bittersweet musical Is There Life After High School? which opens at Chagrin Valley Little Theatre on April 18th.

In CVLT's production, directed by Don Edelman with musical director Regis Bookshar, eight performers (Pat Mazzarino, Sharon Lloyd, Don Bernardo, Darlene Fowler, Steve Kay, Chris Hunter, Libby Merriman, Eric Oswald, and Maggie Wise) share their stories about the high school moments that remain with them today. They are a 'living yearbook' of our common high school experience.

In the play, the nameless characters represent each of us in turn, as they sing about the missed opportunities ("Second Thoughts"), partying ("Beer"), being popular ("Diary of a Homecoming Queen"), and unpopular ("I'm Glad You Didn't Know Me"), the school band ("Thousands of Trumpets"), and interrupted friendships ("Fran and Janie"). Interspersed with the music are monologues about the girls and boys we loved, the horrors of gym class, and the teachers who made a difference.

You can never go back to high school, but you can relive some of the magic and the heartbreak with Is There Life After High School?, which plays Friday and Saturday nights at 8 PM from April 18th to May 17th, with Sunday matinees at 2 PM, May 4th and 11th. Tickets are $16 for adults, $12 for students and seniors.

A special "Girls' Night Out!" event will be held at 6 PM on April 25th. Part of a successful series of pre-show parties, this event includes wine, appetizers, and sweet treats in CVLT's River Room, followed by Is There Life After High School? at 8:00 PM. This 'party for the girls' is $30 (show admission included) and does have space limitations, so please reserve early.

Tickets for CVLT shows and events can be purchased online at www.CVLT.org, or by calling the Box Office at 440-247-8955 between 1 and 6 PM, Monday through Saturday. CVLT is located at 40 River Street in historic Chagrin Falls Village.

Chagrin Valley Little Theatre is generously funded by Cuyahoga County residents through Cuyahoga Arts and Culture and is supported by the Ohio Arts Council. CVLT was voted 'Best Community Theatre' by Cleveland Magazine Readers, and 'Best Theatre Group' on the Fox 8 HotList in 2007.

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