SANDY LAKE

A fund-raiser for an area senior center is bringing the whole town together for a wedding and the community at large is asked to R.S.V.P.

The interactive musical "Tony and Tina's Wedding" is set to run Oct. 3-5 at McQuiston Center by the Park in Sandy Lake. Cast members include a local funeral director, a couple of pastors and the mayor.

"I was just totally, totally surprised by the community's involvement and the willingness of the people," said senior center director Heidi Perrine. "They just jumped right in."

The idea to put on the pseudo-nuptials, which treats the audience to an Italian dinner buffet, open non-alcoholic bar, and musical entertainment by the band "Voyage" along with the musical comedy, came from center aide Joanne Segaty.

"She read about this, then got a group of us together to go down and see it in Pittsburgh at Station Square," said Mrs. Perrine. "On the way home someone said McQuiston Center would be the perfect place to put this on."

The audience for "Tony and Tina's Wedding" become guests of the bride or groom for the wedding and join the festivities at the reception, toastng the newlyweds, cutting a rug on the dance floor and dining on Italian cuisine in between laughs.

She explained that the version they saw in Pittsburgh was "a little off-color" but they were able to get hold of a high school version of the play and adapt it to their needs. "Instead of say, serving pina coladas at the open bar, we're serving Tina coladas which are non-alcoholic," Mrs. Perrine said.

The couple that gets married during the play, Anthony Nunzio Jr., and Valentina Lynne Vitale, are played by real-life married couple Danny and Janet Hemminger of Sandy Lake.

Sandy Lake Mayor Jim Greenlee, who plays Father Mark in the play, says that's a good thing. "You don't want to get anyone who isn't married because as mayor I could legally marry them," he said.

Greenlee said he joined in the show to help out the center and said everyone is having a good time.

"When I was in high school, I was in a play, that's been many years ago," he said. "Its been fun so far."

Scott Black, owner of the Stoneboro funeral home that bears his name, said it's been a little bit longer since he last acted. "Third grade was the last time, I think," said Black who plays best man Barry Wheeler.

"I'm not a thespian, if you will, but my schedule is goofy anyhow and I read the script and thought I'd do it. It's quite entertaining actually. Its going to be enjoyable to watch," he said.

The play is under the direction of Sherry Reynolds, Sandy Lake. The retired Lakeview English teacher is Mrs. Perrine's former teacher.

"Sherry's the meat of the whole production. She's in charge of the whole play," said Mrs. Perrine, who had asked Ms. Reynolds to lead the group.

"If the audience enjoys it half as much as we enjoyed working on it, they will have fun. Its just good, relaxing fun," Ms. Reynolds said.

"Tony and Tina's Wedding" runs Oct. 3-5. For show times and reservations, call (724) 376-3608.