Pasadena Theatre Company Celebrates The Theater Community With “Puffs”

Pasadena Theatre Company will perform “Puffs,” or “Seven Increasingly Eventful Years at a Certain School of Magic and Magic” at Anne Arundel Community College the weekends of June 6-8 and 13-15.

A comedy and parody of the “Harry Potter” franchise, this show focuses on a group of Puffs, who are the show’s version of members of the Hogwarts house of Hufflepuff. While Harry is busy with his own adventures in the background, the Puffs grow closer together and figure out who they want to be.

“It’s a story about finding yourself and finding the true spirit of what a hero is,” explained director Jonathan Monroe. “The fun thing about ‘Puffs’ is that the Puffs are the forgotten children.”

Monroe, a Hufflepuff himself, is not a huge “Harry Potter” fan, but he fell in love with “Puffs” after seeing the play performed off-Broadway. Monroe has been part of the Pasadena Theatre Company for about four years and has advocated for the group to perform “Puffs” for a long time.

Pasadena Theatre Company has put on musicals since 1978, and “Puffs” will be its first straight play. Because of Monroe’s interest in the group performing the show, he was asked to direct as soon as “Puffs” was selected.

“I’m eternally grateful to (Sharon Steele) and (Kathy Swain) for putting their trust in me and allowing me to really run with this,” Monroe said.

The cast of “Puffs” features actors who have been with the group for a while, as well as some new faces. The actors are a diverse group of members of the Anne Arundel County community, ranging from as young as 8 years old up to retirement age. Some have other roles in the production as well, such as Monroe both directing and playing the bit role of Uncle Dave, or Robin Schwartz playing Harry while also creating promotional materials for the show.

Though many members of the cast are more experienced with musical theater, they are excited for Pasadena Theatre Company’s first non-musical play. “We’re a collection of people who really enjoy performing, and you’ll feel that energy if you come see the show,” Monroe said.

“Puffs” is full of fun moments, including a puppet show that takes place during the first act. The first act is comedic, while the second act is darker, much like the “Harry Potter” books from which “Puffs” draws inspiration. Throughout the show, the Puffs grow closer as a community, echoing the way the theater community comes together when performing a show.

“It’s wonderful to be in an area that has so many theater companies and that theater is so alive in the state of Maryland and in Anne Arundel County,” Monroe said.

The production of “Puffs” has received support from Chesapeake High School, which donated props from its recent adaptation of the show.

The way that the theater community comes together is encapsulated by one of the main themes of “Puffs.” Anyone who has struggled to fit in or who has found their place within a tight-knit community should be able to see themselves in the show’s main characters.

“I’ve always felt kind of out of place in many of the places I’m at and many of the things that I do, and finding myself in a small community of people kind of feels Puffish,” Monroe said. “Go Puffs!”

For ticket information, go to www.ptcshows.com.