Baldwinsville Theatre Guild to present ‘All Together Now!’ revue Nov. 14

BALDWINSVILLE — When the COVID-19 pandemic descended, the curtain dropped on live theater everywhere from Broadway to Baldwinsville.

Broadway singer-actor Matt Dengler, who grew up in Baldwinsville, can attest to that.

“Right before the pandemic I was down in Emory, Virginia, directing a musical — “Little Women” — at Emory & Henry College,” said Dengler.

Just before opening night, COVID shut down live productions all over the country, including “Little Women.” Dengler returned to his family’s home — the Denglers now live in Skaneateles — to wait out the pandemic.

“Live theater was just totally stopped dead in its tracks,” he said. “It might be one of the industries hit hardest by [COVID] because live theater needs to be a communal experience.”

Dengler will return to his hometown and share in a communal theatrical experience Nov. 14 as part of Baldwinsville Theatre Guild’s production of “All Together Now! A Global Event Celebrating Local Theatre.” The revue features musical numbers from beloved productions such as “Disney’s Beauty and the Beast,” “Fiddler on the Roof,” “Hairspray,” “Into the Woods,” “Les Misérables,” “Rent” and more.

Music Theatre International (MTI), a major theatrical licensing company, created “All Together Now!” as a fundraiser for local theaters to recoup some of their losses. Baldwinsville Theatre Guild’s Nov. 14 revue is one of 5,500 performances of “All Together Now!” taking place across the globe between Nov. 12 and 15.

“We’ve streamlined our licensing process for this special event and there are no restrictions or limits on how many theaters in a particular geographical area can license the revue. Instead, we hope that as many theaters as possible produce the revue on their own, or come together with other organizations in their communities to mount a joint production. We also wanted to give theaters as much creative input as possible,” John Prignano, chief operating officer and director of education and development for MTI, said in a press release.

While Baldwinsville Theatre Guild usually performs in the Presbyterian Education Center on Oswego Street, “All Together Now!” will take place in the Baker High School Auditorium, which allows for greater physical distancing for audience members. The revue is a homecoming for Dengler and for BTG, which used to hold its performances at Baker.

“It’ll be great to go back there,” said Dengler. “I have very distinctive memories of that space because that’s where BTG used to perform, in the old auditorium.”

Dengler grew up watching his grandparents and parents perform in BTG productions.

“I remember thinking, ‘What is that? I want to do that!’” He said. “That is where I got ‘bit by the bug,’ as they say.”

A scholarship from BTG helped pave the way for Dengler to attend New York University and the Collaborative Arts Project 21 conservatory. He has now been performing professionally for 11 years. His Broadway credits include “A Little Night Music” and “The Visit.”

“They’ve always been there cheerleading me,” Dengler said of BTG. “I’m so happy to come back and work with everybody.”

BTG producer Sandy Baker and director Colin Keating invited Dengler to participate in the revue.

“I had the opportunity to be his teacher when he was a student here in Baldwinsville,” Keating said of Dengler. “We are looking forward to more collaborations in the future. He’s a good guy and I can’t wait to hear him sing.”

Keating will be pulling double duty next weekend. He is directing the Baldwinsville Theater Arts Program’s “Moana Jr.” Nov. 12 and 13 before directing “All Together Now” Nov. 14.

“We literally at midnight Saturday night will be changing the sets … to get ready for Sunday,” Baker said.

BTG crew will paint over portions of the “Moana” set for “All Together Now!”

“We purposefully designed that set in a way that it could be shared between the two productions,” Keating said.

The Baker High School Chamber Choir — also under Keating’s tutelage — will perform in the revue as well.

“I think they’re really excited about it. It gives them the opportunity to collaborate with other local performers who are not their classmates. To hear that they’re going to share the stage with Broadway talent is really exciting to some of them,” Keating said.

The revue is BTG’s first live performance since the pandemic began. Performers, audiences and supporters alike have expressed their excitement about BTG’s return, Baker said.

“We were so excited to get such a great turnout for auditions. It was just so exciting to hear these beautiful voices. Everyone was just so thrilled,” Baker said. “The sound system at the high school is so wonderful and the lighting [is too]. That has been such a home for us and they’ve been wonderful to us.”

While the BTG team is looking forward to coming together in person once again, COVID safety protocols will be in effect. Performers will wear clear face shields/masks during ensemble numbers. Audience members are required to wear masks and the auditorium seating offers plenty of space to spread out.

“People are hungry. They’re looking for something to do where they still feel comfortable,” Baker said.

Keating said the players are looking forward to the “magic of being in a theater” in person.

“I’ve found that the people in the theater community still may be feeling a little reluctant to get involved again but once they’re in the room rehearsing and collaborating together there’s this sigh of relief,” Keating said. “I think people are tired of watching things on a screen. The magic of being in a theater and doing it live — I know our performers are looking forward to that and they know the value in that.”

Dengler said theatergoers and artists have been “starved of community” during the pandemic.

“I think we all realize how much we miss each other. If there’s any silver lining in COVID it’s that it helped us realize how precious live theater it is,” he said.

Now that he is based in New York City once again and attending auditions via Zoom, Dengler said he misses the small-town feel of B’ville.

“Baldwinsville in general has a really great community theater/art scene, he said. “The theater is the ultimate in community building its the ultimate communal activity in my opinion. Baldwinsville is the community that raised me.”