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Comedy takes flight in cabaret show

Mill Hall Rotary to present original production ‘It’s Up in the Air!’

By JORDAN MUSHENO

jmusheno@sungazette.com

MILL HALL — The Mill Hall Sunrise Rotary will present “It’s Up in the Air!,” an interactive musical comedy cabaret for all audiences, at 6:45 p.m. Nov. 4 at Haywood’s On The Green, 43 Fairview Drive. Cocktail hour is at 6 p.m. and boarding begins at 6:45 p.m.

Written by Michael Schloegl, who was inspired to write this based on his own his experience in the air, “It’s Up in the Air!” will take its audience through the experience of a one-way flight to Rio de Janeiro.

“You’ll experience everything from airline protocol to an entertaining flight,” Schloegl, director and choreographer for youth programs in New York’s Tri-State area, said. “It’s Up in the Air” is about “anything outrageous that can happen during your airline experience.”

From casting the audience as the passengers to interactive name games to help enhance participation, “It’s Up in the Air” gives the audience an opportunity to be part of the show, according to Schloegl. “The audience members play the passengers and create the atmosphere becoming part of the plane.”

But the show’s interactivity doesn’t stop there.

“Audiences will enter the performance space as if they’re boarding a plane,” Schloegl added. “They’ll complete security checkpoints, be fastened into their seats and receive full airline treatment for a one-way flight.”

“It’s Up in the Air!” stars Schloegl as Skip Jones, a southern gentleman and world traveller who keeps everything moving as the lead flight attendant; Lock Haven native Erin Long as Mary Lou, a classic Midwest girl new to the airline industry; and Craig Roberts as Kevin Kennedy, the experienced and stern east coast flight attendant.

Originally written for cabaret clubs in New York City to great success, the Mill Hall Sunrise Rotary came in contact with Schloegl while they were looking for a fundraiser. The Mill Hall Sunrise Rotary “wanted something original for this year’s performance piece,” Schloegl said. “They volunteered to host the central Pennsylvania premiere.”

“The current movement in theater is immersive theatre where the audience becomes a part of the show,” Schloegl said. “With this being the central Pennsylvania premiere of ‘It’s Up in the Air!,’ we wanted to include this new twist on a topic everyone’s familiar with.”

After years of travelling, Schloegl also hopes the audience will take a little something extra home with them.

“In today’s world we forget our manners and this show hopes to expose that to audiences,” he said. But more importantly, “the audience will leave full of laughter. Afterwards, they may also reminisce about their bizarre flight experiences … All in all, ‘It’s Up in the Air!’ is just a heartwarming, fun piece of theater that everyone can relate to.”

Proceeds contribute to the Rotary Club’s fight to End Polio Now and the Dolly Parton Imagination Library, which puts books into the hands of children before they go to school, according to Bonnie Hannis, event organizer.

For more information, call 570-660-4414 or contact Brady Carnahan at brady.carnahan@gmail.com or 570-295-8233.

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