Children’s musical ‘Press Start’ opens ACT’s 26th season

Published 12:01 am Saturday, September 16, 2017

The Artistic Civic Theatre begins its 26th season of live performances when the children’s musical “Press Start” continues today at the ACT Playhouse on Gaston Street in Dalton.

This musical is the first ever to be composed entirely with 8-bit video games synthesizers. “Video games were such a huge part of my childhood,” stated Denver Casado, composer of the show. “Writing this show brought me right back to those days sitting in a row on the carpet with my friends at my parents’ house, captivated by this virtual world, feeling all the excitement and anticipation of trying to beat the game.”

“Press Start” transports the audience into the bright, pixelated world of video games. When the iconic characters we know and love run out of lives, they decide to put on a musical fundraiser that will help them raise gold rings and play on. Through hilarious and heartfelt musical numbers we see the heroes, villains and sidekicks like we’ve never seen them before. But when things go terribly awry, it’s the quiet sidekick Little Mushroom who must find the hero within to help save the day.

The ensemble of “hero” characters includes young actors Morgan Long, Jack Kersey, Kinsley Stephens, Kinsley Johnston, Benji Michmerhuizen, Levi Bishop, Kate Ashcraft and Scarlett Mumford.

The “villain” group includes Jeb Bethel, Asher Lee, Anna Caroline Parker, Eva Ashcraft, Caroline Gee, Sophie Hoy, Kristen Michmerhuizen, Carter Greeson, Daniel Baxter and Bella Williams.

“Sidekicks” in the show include Sarah Angell, Addison Owen, Alana McGaughey, Molly Long, Charlotte McLawhorn, Lindy Hester, Bennett Owen and Blake Williams.

Other characters include Sarah Forberger, Sydney Ledford and Ellis Stephens.

Directed by Mary McLawhorn with musical direction by Heidi Long, “Press Start” has scheduled performance dates of today and Sept. 21-22 at 7 p.m.; Sunday, Sept. 17, at 2 p.m.; and a special matinee on Saturday, Sept. 23, at 11 a.m. The musical is sponsored by Gondolier Italian Restaurant and Pizza and Dalton Surgical Group. For tickets, call the ACT box office at (706) 278-4796.