Amelia Community Theatre
Press Release
Submitted by Linda McClane
March 1, 2021
Amelia Community Theatre presents a comedy production for the entire family on March 5 and 6 on the main stage at 207 Cedar Street. The Peppermint Players, adult actors who perform theatre for young audiences and the “young at heart,” will perform two 30-minutes shows that entertain and introduce children to live theatre.
The first play, “All at Sea,” takes place on the beach. A fisherwoman has reeled in a blob of pollution by the name of Polly who is made up of plastic bags, soda cans, and all sorts of trash. Polly tries to help a shrimp who is being chased by a grouper and encounters a trucker turtle and surfer pelican. They all ponder the solution to pollution, and how they can protect sea creatures. The cast includes Pat Henderson, Jayne Jeney, Kay Stephens, Peggy Strickland, Jennifer Webber, and Sue Weiner.
The second show is an old-fashioned melodrama called “The Marshmallow Mystery or Marvin, Grab that Music Box because the Villain Can’t Carry a Tune.” In typical melodrama fashion, there is a villain and a hero, and the audience participates with cheers and boos as encouraged by a cat named Mellow Drummer. The melodrama cast includes Ellen Blair, John Chastine, Pat Chiarelli, Diana Herman, Billy Powell, and Chris Twiggs.
Both shows are written by Mary Leonard Hurt, retired artistic director at ACT who founded the ACT Peppermint Players in 1981. For many of ACT’s 40 seasons, the Peppermint Players performed for thousands of children and adults at daycares, preschools, elementary school, and senior centers throughout Nassau County.
ACT is excited to bring the community the 2021 version of these Peppermint Players shows, with options for in-person attendance with socially distanced seating and masks required, and livestreamed performances. Shows are at 7 p.m. on March 5 and 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. on March 6. In-person tickets are $5 for children/students and $10 for adults. Livestream tickets are $5 for an individual and $15 for a household.
ACT Box office hours are from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. on Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays. Call 904-261-6749 or visit the theatre website, AmeliaCommunityTheatre.org for tickets and information.