Public Information

UWSTT IS OUTTA HERE!!!!!!

United We Stand is moving to a new location! After a successful four-year run at the St. Patrick's Cauley Center, we've decided to move our location to our sponsor's digs, Voices For Independence, 1107 Payne Avenue. The move is tentatively permanent, but our summer production will definitely be there. And what is the summer production? It's our 2nd kids' show, which will include two short plays, Peony's Disappearing Forest, and Why the Wott? both wonderful stories concerning the importance of preserving the environment, and being kind to animals. Written and directed by Albert and Rebecca Boorady, the show opens on Friday, September 12 and concludes on Sunday, September 28.

A MAJOR ANNOUNCEMENT!!!

Rob Kocur just got married!! Rob, say it isn't so!! Don't you value your freedom? Your sanity? Most importantly, your money? The blessed event occured in Las Vegas on Saturday, November 8 at the Guardian Angel Cathedral. The church is really postmodern with slot machines in the confessionals. If you're interested in attending the wedding reception in Erie, forget it, you're too late! Rob and his blushing bride have already made arrangements to accommodate 120 of their dearest and most affluent friends on Sat., November 22 at the Millcreek American Legion from 6-11 p.m. See you there and bring lots of cash!!

WHAT'S SHAKIN' IN 2009?

Rob Kocur returns!! The spring show will be May the Farce be with You, the insane collection of hilarious skits penned by Erie's own Dr. Strangelove! No less an authority than Ross Perot has said "If comic genius could be converted into kinetic energy, Kocur could literally knock the world off its axis." The show will be sometime in April at the Gannon University's Zurn Science Center. Stay tuned!!

Our summer show will be the long awaited Sling Blade, adapted by the stage by Rob Kocur and directed by longtime UWSTT groupie, Craig Schneider. The location will be at the Columbia School on West 16th Street. It's only our second heavy drama, but it certainly won't be our last. Yours truly will be playing Doyle Hargreaves, the alcoholic, gutter-mouthed, degenerate boyfriend. Wait a minute. How did I get that part??

The fall production will be Primal Fear. More details to follow! Actually, I'll give you some now. It will be sometime in October at the Columbia School on West 16th.

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Past Events

Peony's Disappearing Forest and Why the Wott?

What an awesome kids' double feature UWSTT had this fall at Voices for Independence! Written and directed by Albert Boorady, the two plays taught young people the importance of protecting the environment and all the creatures in it. The nine-performance show opened on Friday, September 5 and closed on Sunday, September 21. The troupe plans to produce the show in 2009 traveling to schools and day care centers.

Except the Lord Build the House

Our Spring 2008 gospel musical. Written and Directed by Cheryl Horton Jong, was an uplifting tale of spiritual renewal, starring two of UWSTT's newest talents, Dan Tingley and Dr. Lesley Hite. Hey Dan, how does a pagan act like a devout minister searching for God?? Anyway, the production opened Friday, April 4 and concluded Sunday, April 20.

UWSTT celebrates its first kids' show, No Nuts, Please

United We Stand presented its first show for our future stage stars and divas and believe me, it was worth the wait. Written and directed by Cheryl Horton-Jong, the show was a heartwarming story about tolerance and acceptance. The production opened Friday, October 19 and closed on Sunday, November 4.

Another madcap British farce

UWSTT presented There She Goes, the irreverent and totally bizarre British comedy written by Thomas Amo and directed by Craig Schneider. Sleazy lawyers, sleazier politicians, and a mother/daughter cat burglar team highlight this twisted tale of skulduggery. The show opened on Friday, July 20 and ended on Saturday, August 11.

The Devil made them do it!!

UWSTT's Spring 2007 gospel/musical The Devil on Trial, Case #666 was our most successful show to date. Bill Williams starred as Lucifer (Did he really have to act?) whose task it is to defend himself in a trial against a phalanx of accusers, including Adam, Eve, King David, and Joseph, to name just a few. Bill stole the show as the red-tailed horned one and Kelley Ulmer did a magnificent job in her directoral debut. The show fittingly opened on Friday, April 13 and concluded on Sunday the 29th.

