Saugus arts ‘here to stay’

SAUGUS – Amanda Allen plans on shedding some light on the performing arts scene in town with the Theater Company of Saugus’ 45th anniversary celebration show this weekend.The musical revue “A Look at the Past, A Light to the Future” will feature song and dance from 25 popular musicals that the company has put on over the years, but with the theme of “light,” company president Allen said it will do more than just entertain. The company is putting on the show to raise funds for a new lighting system and to raise awareness of what they do, said Allen.”I just think (the arts in town) don’t get enough credit and enough notoriety,” said Allen. “There are some great things going on that not many people know about … A lot of people don’t know we exist. We’re trying to get out there and show everybody and bring it back into people’s lives. We’re here and here to stay.””Here” is a part of the problem, as Allen said the company does not have its own space. The venue for this weekend’s show is the East Saugus United Methodist Church, at 85 Chestnut St. in Saugus. As a nonprofit organization, the show’s stars work on passion, not pay. But as Allen describes, that’s the beauty of the company that’s she has been a part of for the last 10 years.”It’s been like a second home to me,” said Allen. “It has given me the creative outlet I can go to every day, a support system, a second family, and close friends and mentors. It helped me grow as a person.”Allen isn’t the only one with such strong ties to the company. Part of the revue will be a “wall of memories” that will feature the memories of past and present participants and a display of memorabilia from the last 45 years of shows.After the last show on Dec. 1, the company will get together at 5:30 p.m. for an “Anniversary Gala,” where they will toast with food and drink to celebrate, some with decades spent at the company and others for the first time.A Look at the Past, A Light to the Future opens Friday at 7:30 p.m., with subsequent evening shows on Saturday, Friday, Nov. 29 and Saturday, Nov. 30, all at 7:30 p.m. Matinees will run on Sunday and Sunday, Dec. 1 at 2 p.m. Tickets are $15 for adults, $12 for seniors age 65 and over, $12 for students with ID, $12 for children up to age 12. To order tickets go to http://tcsaugus.org/tickets/.