Youth show brings Barrow to life

The cast of "The Granny Awards" introduce the titular granny during Thursday's performance at the Barrow-Civic Theatre. The show by the Barrow's youth theatre program was the first to be performed in front of a live audience in 16 months. (By Dillon Provenza)

The Barrow-Civic Theatre’s youth theatre program presented “The Granny Awards” Thursday at the Barrow, and the production marked the first time in-person audiences were at the theater in nearly 16 months.

The Barrow was packed with family members of the all-youth cast for the one-night only performance. The theatrics began with a red carpet – made of paper – lining the walkway to the auditorium with Hollywood-esque handprints of the show’s stars along the carpet.

The youth theatre program is celebrating its 20th year extravaganza this year after the last season was cut short due to the pandemic.

Martha Heise founded the program that has become a staple for young thespians in the surrounding areas. Her first youth theatre production was “Treasure Island” in 2001.

The next show at the Barrow will be “Together Again for the First Time,” which features songs from various Broadway shows and tours. Show dates span two weekends from Aug. 13-21.

“The Wizard of Oz” will follow from Sept. 24-Oct. 9, and that will be the Barrow’s first main stage musical in almost two years.

“Elf the Musical” will be presented over two weekends from Dec. 2-11. Heise said that production is a newer musical based on the 2003 movie “Elf.”