The ‘Comic Book Artist’ came to life on the Triple Locks stage

• “Adventures of a Comic Book Artist” is the annual summer youth show for the Coshocton Footlight Player at the Triple Locks Theater.
• The cast of 17 is aged from 8 to 18. The show is July 15 to 17 and 22 to 24 with tickets available online.
• Stanley is a janitor at a comics company that dreams of becoming a creator. The magic pens allow his heroes to survive to fight the Doctor Shock Clock.
• Bryson Darr plays Stanley with Sophie Dotson as Shock Clock and Bridget Kobel as owner of comics company DC Wunderman.

COSHOCTON – A youth musical about the world of comic book heroes and villains that literally come to life will open at Coshocton Footlight Players ’Triple Locks Theater.

“Adventures of a Comic Book Artist” is directed by Shelly Lillibridge and has 17 casts with more behind the scenes helping. Those in the cast range in age from 8 to 18.

Stanley Leonardo Sappovitz (in nod to Marvel Comics icon Stan Lee) is a janitor at Wonder Comics who dreams of becoming a comic book artist. He could no longer wait for the day his boss, DC Wunderman, would allow his creations to live on the printed page. However, they lived for real thanks to a set of magical pens.

Star Guy, Triple Time, Blossom and Wombat Woman must battle the Doctor Shock Clock and alipores known as Minutos. Eventually, Stanley himself turns into a superhero, Eraser Man, to save the day.

“The music is very catchy and the message it says is strong,” Lillibridge said. “The message is you can be anything you dream of and put your effort into. You can be something you want to be even if the possibilities are stacked against you.”

Lillibridge has been directing youth shows for about 10 years and she loves getting the next generation interested in theater. He knows many are not interested in doing sports or other extra curricular activities.

Roo Cameron is coming into his first year at Manhattanville College in Harrison, New York, where he is studying theater. She does choreography for the show and gets credit for a minor in stage choreography. He was in several plays growing up at Triple Locks and is happy to come back and help today.

“I’m excited to see the kids show interest on stage like I did at their age. It’s really exciting to be on the other side staging the fire in the theater,” Cameron said.

Sophie Dotson, a senior at Coshocton High School, is the oldest member of the cast and came from playing a young Jackie Kennedy in Gray Gardens. He is Doctor Shock Clock, the villain who can stop time with a flick of his fingers.

“After Gray Gardens, I still want to do something,” Dotson said. “I’m not a mean person, but I’m having such fun playing this character. Playing a villain, you’ve got to go outside the box and it’s a lot of work.”

Bryson Darr, 11, plays Stanley. He is in his fourth game with the Footlight Players.

“It’s a comedy and a lot of people like comedies,” Darr said of encouraging someone to watch the play. “Also, I feel like everyone can relate to the main character. Everyone wants to do something when they get older, to live out their dreams.”

“Adventures of a Comic Book Artist” is at 7:30 pm July 15, 16, 22 and 23 and 2:30 pm July 17 and 24 at the Triple Locks Theater, 685 N. Whitewoman St. Tickets are available at footlightplayers.com or by calling the box office at 740-622-2959. Tickets are $ 12 for adults and $ 7 for students.