Theatre Palisades Youth will perform this spring, despite Pierson Playhouse burning to the ground.
Theatre Palisades Youth (TPY) includes aspiring singers and performers from ages 8 to 14. The young thespians generally perform twice a year, and despite the Palisades Fire and the loss of the theater (Pierson Playhouse), the spring show Crazy for You is now in rehearsals.
Long-time TPY Director Lara Ganz wrote in an email to CTN that St. Monica hosted their first rehearsal of Crazy, through choreographer Rebecca Barragan’s connections.
“We are getting some offers of rehearsal spaces and are still looking for a stage for Crazy for You, with some possible options being forwarded to us,” Ganz said. She is also directing Beetlejuice, Revere Middle School’s spring musical. That show will continue its rehearsals in the school space, because the school was unharmed by the fire.
Ganz told Circling the News that one of the Theatre Palisades teens, Vanessa Masterson, who attends Palisades High School and whose home was also lost in the fire, set up a go-fund me page to rebuild the Pierson Playhouse. That Playhouse was the site of not only TPY productions, but also the community theater productions, which has five show a year.
Ganz said that Masterson is only 15 but has helped the younger kids in rehearsals as well. “She is so generous, capable, talented, and exhibits the BRIGHTEST spirit of service,” Ganz said. “We are so unbelievably fortunate because of her involvement in our community.” For the playhouse rebuild link click here.