A 2004 graduate of Hempfield Area High School who has been in love with theatre since he was in the first grade will make his stage debut with the Saint Vincent Theatre on July 23.

Kevin D. O’Leary will play the role of Cosme McMoon opposite Florence Foster Jenkins, to be played by Saint Vincent veteran actress Pat Reilly.

Mr. O’Leary, 23, is a native of Greensburg who has studied at Penn State, WCCC and, most recently, Point Park University. He also auditioned in New York City before joining Stage Right as music director.

He recalls his first stage experience when he was a youngster in a Christmas play at the Greensburg Alliance Church. “I was a shepherd boy,” he recalls. “I have the loved the theatre ever since.”

“I have been doing some research for my role in this show,” he continued. “There is not a lot of information about my character and so that is interesting. I am actually just really nervous about the whole show because there is so much work to be done in a short time. It is going to be quite a challenge but I like challenges so that is good.”

While at Hempfield, he appeared in The Importance of Being Earnest, You Can’t Take It With You, and several musicals including Pippin, The Sound of Music and West Side Story. He was the founder and first president of the International Thespian Society there.

He performed with the Penn State Thespians in Cabaret, You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown, Footloose and Into the Woods. He also has extensive experience on stage with Apple Hill Playhouse and Stage Right.

Mr. O’Leary, who has played the piano since he was six years old, will also perform some music from Mozart, Verdi and Gershwin in Souvenir.

The show opens with a preview performance at 8:10 p.m. Thursday, July 23. Evening performances continue on July 24, 25, 28, 29, 30, 31, August 1, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 11, 12, 13, 14 and 15. Matinees at 2:10 p.m. are also scheduled for Sunday, August 2, Wednesday, August 5, Wednesday, August 12 and Sunday, August 16.

The Saint Vincent Theatre’s after-the-show cabaret will be open after all performances until August 15 except for matinees and the preview performance.

Individual tickets ($10 for preview performances, $18 for Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday evenings, $15 for matinees, and $21 for Friday or Saturday evenings) are available by contacting the Box Office, 724 537-8900. Theatre party group rates, senior citizen discounts and student discounts are also available.

View slideshow from Souvenir

Return to News Releases