Theater Review: "The Amazing Lemonade Girl" by City Youth Theatre

By Nancy Sasso Janis

I was honored to be invited to attend one of the final rehearsals of the upcoming “The Amazing Lemonade Girl,” a play written by James Devita. This was the first technical rehearsal for the production, but I was nonetheless able to get a very good feel for how good the final performances should turn out.

The playwright shares this information about the inspiration for the play in the digital program.

“Alexandra “Alex” Scott was born to Liz and Jay Scott in Manchester, Connecticut on January 18, 1996, the second of four children. Shortly before her first birthday, Alex was diagnosed with neuroblastoma, a type of childhood cancer.

On her first birthday, the doctors informed Alex’s parents that if she beat her cancer it was doubtful that she would ever walk again. Just two weeks later, Alex slightly moved her leg at her parents’ request to kick. This was the first indication of who she would turn out to be — a determined, courageous, confident and inspiring child with big dreams and big accomplishments.

When she was just four years old, Alex held her first childhood cancer fundraiser in her front yard and raised more than $2,000. By the time of her death in 2004, Alex raised $1 million and inspired a legacy of hope and cures for childhood cancer.”

DeVita is a native of Long Island, NY, Along with his novels, "Blue," "A Winsome Murder," "The Silenced," which earned him the National Endowment for the Arts Literature Fellowship for Fiction. He has also worked extensively as a playwright. His plays for young audiences have been acknowledged with The Distinguished Play Award from The American Alliance of Theater and Education.

Kevin Michael Reed directs the students and one adult actor. He and the cast have endeavored to honor Alexandra’s legacy with this production.

Alexandra Scott is lovingly brought to life by Mikayla Labbe. Ms. Labbe is a high school student at Waterbury Arts Magnet School. Her credits include “Sister Act,” "A Very Merry Christmas,” “Peter and the Starcatcher,” “Macbeth”, “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”, “Jungle Book”, “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory”, “Mary Poppins”, “You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown,” “All Shook Up,” “Legally Blonde,” and “A Winter’s Tale” (Shepherd’s Son/Mamillias).

Ensemble 1 is covered by Tianna Campbell William. Esmerelda Reyes plays the roles wrapped up in the part of Ensemble 3, as well as being the understudy for Alex.

Nick Bates appears as Ensemble 2 and writes that he is very excited to be part of this beautiful production. He does very well with all of the characters that he covers and I could not help but laugh at his line “I have done some community theater,” because indeed he has. Some of his past credits include, “Addams Family” (Ancestor) , “MidSummer Night’s Dream” (Nick Bottom), “Legally Blonde” (Kyle/Dewey), “Sister Act“ (TJ/Dance Captain).

Ensemble 3 is Delilah Lombardo. She is proud to be joining the CYT production Some of her past credits include: “Mary Poppins” (George Banks), "Frozen" (Hans), "Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory,” CYT Cabaret show, and CYT "A Very Merry Christmas."

Alexander Allen Summa plays Ensemble 4, the youngest member of the cast. Summa started at Judson Elementary School by playing the role of Banzai, in “The Lion King.” He currently worked with the McKenna Studios Improv Group in Watertown, CT, to further his acting interests.

Ensemble 5 is played by Todd Labbe Sr. Mr. Labbe spent most of his high school career doing any musical that would include him in the cast. Fast forward 25 years or so and he came back in CYT’s production of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” followed by playing Joey in “Sister Act” alongside his wife and three daughters. He is very excited to perform this piece alongside his oldest daughter Mikayla, where he often plays her doctor.

Lighting Designer John Rush will make the space look great. Costume Designer Aisling Gowen has assembled a great collection of costumes for the cast members, young and adult. (“Tick, Tick…Boom!”) Set builder Daniele Iagrossi has created a space that can transform into what the scenes require. There are some moveable props that help set the scenes as well.

Isabella Andrade is stage manager, with Gabriella Francis as assistant stage manager. Sound Board Operator - Randall Kluessendorf will serve as sound board operator. Props came from Brookfield Theatre for the Arts, as well as Steffon Sampson and Bella

Shelby C. Davis is the executive director of City Youth Theatre/City Stage Company and the show’s producers are Davis and Steffon Sampson. Davis writes that this work “invites us all to embark on a journey into the world of a young girl who defied odds, embraced challenges, and turned a simple idea into an inspiring movement of change.”

The touching play is presented without intermission.

Tickets available now for the Connecticut premiere of “The Amazing Lemonade Girl” at
Our.show/lemonadegirl.

Shows are scheduled for Thursday, Aug. 17 at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m., Friday, Aug. 18 at 7 p.m., Saturday, Aug. 19 at 7 p.m., and Sunday, Aug. 20, 2023 at 2 p.m. at Naugatuck Valley Community College Performing Arts Center, 750 Chase Parkway in Waterbury, Connecticut

Nancy Sasso Janis has been writing theater reviews since 2012 as a way to support local venues, and she posts well over 100 reviews each year. She became a member of the Connecticut Critics Circle in 2016. Her contributions of theatrical reviews, previews, and audition notices are posted in the Naugatuck Patch as well as the Patch sites closest to the venue. She is also a feature writer and theater reviewer for the Waterbury Republican-American newspaper. Her weekly column IN THE WINGS and theater reviews appear in the Thursday Weekend section of the paper.

Follow the reviewer on her Facebook pages Nancy Sasso Janis: Theatre Reviewer and Connecticut Theatre Previews and on Twitter @nancysjanis417 Check out the CCC Facebook page.