Stage Lives: Actors Guild of Parkersburg celebrating 70 years of ‘Magic’ with original show
Troy Snyder performs in “Big River” during the 1993-1994 Actors Guild of Parkersburg Season. Snyder will perform in the 70th anniversary production at the Guild this weekend. (Photo Provided)
Ashley Fluharty will reprise her role as Wednesday Addams from the 2015 Actors Guild of Parkersburg production. (Photo Provided)
Barbara Full, left, and Su Voycik Meredith, right, perform in the 1992-1993 Actors Guild of Parkersburg’s production of “Into the Woods.” Both actresses will perform in “Magic to Do,” the Guild’s 70th anniversary show. (Photo Provided)
J.T. Spivy performs in the Actors Guild of Parkersburg’s 2015 production of “Young Frankenstein” as Igor. Spivy will perform in “Magic to Do,” the theater’s 70th anniversary production. (Photo Provided)
James Hughes performs as The Emcee in the 2024 production of “Cabaret” at the Actors Guild of Parkersburg. Hughes will reprise his role at the Guild’s 70th Anniversary show Saturday and Sunday. (Photo Provided)
Kit Parsons performs in the 2024 production of “Beauty and the Beast” at the Actors Guild of Parkersburg. Parsons will reprise his role as Gaston during the theater’s 70th anniversary production Saturday and Sunday. (Photo Provided)
Troy Snyder performs in “Big River” during the 1993-1994 Actors Guild of Parkersburg Season. Snyder will perform in the 70th anniversary production at the Guild this weekend. (Photo Provided)
Ashley Fluharty will reprise her role as Wednesday Addams from the 2015 Actors Guild of Parkersburg production. (Photo Provided)
Barbara Full, left, and Su Voycik Meredith, right, perform in the 1992-1993 Actors Guild of Parkersburg’s production of “Into the Woods.” Both actresses will perform in “Magic to Do,” the Guild’s 70th anniversary show. (Photo Provided)
J.T. Spivy performs in the Actors Guild of Parkersburg’s 2015 production of “Young Frankenstein” as Igor. Spivy will perform in “Magic to Do,” the theater’s 70th anniversary production. (Photo Provided)
James Hughes performs as The Emcee in the 2024 production of “Cabaret” at the Actors Guild of Parkersburg. Hughes will reprise his role at the Guild’s 70th Anniversary show Saturday and Sunday. (Photo Provided)
Kit Parsons performs in the 2024 production of “Beauty and the Beast” at the Actors Guild of Parkersburg. Parsons will reprise his role as Gaston during the theater’s 70th anniversary production Saturday and Sunday. (Photo Provided)
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PARKERSBURG – The Actors Guild of Parkersburg is marking its 70th anniversary with an original production, "Magic to Do," featuring Guild veterans, longtime local performers and former members returning home for the one-weekend celebration.
The show is designed as a more informal tribute to the Guild's history, blending songs, storytelling and behind-the-scenes glimpses into how productions come together.
"Magic to Do" will be presented at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 29, and 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 30, at the Actors Guild of Parkersburg. Tickets are $25 and are on sale at .
"This whole season, we're celebrating our 70th anniversary," director R.J. Lowe said. "The Guild has produced dramas, comedies, mysteries, musicals and even some original pieces over the years. It's been serving the community ever since, which is just really astounding and amazing."
Lowe said audiences should expect something more playful than the Guild's past milestone productions.
"We've done several celebrations that were quite formal," he said. "We wanted to go a different way this time -- a little more fun, a little more casual."
The first act follows a group of current Guild regulars as they gather to plan the anniversary show, sparking shared memories, musical numbers and a few dance moments. The second act focuses on how a show is made, walking audiences through each step of the production process with short staged examples -- from auditions to music rehearsals to choreography. "There's one other segment that is a special surprise that I don't want to give away," Lowe said.
Lowe said several performers who have moved away are returning to Parkersburg specifically to take part in the celebration, joining longtime Guild members onstage.
For Lowe, the milestone represents more than longevity.
"It's so important to keep the arts alive in our community, especially at a time when the arts can sometimes feel like they're being under attack," he said. "To keep them alive for 70 years and counting is awe-inspiring."
He added that audiences can expect a full spectrum of emotion.
"There's going to be laughs, there's going to be heartstrings pulled. It runs the gamut," he said. "It's going to be a lot of fun."
Gwen Sour can be reached at gsour@newsandsentinel.com