Young Performers Show Off Their Talents

The first floor of the Palisades Center mall became a stage Saturday for cast members of the Clarkstown Summer Theatre Festival, who put on a preview of their upcoming show that opens on Aug. 6.

The group, now in its 38th season, is putting on the musical review "Celebrate"  at Clarkstown South High School in West Nyack. The festival features local students in an original production at the high school, 31 Demarest Mill Road.

The show has 8 p.m. performances on Aug. 6 and 7 and Aug. 12, 13 and 14. There's also a 2 p.m. performance on Aug. 8.

Tickets are available at performances or in advance in the lobby of Clarkstown South 6 to 8:30 p.m.,  Monday-Thursday. Adults: $15; Students: $10;  Seniors and children: $8. Group tickets: $8 (Minimum 20 tickets for same performance).

The group consists of 18 cast members, six orchestra members, a five-person crew and a nine-person professional staff. There are also three interns, one who works with the cast, another with the orchestra and one with the costume department. The members that make up the cast, orchestra and crew are all teenagers from the tri-state area, although most are from Rockland.

The festival is organized by parent volunteers and the show is directed by Joe Egan, who during the regular school year is director of drama programs at Nyack High School.