Mercer Co. seniors take trip to the fabulous ’50s for follies

By Jeanne Starmack

Go back to the ’50s with more than 20 acts.

SHARPSVILLE, Pa. — They’re a tight group, the women who gathered recently around Donna Murray’s dining-room table at her home here.

You can tell. The talk and the jokes flow easily among them after years of pulling off performances — first with the Toast of the Town Tappers dance troupe, and for the last six years, the Mercer County Senior Follies.

They got together to do the follies as a fundraiser for the Shenango Valley Center for Aging and Geriatric Health in Hermitage after several of them decided, based on the Trumbull County SCOPE group shows, that Mercer County’s senior citizens got talent, too.

Bonnie Banick is a choreographer; Murray does the follies’ public relations; Karen Donato is the costume designer; Michaleen Sasala is an assistant choreographer; and Maureen Murray-Jaklic, Donna’s daughter, is music director.

Several of them are performers, too. You can see them in this year’s follies, a variety show that has “a little bit of everything,” Saturday and next Sunday at Hickory High School.

There’s dancing, singing and comedy skits. This year, the follies are going back to the ’50s with the theme “Happy Days Are Here Again.”

The Senior Follies Chorus is terrific this year, assures Banick — “They’re bigger and better than ever.” Under the direction of Julie Morris, they’ll open the show with “Happy Days/Rock Around the Clock.”

Twenty-five acts follow.

The YMCA Line Dancers will get “All Shook Up.” Elvis will meet the Fonz. There will be jokes.

Kim Glatfelter, in her 50s and the youngest person in the show, will portray Maxine, the cantankerous cartoon character from Hallmark greeting cards.

Zora Basic, 91, and the oldest person in the show, will assure everyone it’s “Just One of Those Things.”

“We have fun with it,” said Banick. “For a lot of us, that’s our era.”

The acts have been rehearsing twice a week since May for the 21‚Ñ2-hour production.

“We’ve made a lot of progress, solving problems. People are actually doing what they are supposed to do,” said Murray-Jaklic. “Yeah, I’m happy.”

Helping out again this year will be drama students from Hickory High School. They’ll be behind the scenes and in the house.

Morris, the chorus director, is also Drama Club director at the high school.

So whether “You’re Sixteen,” a “Big Spender” or a “Calendar Girl,” the follies performers are hoping there will be something in the show for you.

There will be men in drag. There will be a special mystery guest.

Tickets are $10 at the door or from any cast member. Saturday’s performance starts at 7 p.m., and Sunday’s starts at 2 p.m.

Last year’s show raised $7,500 for the senior center.

“It seems to be going up every year,” said Murray. “We’re hoping to stay on track.”

“Let’s Twist Again.”