Live ... it's Variety Night

Singers, musicians, actors and even magicians can all be found entertaining crowds in downtown Irwin, on the last Sunday of each month.

Once the home to the congregants of United Presbyterian Church of the Covenant, Covenant Hall on Maple Avenue now showcases, among many other events in the performing arts, a variety night of acts -- all performed by some of the best and brightest amateurs. They are young, ranging from elementary school to college age, ambitious and thoroughly determined to provide a fun-filled evening for audiences of all ages.

Spearheaded by former Pittsburgh Opera performer Maria Pealstrom, the idea of Variety Night Live, VNL, came about in collaboration with her already-established youth opera touring group YTOC, better known as the Youngtimers.

"Before we had this building, my daughter and I started the Youngtimers out of our home," Pealstrom said. "My daughter and all her friends were into performing and started coming into my home, so that's how I got started in this. My husband Keith saw all the work I was doing with the kids and felt that I could do it professionally."

That's when she said her husband made the move to purchase the property in 2005. Since then, Pealstrom has been trying to transition the building into a virtually full-service center for the performing arts. Most prominently, though, for the ability to hold larger scale plays, such that the Youngtimers had produced and performed at various locations before securing Covenant Hall.

"Besides doing the great big musicals, we needed other events and fundraisers to fund the big events," she explained, "So, my Youngtimers began to form these variety nights."

Pealstrom characterizes the VNL series as collage of acts, all performed by extremely talented young people.

"We've got country-western, opera. We've had monologues, violins and piano. It's truly a variety show."

Last Sunday's show included everything from a unique reading of Dr. Seuss's "Yertle the Turtle," solo singers, folk guitar, and the magic and illusion of a trio called Hat Trick.

Collin Lindberg, a familiar face in both the Youngtimers and VNL, said attendees to the VNL shows can expect nothing less than "quality entertainment."

"Just expect a bunch of talented kids," added singer/guitarist Nina Schwer, who performed, along with two of her own songs, the Johnny Cash cover version of Nine Inch Nail's "Hurt" and "The Wizard of Oz" tune "Somewhere Over the Rainbow"

"I love performing with all my heart. I am very passionate about it," said Liafaith Fischer, an eighth-grade student from Penn Middle School who sang a rendition of the Lynn Anderson country hit "Rose Garden"

Of the organizing effort to carry out the VNL series specifically, Pealstrom made the comparison: "Like 'Saturday Night Live,' we would like to have a group of regulars for Variety Night, and then bring in special acts. I'd like to develop a small core of people to help get the show organized."

"Performers don't have a fee to perform, but we need money to continue, so we ask for donations," Pealstrom said. She added that the renovated Covenant Hall is available to rent for private events such as weddings, receptions and parties -- all of which help to keep the youth programs funded and running strong. Other upcoming special events include the swinging sounds of the Wayne Macuga Big Band and organist/comedian John Smialowski, both appearing in April. The Youngtimers themselves are gearing up for their first full-scale theatrical performance in this building, August Strindberg's "Swan White."

Pealstrom looks to what else the future may bring, adding, "Up to now, I volunteer my time to teach the kids, but at some point we want to offer classes. We would like to provide more scholarships to young people going off to school as well, so we also started a young artist's concert series." Pleased with the turnout and fundraising results of the first three such concerts, she expects more to follow.

Covenant Hall's VNL shows run from 7 to 8:30 p.m. the last Sunday of each month. Tickets are $6 per show, or $24 for season passes. Schedules for musicals and other special events can be found at www.covenanthall.com. Anyone interested in auditions, volunteering, tickets or donations can visit the Web site or call 724-864-9862 for more information.

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