Port Summer Show presents “On the Town” August 1st– August 4th

Celebrating a tradition dating back 47 years, Port Summer Show presents “On the Town”. Performances are August 1-3 at 7:30 and August 4th at 2:00 in the air conditioned Schreiber High School Auditorium. Tickets are $15 for general admission and $10 for children 12 and under. Senior Citizens, 62 and under are free on Thurs August 1st and $10 at all other performances. Veterans and their spouses are invited to attend the Saturday Aug 3rd performance for free with the ticket cost underwritten by the Peter and Jeri Dejana Family Foundation. There will be a special commemoration for all veterans at intermission on August 3rd.

With brash, spectacular, and slightly bittersweet abandon, “On the Town” is a musical about living life to its fullest. With a soaring score by Leonard Bernstein and humorous, highly intelligent lyrics by Betty Comden and Adolph Green, “On the Town” showcases three sailors on 24 hour shore leave in NYC and their quest for love and adventure.
Now in its 47th year, the Port Summer Show is a nonprofit teen theater that has been producing Broadway musicals since its inaugural performance in the John Phillip Sousa Bandshell produced and directed by Ron and Pam Meadows. These productions give Port Washington teenagers the opportunity to work on all aspects of the production including on stage performance, backstage crew, and playing in the orchestra. Teenagers in grades 7 through 12 work with a professional director, musical director, choreographer, scenic designer, and costume designers.
This Port Washington tradition has been passed down, as graduates of the Port Summer Show productions introduce their children to the program. Parent volunteers are integral in creating and producing the shows each year.
Current Co- President, Sam DeMarino performed in her first Port Summer Show “Once Upon a Mattress” in 1979. “I remember looking forward to spending the summer surrounded by my friends, collaborating to create something magical on stage. Forty years later, as Co-President and Co-Producer of Port Summer Show, I feel the exact same way”
The DeMarino family includes second generation PSS performers, Sarah DeMarino (2017 graduate) and Matthew DeMarino (2019 graduate). Matthew will be performing in this year’s production of “On the Town” portraying the role of Chip, one of the three sailors. Matthew remarked “Growing up, I did hear many stories about Port Summer Show. I heard about the fun experiences my mother and her friends had and I also heard how accepting and caring the Port Summer Show was as a community. I knew it was an opportunity that I had to take advantage of.”
Another PSS alumni, Michael Scotto, performed with Sam DeMarino in the 1982 production of “Kismet”. “The Port Summer Show is an enduring tradition from simpler times. It started out as a humble undertaking. Teenagers wanted to find something to fill their days in the age old tradition of ‘hey kids, let’s put on a show.” When asked about his favorite memory of PSS, Michael said “I graduated out of the program but then I came back to be the stage manager for ‘Peter Pan’. I really enjoyed working with the flight crew that was brought in to rig the flying for the performers.”
Second generation PSS performers from the Scotto family, include Valentina Scotto (2018 graduate) and Mike P Scotto (Class of 2021). Mike Scotto will be on the stage crew for “On the Town” and has also performed Bari Horn in the Orchestra for several PSS productions. “One of my favorite memories is playing the Solo Kansas land in the production of ‘Curtains’. Alison Friedman is an excellent Musical Director and I really enjoyed working with her.”
Reminiscing about his experience in the Port Summer Show, Matthew DeMarino summed it up“From our director to our dance choreographer, all our staff are committed to putting on the very best show possible. Every one of the PSS staff is passionate about theatre and is an experienced professional with an impressive resume. They never fail to keep everyone engaged in what they’re doing and seem to always perfectly balance work and fun.”