Avon Lake's Mighty Goliath Productions returns from hiatus to perform 'Children of Eden'

AVON LAKE — The community theater group Mighty Goliath Productions is making its big return to the stage this weekend after a hiatus forced by the COVID-19 pandemic, performing the musical "Children of Eden." The nonprofit fundraising organization put on a production of "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat" in February 2020, not realizing the next show wouldn't be until two years later. A planned production of "Shrek the Musical'' last year was unable to go forward because of the pandemic. "It's been a little bit of a challenge to get back up," said Therese Radca, producer and Mighty Goliath board of directors president. "Usually our shows have, between cast and crew, somewhere close to 100. And that's the whole ensemble. This year we are doing it with less than 60." The reason for the smaller group was to minimize the risk of COVID-19 spread while making sure the show could go on. Although there were still a few minor details to work out in the final few days of rehearsals, Radca said the production will be ready for opening night Friday. "Children of Eden" is a two-act musical with music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz and book by John Caird, featuring the biblical stories of Adam and Eve, Cain and Abel and Noah. An announcement from Mighty Goliath stated that the "overwhelming message of this story is love and family." Made up entirely of volunteers from Avon Lake and throughout Northeast Ohio, the theater group was created in 1959 to help raise funds for the performing arts at Avon Lake Schools. It maintains that mission today, and Radca said proceeds from the show will help pay for sound and lighting work in the Daniel B. Ross Performing Arts Center at Avon Lake High School. Although the cast is smaller for "Children of Eden" than in many past shows, it is bolstered by the inclusion of numerous puppets created by Mighty Goliath participant Jason White. Depicting animals named by Adam and Eve, they are carried around onstage by the cast. White's parents bought him manufactured puppets as a kid, but he said he had more fun creating his own from found objects. The idea for a penguin puppet in the show came to him during a lunch break at work when he was thinking about a polyester wrapping material he'd used on the job. "I had it almost in a pear shape, and I was bouncing it, and I thought, 'That could be a penguin,'" White recalled. Numerous other animal puppets were similarly created. He is the only member of his family participating in "Children of Eden" due to the pandemic, but White said Mighty Goliath Productions is something they've done together for the last five years. Spending time with family while working on the show is also familiar to Kate Radca, an Avon Lake High School senior and Therese Radca's daughter. She is working on backstage elements of the production and said she enjoys spending time with her parents and brother while doing something that also benefits other arts programs she has participated in. Learwood Middle School seventh grader Addison Gercak said it is rewarding to see everyone's hard work pay off when the show is finished. Plus, she said going on stage has helped her overcome her shyness and start talking with more people. "It's just a really fun experience. It can be stressful at times, but it can still be really fun," she said. Might Goliath will perform "Children of Eden" at 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday and on Feb. 25 and 26. Matinee performances will be held at 2 p.m. on Saturday and Feb. 26. Tickets can be purchased online at mightygoliath.com or at the door before the shows, at Avon Lake High School's Daniel B. Ross Performing Arts Center, 175 Avon Belden Road. Tickets are $20 for adults and $15 for students or seniors. Masks will be required. The show is directed by Henry Foraker. Contact Dylan Reynolds at (440) 329-7123 or dreynolds@chroniclet.com. Follow him on Twitter @drey1357.