One of the most beloved characters of American literature comes to life in the exuberant musical, “The Adventures of Tom Sawyer,” at Kelsey Theater. A pop rock Broadway version of Mark Twain’s semi-autobiographical novel is presented by Maurer Productions OnStage on Fridays, March 12 and 19, at 7 p.m.; Saturdays, March 13 and 20, at 2 and 7 p.m.; and Sundays, March 14 and 21, at 2 p.m. A reception with the cast and crew follows the opening night performance on March 12.
“The Adventures of Tom Sawyer,” a family show based on the book by Ken Ludwig with music and lyrics by country songwriter Don Schlitz, is set in 1840 in a bustling town on the banks of the Mississippi River. Tom, a 14 year-old teenager, goes head-to-head with his stern Aunt Polly, falls in love with Becky Thatcher, and embarks on a grand adventure with Becky and Huckleberry Finn.
Cast members from West Windsor and Plainsboro include Stephen Szemis as Sidney Sawyer, Rosie Karlin as Aunt Polly, and her husband, Scott Karlin, as Judge Josiah Thatcher, The show is directed by John Maurer, a former West Windsor resident.
Szemis, 11, is a West Windsor resident and a sixth grade student at St. Gregory the Great School in Hamilton. Past performances at Kelsey include portraying Dandy Dan in “Bugsy Malone Jr.,” Flick in “A Christmas Story,” multiple roles in “`Twas the Night before Christmas,” Jake in “Miracle on 34th Street,” Pepper Shaker in “Disney’s Beauty and the Beast,” Toy Rocket in “The Velveteen Rabbit,” Wells Fargo wagon driver in “The Music Man,” and in the children’s choir in “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.” At Arts YOUniversity, he has portrayed Fred Young in “All Good Gifts,” and Michael Banks in “Mary Poppins.”
He is been studying the saxophone for four years; and the violin for one year with G. Spensser Haynes. A member of his school’s choir, he was guest vocal soloist for “Festival Te Deum,” Bucks County Community Choir’s recital in June, 2008. He studies tap, jazz, musical theater, and acting at ArtsYOUniversity, and takes private voice lessons with Patricia Bartlett. One of his special talents is juggling.
His mother, Chris, a senior communication systems engineer at Lockheed Martin in Newtown, Pennsylvania, is on the board of directors for the Yardley Players and has stage managed and done properties for several community theater shows. His father, Ed, is a programmer and systems analyst at Merrill Lynch/Bank of America in Pennington.
His brother, Kevin, 19, a freshman at Emerson College in Boston, is studying studio television in the Visual and Media Arts department. He has done lighting design and lighting board operation for several community theater shows. His other brother, David, 17, is a junior at Notre Dame High School. Involved as an actor in both high school and community theater for six years, he is currently in Notre Dame High School’s production of “The Pajama Game.”
Stephen admits that playing a brother on stage is similar to being a brother at home. “I am the little brother in both cases, but in real life I have two older brothers,” he says. “In both cases, I do get some teasing from my older brothers.”
— Lynn Miller
The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, Kelsey Theater, Mercer County Community College, 1200 Old Trenton Road, West Windsor, 609-570-3333. Friday, March 12, to Sunday, March 21.
