FUSE Productions

Big changes are happening for the Biever family!

We don’t need to tell anyone that the last two years have been a lot. A lot of time to think, a lot of time for things that needed to be dealt with to be dealt with. In addition to making major adjustments for Covid at Singing Onstage and essentially closing down FUSE Productions, we lost Heidi’s mom in May of 2021.

But much good has happened: continued growth in enrollment at Singing Onstage, a full time position for Rich at Penn State and being elected to borough council, Madeline starting classes in the BA program at PSU, Olivia coming to the end of her high school years, and much more.

In the midst of all this, Rich received an offer of a professorship at Wichita State University in Wichita, Kansas. Not only that, Heidi will be a teaching artist for Music Theatre Wichita, a major regional theatre. Which of course means we’ll be leaving State College.

It’s a big deal and we weren’t sure how it could happen. But after the initial shock of considering this move, things began to fall into place. Interest came from a former student to take over Singing Onstage and purchase our home. And best of all, both Madeline and Olivia will be joining us in Wichita!

Every single person we met at Wichita State and Music Theatre Wichita are stellar humans. They are kind, thoughtful, and progressive. Rich will be teaching performance and directing classes in the BFA musical theatre program, as well as directing and music directing main stage shows. His future colleagues (almost all women!) are among the most welcoming, collegial, and progressive I’ve had the pleasure to meet. Amy Baker Schwiethale is head of the program and is already proving to be a marvelous colleague. Cheyla Clawson Chandler is the Director of the School for Performing Arts and is an incredibly progressive and forward thinking artist.

Heidi will be helping to develop and grow the education program for Music Theatre Wichita with managing director Angela Cassette and a whole new group of budding musical theatre performers will get to work with Miss Heidi!

We’re absolutely thrilled for the opportunities and the graciousness and flexibility of folks at both organizations. That doesn’t mean we’re thrilled to leave State College. Heidi was born and raised here and we live and work in the house her parents built and taught in for 55 years. One doesn’t leave all that without much thought and prayer.

But now seems the right time. We are hopefully on the other side of the pandemic and in that time we’ve changed. For Rich, it’s now much more about teaching than making theatre. And for Heidi, it’s moving more toward teaching others to teach, and being a part of a larger organization will give her that opportunity.

If you are sad that FUSE and Singing Onstage will no longer exist, don’t be! We have exciting news about the continuation of this important part of the State College arts community but we can’t announce it just yet. Stay tuned!

To say we’re grateful for all that we’ve received while in State College seems totally inadequate. But we are indeed grateful beyond words. The town’s support is incredibly humbling. We started on a wing and a prayer and State College went with us wherever we decided to go.

Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.

Rich and Heidi

After an exceptionally long hiatus, it's such a joy to announce that FUSE Productions is producing a reading of a brand new musical, called THE FOX SISTERS. Based on the true story of Katie, Maggie, and Leah Fox, it's the story of how the Spiritualism movement began in upstate New York in the mid-1800s.

The show has a book by Jessica Penzias, music by Anthony De Angelis, and lyrics by Christyn Budzyna, the authors of our 2019 children's show THE PRINCE'S NEW PET.

The reading will be on Sunday, March 20 at Singing Onstage Studios. More info about reserving a seat will come soon.

Our amazing cast:
Katie Fox ………………………….………………………...……....Nora Goudie
Maggie Fox……………………….………………………...…...... Olivia Biever
Leah Fox ………………………….…………………..…........…Rose Hanahan
Elisah Kane/Townsman…………………….…………….....… Logan Glaze
Mrs. Fox……………………………………….………….……...… Abbie Jensen
Rebecca Hyde/Clergywoman/Woman 2………...... Bethanie Louise
Mr. Fox/Committee Member 1/Man 1…………....... Jeff Buterbaugh
Mary Redfield/Woman 1/Reporter 1/Lily…….....…..Madeline Biever
Charles Redfield/Host/Man 2……………………................ Chris Hirsh
Hannah Duesler/Reporter 2/Mary/Spirit ..……………… Cat Rokavec
Artemas Hyde/ William Duesler...............…….. Connor Henderson