Cove Theater to Stage Dinner Theater

The Cove Community Theater will stage "The Ark and Arkeology" as part of a dinner theater at 4 p.m. Sept. 14-15 and Sept. 21-22 at the former United Methodist Church in Loysburg.

Tickets may be obtained by calling Mary Ellen Laird at 766-3208. The dinner will be catered. This show will be interactive and feature singing and dancing.

The Cove Community Theatre is a nonprofit and was founded in 2008. Previous theater productions were under the name Kids Cove Theater. Some of those productions were "Henotos Island," "Big Bad Musical," "Amazing Grace Race," "Rockin' Royal Christmas," "Christmas in Reverse" and "It's All Because of Jesus."

According to Laird, the goals for the shows are to provide fun, family friendly entertainment and to build the skill set of the performers.

"The speaking, presentation, time management and collaboration skills gained or showcased not only help the performers (and set designers, costume makers, sound managers) with their role in the theater, but also in their role as students/employees," Laird said.

"They are demonstrating the importance of each person's role in the success of the program," the director said. "Each person has value. Each person brings some necessary element to the table. It might be inventory control, food/drink support, cleaning and resetting, digital fingerprint, and more.

According to Laird, that coincides with Cove Community Theater's greater goal of building a "community within the community."

The theater is located at 5768 Churchview Road, Loysburg. The building was given to the theater group by Bedford Forge United Methodist Church, and all expenses to maintain this building are now the theater group's responsibility. The group is busy finishing up the props and renovating the building for its purposes.

Laird, the director of this play, teaches sixth grade science and geography at Northern Bedford High School and has four children. Her father, Robert Sell, was a former principal at Northern Bedford. Sell had a devastating motorcycle accident and passed in 2018. Laird said she owes this dream becoming a reality to God, her father and Bedford Forge United Methodist Church. She said this is a family endeavor. "

Laird said the following people have been very instrumental in this endeavor.

Sharon Kay, board member and in charge of stage construction and curtains, assists with food for Wednesday evening. (the theater group is fed as well as anyone from the community who would like to come). One could say she is the interior designer. Also, she serves on the House Committee, takes care of the theater and grounds.

Ray Clark and Fallon Smith take care of the stage and sets. Walt Houck is the head of the House Committee. Houck has been a volunteer this summer and has helped with the railings, the floor and the grounds.

Mary Ellen's husband, Colin, is the sound technician. Her daughter Mara Laird did the choreography for the children's portion of the musical.

Emily Ritchey and Laird did the choreography for "The Ark."