Gettysburg Community Theatre (GCT), the non-profit 501c3 organization located at 49 York
Street within the first block of Lincoln Square in Gettysburg, PA, now in its 16th season, will
present their all-senior cast of the musical comedy revue Standing Ovation by Tom Northam at
7 pm November 8 & 15, and 2 pm November 9, 10, 16, & 17, 2024. The theatre bar is open one
hour before the show, during the show and a bit after the show. Tickets are available on the theatre
website and at the box office if there are any seats left one hour before the show begins.
A very rich, (and married), Chicago business tycoon falls in love with a young actress, Gloria
Swansworth. He buys The Palace Theater in Peoria, Illinois, providing her a place to perform to
keep her far from Hollywood. The tycoon dies. Although the theatre is closed to the public, the
actors continue to perform as they have for years as its total operation and salaries are paid by an
ongoing trust fund. The estate, which has been in probate court for nearly fifty years, is finally
settled leaving everything to his sole heir, his grandson, Reginald Hector Pittsfield, III of Lick
Creek, IL, otherwise known as the Right Reverend Reginald Hector Pittsfield, III of the Holy
Redeemer Salvation Church of the New Truth.
The show begins as the cast learns that the court case has been settled. They are soon visited by the
Right Reverend Pittsfield III and his sidekick Sister-Elder Johns. As it turns out, he is a movie buff
and is thrilled to discover his new theatre is filled with old actors and actresses (whom he thought
were dead) who are still performing. He decides to invest his billions to produce “The Greatest
Show of All Time,” to pay tribute to all the golden stars of the silver screen by providing the
opportunity for a last performance and Standing Ovation.
The musical comedy revue features fun parodies on old Hollywood stars with songs such as “Give
My Regards To Broadway”, “I Wanna Be Loved By You”, “Second-Hand Rose”, and more.
The cast includes local talent from Gettysburg: Brenda Walter, Roger Dalrymple, Mary Miner,
Jacqueline G. Lee, Sharon Kaya; Littlestown: Jenny Lee; from New Oxford: Lynn Dowling, Sue
Fehringer; from Orrtanna: Sue Mcleaf Nespeca; from Fairfield: Barbara Semiatin; from Hanover:
Dave Miller; from Eldersburg: Paul Norfolk, with direction by Buff Wills of Gettysburg, and
Stephanie J. Roelker of York Springs.
“A place for all ages and abilities”, says GCT Founding Executive/Artistic Director, Chad-Alan
Carr, “GCT has produced a production with an all-senior cast on its season annually since Fiddler
On The Roof in 2014. Some of the cast is fully retired, and all of the cast are asked to use scripts on
stage, whether they need it or not, to make theatre accessible to even more senior friends in our
community who may be nervous about joining theatre due to the memorization it usually requires.
This Senior Theatre program helps take that nervousness away so everyone can enjoy being
together on stage and socializing as well in a fun, safe, and supportive environment.”
Past productions of GCT’s Senior Players have included: Nunsense, Once Upon A Mattress, and
The Carol Burnett Show. At 6pm Wednesday, November 13, 2024, GCT will hold open auditions
for anyone ages 55+ with or without experience for their 2025 Senior Cast production of The
Dummest Play Ever (yes that is the title.) Auditions will consist of cold readings from the script.
More information is available at www.GettysburgCommunityTheatre.org
GCT Mission Statement: To inspire creativity and confidence, provide cultural enrichment, and instill
a love of the theatre arts in people of ALL ages and abilities through quality education and performance.
Tickets are on sale at www.GettysburgCommunityTheatre.org
Featured image caption: Directors Buff Wills and Stephanie Roelker watching a rehearsal for Standing Ovation at GCT.