Rik Billock feels as if he is "walking into a blessing."
Vandergrift's resident stage and film actor is talking about the opportunity to reprise his role as George McMurtry, the founder of Vandergrift, in an encore presentation of Rennick Steele's "Cauldron of Steel."
The historical drama opens the 21st season of Freeport Theatre Festival on Friday, just as it did the 20th season in its debut last year. It continues Fridays through Sundays, ending July 25.
Steele and his wife, Marushka, of Allegheny Township, co-founders of the theater, see it as an homage to the immigrants who came to America to work in the new steel mill in Vandergrift, conceived as a "worker's paradise" when it was built by McMurtry. It also is a tribute to all immigrants of the Alle-Kiski, Rennick Steele says.
"They were brave and hard-working people, and they helped make America the great country it is today," says the playwright. While "Cauldron" is historical fiction, it is based on real people.
"We are back by popular demand," Billock says. "It's exciting to know how much people want to see this show and some to see it again. That's like walking into a blessing."
Overflow audiences last summer called for a quick return of "Cauldron," says Marushka, who will direct the season's August production, a reprise of her husband's comedy, "Bertha and Bailey's Circus," running weekends Aug. 13 through 29.
"We had to turn a lot of people away from 'Cauldron,' " adds her husband, who again directs and acts in the production. His "Massey Harbison," about early pioneer life in the Alle-Kiski Valley, still holds the theater's record for all-time attendance.
"It is always good to be appreciated by the audience, but I was especially happy for the actors (in 'Cauldron')," Rennick says. "They put so much hard work and effort into creating their characters."
The cast of 28 includes 10 who are new to the play. That brings a fresh perspective to the production, Marushka says. "The fact that the theater is a living and breathing art form is confirmed when new actors take on someone else's role," she says. The returning original cast members bring new confidence and depth to their roles, she says.
It all brings a different dynamic, says her husband, but the impact of the story remains the same.
It still is about family, hope and honor, Marushka says. "Building the American character was never easy, nor is it today. However, the characters in 'Cauldron' remind us that it can be done with honor, hard work and love -- the basics of life."
A universal story
In a very real sense, says new cast member Angelo Bruni of New Kensington, "This is the Valley's story, our ancestors' story: be courageous, work hard, overcome obstacles and the reward will be success in the form of security for our families and communities and a legacy for our descendants to follow."
Bruni is a fan of historical docudramas, and he says this is a good one. "It has everything that even casual theatergoers would appreciate, including drama, humor, romance, singing, dancing -- although it is not a musical -- even a fight scene."
Aaron Hooks of Ford City has appeared in all of Steele's historical plays since 2003 and has enjoyed them all. "He tells local history one story at a time, and it's interesting to see how the stories are linked by the branches of his family tree and by local connections," he says.
Hooks, who plays Andy McGary, a World War I soldier of Irish descent and a baseball player, had a good excuse for not being part of last year's debut. He was deployed in Iraq as a member of the Pennsylvania Army National Guard 112th Infantry.
He is happy to be back and celebrating Freeport Theatre Festival's 21st anniversary. "So many things have changed in those years, but the theater is still here. That says a lot about the dedication of Rennick and Marushka Steele, as well as the contributions of the actors who have passed over its stage," he says.
Steele's love of history and people is evident in his writing, says Stephanie Haverstick of Jefferson, returning as Emilia Ceraso, the wife and mother in an immigrant family from Italy. It is a timeless story, she says. "Mothers still have sons going off to war and many still do not make it back. Thankfully, our factories are much safer than they used to be, but there are still very dangerous occupations like coal mining and law enforcement that continue to rob families of loved ones," she says.
As a mother, says Sharon Riffer of East Vandergrift, "I feel that families should attend this show together and discuss the themes of prejudice, war and history that run throughout."
She returns as June Collecchi, the small-town girl who went on to national fame as a singing sensation. It is inspired by the real-life story of Avonmore's Jill Corey who got her start with Vandergrift's Johnny Murphy Orchestra.
Riffer's husband, Courtney, also returns in the same role as Jake McGary, straw boss at the Vandergrift steel mill.
"I received a lot of affirmation from audience members that my character was not far off from the bosses in the mill at the time," he says. "I learned so much more about Vandergrift history and life in the steel mill from them." Those conversations helped in developing his portrayal, he says.
Having grown up in the borough, he says he can better appreciate what was meant when he heard it referred to as "Historic Vandergrift."
Borough resident Dave Ross, returning as Capt. J.J. Vandergrift, McMurtry's best friend and the steamboat captain after whom the town was named, loves the history of how the town developed. "I wanted to be part of the story of how it originated," he says.
Freeport Theatre Festival veteran Phil Powell of Cranberry plays Vandergrift's real-life town physician, Dr. John Boal, whom he describes as the moral conscience of the play. "He verbally attacks bigotry in a powerful, yet understated way," he says.
Steele recalls that last year "we had some folks from Vandergrift in the audience who were actually delivered by Doc Boal." Boal was the first cousin of Steele's grandfather.
Powell appreciates how Steele "brings his roots into his blend of historical drama in a way no one else I know does."
"Some of his plays are brilliant, this being one of them," he says. "It deals with bigotry, redemption, love, hate, romance, loss, class struggles, not to mention the history of the area. It is a wonderful play."
Additional Information:'Cauldron of Steel'
Who: Freeport Theatre Festival
When: Through July 25. 8 p.m. Fridays-Sundays
Where: Steele Farm, Freeport Theatre Festival grounds, 2498 White Cloud Road, Allegheny Township
Admission: $12; $10 for senior citizens and students
Theater gallery: 'From the Mill to the Art Studio,' paintings by Tom Gallovich; Wood sculptures by D.J. Wicks, Vandergrift artists
Pie Social: Preshow pie social July 24 to benefit Allegheny Township Historical Society
Preshow and intermission music: Accordionist Joe Lege of Saxonburg performs Italian melodies and World War I repertoire, 7:30-8 p.m.
Details: 724-295-1934; online
