Lexington Youth Summer Theatre Marks 30th Anniversary

On July 22-24, 2010, led by returning director duo Lewis and Dorene Blair, Lexington Youth Summer Theatre (LYST) will commemorate its 30th anniversary with a performance of Grease, a musical centered on a fictional high school in the 1950s. Under the Blairs' direction, this year's show incorporates elements from both 1950 and 2010, a twist relevant to LYST's celebration of its own past and present.

LYST, a non-profit cooperative summer theatre program, began in 1980 with a small backyard production of Annie. This year, LYST has its biggest cast yet, a group of 60 children ages eight to 17 from Andover, Acton, Bedford, Belmont, Billerica, Chelmsford, Lexington, Lynn, Medford, Melrose and Wilmington. The team has added an extra ensemble of younger children dancing as "extras" in Grease's four major numbers.

Working in collaboration with Grace Chapel, LYST has found a large and technologically sophisticated venue in the church, which provides rehearsal and performance space. LYST hopes to eventually secure its own location.

The cast has been working together since the last week in May. Rehearsals usually take place Sunday through Thursday, with a Saturday thrown in here and there.

At one of those rare Saturday rehearsals, the atmosphere remained lively. Cast members practiced musical numbers, clapping after successfully rehearsing a song.  Just before it began to rain, Greg Cushing, director of the extra ensemble, took cast members outside to rehearse a number for "We Go Together." Parent volunteers bustled around, experimenting with hair, makeup and costumes. Scott Bokun, parent coordinator, modeled a "Pink Ladies" jacket, prompting laughter.

Since LYST began, kids and parents have collaborated to make shows a success.  While kids learn their parts, each parent volunteers at least 40 hours over a six to seven week period. Those who no longer have children participating in LYST often return to lend their efforts to the productions.

The family focus may be particularly important to the Blairs, who have collaborated on 20 out of LYST's 30 shows. Lewis works on stage direction, while Dorene does musical direction. Their son Garrett has directed other past LYST productions, and their daughter Haley has helped with choreography.

The cast and crew also form a "big family," in the words of lead David DeLuca, age 17, who's performed with LYST for the past two summers. Ensemble member Lindsay Moran, age 14, said in her first year with LYST, she's bonded with the cast on a deeper level than others she's performed with.

"LYST is not just about putting on a show," said Lewis. He explained that not only does LYST provide children with a theater education and bring the community together, but it also donates $700-$1000 of its proceeds to charity. Each year, the cast votes for three children's charities to which it sends money. This year, proceeds from Grease will go to the Make-A-Wish Foundation, Room to Read, and the National Tay-Sachs and Allied Diseases Association.

See Grease on Thursday, July 22, and Friday, July 23, at 7 p.m, and Saturday, July 24, at 1 p.m.  All performances will take place at Grace Chapel.  Buy tickets at http://www.lexingtonyouthsummertheatre.org or at Catch a Falling Star, Levine Orthodontics and Michelson's Shoes in Lexington Center. Call Abbe Smerling at 781-888-4565 with questions about ticket purchases.

It's also LYST's first year participating in the Consortium of Boston Area Children's Theatres (CBACT), taking placed on Saturday, July 17, at Watertown's Arsenal Center for the Arts. Find further information and tickets at www.cbact.org and 617-926-ARTS (2787).