Pumping Irony Marked Troupe's Fifth Year

UWSTT celebrated its five-year anniversary with Pumping Irony, the hit sketch-comedy sequel to Humor at Mock 10, both written and directed by Rob Kocur. The production opened Friday, October 6 and closed with a special Sunday matinee on October 29.

Craft Show a Success

UWSTT presented its second annual craft show fund-raiser at the St. Patrick's Cauley Auditorium, 215 E 4th Street. The two-day show was held on Saturday-Sunday 11/18-11/19, 11 am - 5 pm.

Pursuing the Dream

In summer 2006, UWSTT unveiled its most exciting show to date: the musical Dreamgirls! The twelve-performance show, which was held at the Metroplex, opened Friday, August 4 and ran till Sunday, August 20.

All Over Town by Murray Schisgal

This hysterical two-act comedy, directed by Craig Schneider, was performed at the St. Patrick's Cauley Auditorium, 215 E. 4th Street in Spring 2006. For more information, click on the link All Over Town.

Fall for the Blues

UWSTT's fall '05 production, From the Blues to the Bible, is a musical comedy written and directed by Cheryl Jong. The seven-performance show opened Friday, 9/30 and ran four consecutive weekends at the St. Patrick's Cauley Auditorium (215 E. 4th Street) and concluded on Friday 10/21/05. From the Blues to the Bible was UWSTT's first musical and was the most commercially successful show in the troupe's young history. Of the twenty-four cast members, twenty were African American, continuing our proud tradition of diversity in the performing arts.

Humor at Mock 10 Roared Into Erie

Erie's own Dr. Strangelove was back as UWSTT presented its summer production, Humor at Mock 10, written and directed by Rob Kocur. The show is a funny, satirical and irreverent collection of short skits. It opened Friday, July 8 at the St. Patrick's Cauley Center and ran for three-and-a-half weekends for a total of seven performances. Audiences were treated to satirical slams at therapists, non-sex whores, board members and Trekkies, to name just a few! Look for a future showing of Humor at Mock 10 sometime in the near future at Edinboro University of PA's Cole Auditorium.

The Odd Couple Brought the House Down in Spring 2005

UWSTT's Spring '05 production, The Odd Couple (female version), was held at St. Patrick's Cauley Center on Fridays and Saturdays, 4/1-2, 4/8-9, 4/15-16, and 4/22-23 at 8 pm. Audiences saw a hysterical twist on a classic tale of mismatched roommates! See photographs of The Odd Couple here.

Butterflies Are Free

The United We Stand Theater Troupe presented its Fall 2004 production, Butterflies Are Free in UWSTT's new home. This classic and thought-provoking comedy opened at the Cauley Center (215 E. 4th Street) on Friday, October 1, and concluded on Friday, October 29, for a total of nine shows. Butterflies Are Free was sponsored by Voices for Independence. Proceeds benefitted UWSTT.

United We Stand at Chautauqua Institution

On Thursday, August 26, over 200 people gathered at Chautauqua Institute's Lenna Hall to watch UWSTT perform its signature play, United We Stand, a dark comedy which promotes disability awareness by addressing many of the stereotypes and attitudinal barriers which prevent the disability community from reaching its full potential.

The laughs were in non-stop as all the actors delivered strong performances, especially Shannon Solo and Melissa Danowski, who played the leads, Julie Mozdy as the insufferable Katie Sledge, and Mike Adamus, who played several roles, including the Unawheeler.

Hopefully, UWSTT will be a regular act at Chautauqua Institute. Its inaugural performance certainly gave a good first impression.

