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Hundreds turn out at Mall at Steamtown with items they hope will be used as props in popular TV sitcom

July 19, 2007

‘Office’ supplies

Kristie Grier Ceruti kgrier@theabingtonjournal.com

Combine a strolling minstrel with guitar, a parking meter, a three-tiered fondant cake, a tray of handmade Old Forge pizza and a crowd of close to 200.

What might seem like a glimpse from Scranton’s annual La Festa Italiana is actually fodder for the prop closet on the set of NBC’s sitcom “The Office.”

On Tuesday and Wednesday, local entrepreneurs answered a call from The Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce and showed up at center court at The Mall at Steamtown in Scranton to pitch their branded merchandise and wares to Philip Shea, property master for the popular television series set in Scranton.

On Wednesday, in a line that snaked from center court past five storefronts, people waited in good humor from 10 a.m. to nearly 3:30 p.m., two hours past the submission deadline.

Karen Durkin, a representative from the chamber, estimated that Wednesday’s crowd had surpassed the 140 who had shown up one day before.

Cathy Reppert, owner of Truly Scrumptious Custom Creative Cakes and Confections in Kingston, created a faux three-tiered cake with real marshmallow fondant and a Styrofoam base. “I heard about this and then I saw the episode with Michael’s birthday party,” Reppert said, referring to “The Office” character of Michael Scott, played by Steve Carell.

Reppert wasn’t the only business owner trying to tempt prop master Shea’s taste buds. In addition to hats, T-shirts and coffee mugs, food was a popular donation.

Old Forge Pizza Express’ marketing representative Jennifer Besack juggled two trays of pizza, a bag of menus and an assortment of hats, aprons and other clothing.

Trish Laboranti and Joani Boino, owners of Kelly’s Pub and Eatery in Scranton, waited in line with everything from rulers and a rubber chicken to a plaque from a local radio-station contest naming them “Best Wings” in 2006.

“We’re open 17 years, so we have a lot of junk,” said Laboranti.

Schools and non-profit organizations were not left out of the mix.

Polly Mitchell, director of public relations and publications at Wyoming Seminary in Kingston, waited in line with her 14-year-old daughter, Colby Baberick. Mitchell said her daughter and her two friends watch the show regularly.

And Jennifer Washney and intern Nina Cabo, representing the American Red Cross Scranton Chapter, arrived with a first aid kit and tissues in tow. “We wanted to make people aware of the Scranton Chapter and that patients need blood donations every day,” said Washney, the chapter’s director of media affairs.

Piano teacher and musician K.C. Cavanagh of Clarks Summit said, “I just wrote some songs -- goofing around -- about Scranton.” Her friends suggested she make an appearance at the event. “I don’t watch TV, so I’ve never actually seen the show. But I have every intention of buying the DVDs.”

The 28-year-old warmed up with her guitar before performing for Shea and Chamber Membership Chairperson Mari Potis on the raised stage in center court by serenading the crowd with her song “Great Night Scranton.” Her rhymes included lyrics like “It’s Thursday night and it’s fun to try to entertain ya/The Office is feelin’ alright/A great night for Scranton, Pennsylvania” along with, “And I went to meet youse guys at a tavern called Waldo’s/Turns out a couple two, tree of ’dem got trampled at Ubaldo’s (don’t know why they do it, Italians love it, yeah, yeah).”

“I felt like it went really well,” Cavanagh said, of her on-the-spot performance. “You killed it,” said her friend and fellow musician Billy Rogan of Dalton.

“I would love to be around when they dump all the stuff out,” said Cavanagh. “I would love to be a fly on the wall.”

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