A & E

Johnny Appleseed Theater at Apple Hill Playhouse closes its summer children's season with a stage version of another timeless kids story, "The Elves and the Shoemaker."

Based on the 19th century folk tale by the Brothers Grimm, the play's premise is that a poor shoemaker and his wife are facing eviction and can't pay the rent. Their shoemaking business has hit hard times, and they're not sure how to make ends meet.

Even adults can imagine the possibilities of having a couple of magical elves show up when the workload gets unbearable and the bills are due.

That's what happens in playwright Michael McGovern's story. The elves -- played by Sterling Simek of Export and Jacob Russell of Penn Hills -- are trapped by the shoemaker and his wife. When the elves magically start cranking out shoes, they save the day for the happy couple.

Jonathan Baird of Penn Township is making his directorial debut with "Elves and the Shoemaker." He is a recent graduate of Penn Trafford High School who will be attending Shenandoah University in Virginia in the fall to study musical theater. He had roles in several high school productions, including the lead role of Billy in "Anything Goes," John the Baptist/Judas in "Godspell" and Smee in "Peter Pan."

He has participated in community-theater productions with Greensburg Civic Theatre, Apple Hill Playhouse and The Theater Factory, Trafford, where his first onstage role was in "Oliver" at the age of 9. At Apple Hill, he performed in "Cabaret" and "Children of Eden," which he also choreographed. He was music director for the Johnny Appleseed Children's Theater production of "Winnie the Pooh" and is helping with Apple Hill's summer musical theater camp.

At the same time he was working on "Elves and the Shoemaker," Baird also was rehearsing his role in "Footloose," an Apple Hill mainstage production in July.

He enjoys working at Apple Hill for the summer, where he says fellow actors and technicians are "like my second family because I'm here all the time."

Although he is finding that directing is a good experience, he says he prefers performing. He didn't realize that directing would encompass building sets, approving costumes and other tasks.

"When they say you're directing, you're doing everything," he says.

According to Baird, one of the funniest characters in "Elves" is Giacomo, the shoemaker, as portrayed by Victor D'Alesio of Penn Township. D'Alesio also graduated from Penn Trafford this year and will enter Duquesne University in the fall to study finance and investment management.

D'Alesio also performed in his high school musical productions, including "Anything Goes," and says he is finding community theater to be an extension of his acting experience.

"It's different working in community theater, especially in a children's show, where you're working with kids who are 6 and 7 years old. Sometimes, the jokes go over their heads," he says.

Others in the "Elves" cast include Audra Qualley of Irwin; Jeremy Siener of Level Green; Sam Brammel of Manor; and Meghan Ginley of Penn Township.

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