The show must go on.
That’s been the maxim that Gloria Bennett has had to live for nearly three years.
Gloria and her husband, Jack Bennett, brought their Young Stars Theatre to reside at the Fremont Theatre eight years ago. When COVID came in 2020, live performances were paused.
So the couple staged productions online, and relied on contributions from residents and patrons to do everything from helping to pay rent to supporting the productions in other ways.
“I’m so grateful for all the people who jumped in to help during the pandemic,” Gloria said. “Parents jumped in to do all sorts of things.”
Then, almost two years ago, Jack died. He had been the lead in the group’s production of “The Music Man” but Gloria kept the theater company going and the next production opened on schedule.
The Bennetts started the Young Stars Theatre in Florida in 2000, and Gloria remains its driving and enthusiastic force as a producer, teacher and mentor.
The result is a dedication to the youngsters and the South Pasadena community, which led to her receiving the Chamber of Commerce’s Creative Community Award.
The award, presented by the Chamber of Commerce and Eclectic Friends of the Arts, is given to individuals who have worked to keep the arts alive and accessible in South Pasadena.
The other award recipient is Diana March, whose cabaret, Starlit Stage, at the back of her Jeweled Universe store (1017 Mission St.) has enlivened the city’s entertainment scene.
March offers entertainment Thursday through Saturday nights, ranging from open mic, Broadway tunes and solo performances.
The two women were honored at a preview for the Eclectic Music Festival and Arts Crawl, which is Saturday, April 27, from 3 p.m.-10 p.m.
The festival will feature more than 50 musicians on 11 stages centered around Mission Street.
The Young Stars Theatre has become a year-round showcase for young talent. Gloria estimated that since she and her husband moved to town, they have worked with more than 2,000 youngsters between the ages of 6 and 18.
“We give the kids professional-level experience,” Gloria said during an interview.
“We produce 10 shows a year, camps in the summer, winter and spring. Plus, we offer lots of opportunities by bringing in people who teach voice, guitar and piano. We also hire people to do choreography.”
There’s also going to be a playwriting and improv class, Gloria said.
A recent production, “Legally Blonde Jr.,” featured an ensemble cast of 35 performers. The next production, “Mean Girls Jr.” — which opens May 3 for three weekends — also has 35 actors. The shows are held at the Fremont Theatre (1000 Fremont Ave.).
“Parents and the community have been overwhelmingly surprised at the high quality of work that these children do,” Gloria said. “My husband and I challenged them and they blow people away.”
The Bennetts started 27 years ago, and have nurtured talented young people who have ended up on Broadway, acting in regional theater, television and film.
Gloria delights in alums who went on to study music and acting. Her daughter, Miranda Miller, has been helping mom with the theater, taking over much of the technical work needed to keep things going.
“I’m so grateful that this is my life,” said Gloria, who added that she spends as many as 40 hours a week working on the theater while also teaching voice lessons.
“I like to say, ‘It’s so great. It’s stupid.’
“So when the kids hear me say, ‘It’s stupid’. They know I mean ‘it’s great.’”
Editor’s note: For more information on Young Stars Theatre, and tickets for plays, go to youngstarstheatre.org. For information on Jeweled Universe’s live entertainment schedule, visit jeweleduniverse.com.
First published in the April 19 print issue of the South Pasadena Review.
