The Buena Park Youth Theatre is celebrating its 35th year and presenting “All Shook Up,” in the Performing Arts Complex at Buena Park High School, 8833 Academy Way, in Buena Park (Magnolia Street and Academy Way – north of Orangethorpe Avenue on Magnolia Street).
This Buena Park Cultural and Fine Arts Commission program was put together with director/vocal- director Robert Glen Decker and choreographer Vincent Lyndell Nicks leading the way.
The Buena Park Youth Theatre is celebrating its 35th year and presenting “All Shook Up,” in the Performing Arts Complex at Buena Park High School, 8833 Academy Way, in Buena Park (Magnolia Street and Academy Way – north of Orangethorpe Avenue on Magnolia Street).
This Buena Park Cultural and Fine Arts Commission program was put together with director/vocal- director Robert Glen Decker and choreographer Vincent Lyndell Nicks leading the way.
In case you missed seeing this incredible “youth” performance – which rivals any Broadway production by far – the last performances are next weekend.
Remaining performances are Friday and Saturday, Nov. 28 and 29 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, Nov. 30, at 2:30.
The BPYT is for boys and girls ages 9 to 18; children ages 6 to 8 may audition for the junior program.
However, for those who witnessed “All Shook Up” over the weekend, it was almost impossible to wrap the mind around the fact that these young people are so professional – that in part to their directors – and to the parental group that endlessly supports them with sets and lights and no doubt sleepless nights to get all that accomplished at get their “youngsters” on-set on-time… they truly are amazing.
BPYT founder Ruth Walp attended both evening performances and had nothing but praise for the cast of both performances.
“I feel very proud that BPYT is continuing our goals to have the best theatre experience for the young people,” said Walp. “I felt the acting was superior; the vocals were ultra-superior, with wonderful harmonies and the choreography was outstanding, with Vincent Lyndell Hicks at the helm,” she enthused.
Walp said the director had to wear two hats – that of both the vocal director and directing the play. “All-in-all it was a wonderful show,” she said.
“I’m proud of all of the work the parents and production staff did in building the sets – anyone seeing this show would be amazed at the training these young people are receiving – it’s something they will remember for a life-time.”
Walp’s two sons, Glenn and Alan, attended the play with Mrs. Walp on different nights and had only praise for the production as well.
Glenn (Saturday night), who is middle-school band director in Benicia, Calif., and has taught choir along with accompanying vocals since he was 11 years old, said, “The choreography was wonderful and the ‘surprise’ person was ‘Dennis’ who has a very nice voice – with some private vocal training to open the throat and learn projection, he will do well and “Natalie, in the play, was really good as she sang softly,” said Glenn Walp.
“It was really a toe-tapping show, which we really enjoyed,” said Alan Walp. “The music was fantastic and the level of standard with BPYT has always been exceptional; it was phenomenal and knowing that my mother was involved, I would expect anything else but exceptional,” he said.
Ruth Walp, a former Buena Park teacher, who moved to Southern California from the East Coast with her husband, Tom Walp, founded the Buena Park Youth Theatre in 1980.