UWSTT Made Merry at Celebrate Erie

UWSTT made its second straight appearance at the Celebrate Erie festival (August 20-22). The troupe performed at the Erie Insurance Auditorium as well as a special street performance at noon and at 2:00 on Saturday. The show, Comedy from the Edge, included several skits both from the troupe's spring production, Rollercoaster and an upcoming '05 production, Humor at Mock 10. Over 300 people were in attendance.

See photos of UWSTT's performance at Celebrate Erie 2004 here.

UWSTT Celebrated the signing of the ADA

On Monday, July 26, 2004, UWSTT members performed a 45-minute set during the fourteenth anniversary of the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act. The event was sponsored by Voices for Independence and was held at Perry Square at 5th and State. The event began at noon with the troupe performing from 1:00-1:45.

Spring 2004 Production - Rollercoaster

The Spring '04 production, Rollercoaster, was UWSTT's most creative venture yet. Directed by Rob Connick, the show consisted of forty short plays, mostly comedies, of which thirty were actually shown each evening. Each play was assigned a number and audience members called out a number between 1 and 40 and that was the play presented. After each play, the process was repeated till thirty of the forty plays were shown, making for a different show every night. The location was Gannon's Zurn Science Center, Room 101, 143 W 7th St. The dates for the eight-show production were Friday-Sunday, 4/16-18, Friday-Sunday, 4/23-25 and Friday-Saturday, 4/30-5/1. Show times were 8 pm, and 3 pm for the Sunday matinees. Note that some of the short plays contain mature subject matter.

Playwright Workshop

UWSTT held a playwriting workshop on two consecutive Saturdays in November, 11/15 and 11/22, 1-5 pm at Tullio Towers (21 W 9th Street). The first Saturday was an introduction to the basics and the sharing of creative ideas concerning subject matter. Students were asked to write some short plays (1-3 minutes). The following Saturday was more technical in nature and focused on technical writing, stage directions, character development, and an evaluation of the plays written. The 2-Saturday seminar was hosted by Rob Connick.

The Best of Monty Python

UWSTT kicked off Summer 2003 with a "best of" show to knock your parrot off its perch. July was the first weekend of three planned for our 2003 review of the famous comedy troupe's funniest skits. The troupe also presented an abbreviated version during Celebrate Erie at Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield (717 State). This was UWSTT's first Celebrate Erie performance and we intend to participate every year. The third weekend was presented in Meadville's Academy Theater on October 3-5, 2003.

Melancholy Heights

Melancholy Heights, was UWSTT's Spring 2003 production, running from April 25th through May 4th at Gannon's Zurn Science Center. It's the hilarious soap opera spoof written and directed by Rob Kocur.

Primal Fear

September 26--October 5, 2002
H. O. Hirt Auditorium, Erie, PA

Based on the theatrical motion picture, Primal Fear. Screen play by Steven Shagan and Ann Biderman. Based on the novel by William Diehl.

United We Stand

June 6--9, 2002
Academy Theater, Meadville, PA

We took the play that started us off back on the road again for Summer 2002. Read more about the play below.

The Marriage Counselor

April 25--May 5, 2002
Zurn Science Center, Gannon University, Erie, PA

A light and wacky comedy written by Joey Ouellette and directed by Rob Kocur. A luckless vacuum cleaner salesman is mistaken for a marriage counselor, and without saying a word, solves the problems of liars, cheats, adulterers, and UPS men!

United We Stand

November, 2001
Farrell High School, Farrell, PA

The Mercer County Disabilities Coalition sponsored a performance of our namesake play as well as a performance by Dave Millet. Dave features the songs of Kenny Rogers in his popular act. Read more about the play below.

United We Stand

June 21--30, 2001
So'journer Expressions, Erie, PA

A dark and wicked comedy/satire written, produced, and directed by Rob Kocur. It promoted awareness by showing people with disabilities in a new light. Two people in wheelchairs eventually fall in love against a backdrop of mayhem involving a war between people in wheelchairs and the blind community. Throughout the play, attitudinal barriers are attacked and subsequently obliterated!