Show stoppers!
Amanda Steen | Herald-Standard
Sarah Hamman, playing Fiona, rehearses a scene of “Shrek the Musical” at Connellsville Area Senior High School’s musical practice.
ON THE COVER: Hamman (left) performs in a scene with Jacob Woods, playing Shrek.
Amanda Steen | Herald-Standard
Jacob Woods, on left, plays Shrek during a scene with Marina Stefano, playing Donkey, at Connellsville Area Senior High School’s musical practice.
Amanda Steen | Herald-Standard
Working through weather-related cancellations, scheduling conflicts and renovations, area students are ready to show a sure sign that spring is just around the corner. From ogres and beasts to princesses and beehived dancing sensations, this year’s crop of high school musical performers are proving the show must go on!
California Area High School
What: “The Pajama Game”
When: 7 p.m. Feb. 27-March 1
Where: California Area High School auditorium
Admission: $8 reserved seating
Tickets: Available at high school library, call 724-785-5800 ext. 1131
Choosing a classic musical this year, director Claudia Bennett is ready to show off her cast in the Jerry Ross, Richard Adler romantic musical comedy “The Pajama Game.”
With memorable stage and orchestral performances of well known songs like “Steam Heat” and “Hideaway,” the audience will walk away with smiles on their faces, according to Bennett.
“It’s a cheerful, congenial and traditional,” said Bennett. “We had all the right kids with all the right moves.”
The cast, which includes mostly seniors, will take to the stage to sing and dance their way through a labor furor over a 7 1/2 cent pay raise at a pajama plant which is complicated by the course of true love for Sid Sorokin (Zac Parocai), the new factory superintendent, and Babe Williams (Lacey Koster), the feisty firebrand heading the union grievance committee. Other characters include: Hines (Jake Glawski), Prez (A.J. Newman), Gladys (Nina Victoria) and Mr. Hasler (Lucas Tranchita).
Bennett promises stand out costumes, sets and a 10-piece orchestra.
“You’re getting a concert and a show.”
Jefferson-Morgan
What: “Arsenic and Old Lace”
When: 7 p.m. Feb. 27-March 1
Where: Jefferson-Morgan High School auditorium
Admission: $5
Tickets: available at the door
A farcical black comedy by American playwright Joseph Kesselring that revolves around the Brewster family of Brooklyn N.Y. Mortimer Brewster, a drama critic, must deal with his crazy, homicidal family, which includes two spinster aunts, Martha Brewster and Abby Brewster who have taken to murdering lonely old men by poisoning them with a glass of homemade elderberry wine laced with arsenic, strychnine and a pinch of cyanide; a brother, Teddy, who believes he is Theodore Roosevelt; and a murderous brother, Jonathan, who has received plastic surgery to conceal his identity.
Connellsville Area
What: “Shrek the Musical”
When: 7:30 p.m. March 6-8; and 2 p.m. March 9
Where: Connellsville Area High School auditorium
Admission: $10 (March 6) and $12 (all other performances)
Tickets: Available at the high school box office 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesdays-Thursdays
Production manager, Heidi Eutsey, and director, Henry Molinaro, have matched up the talents of 85 students with a show that equals their strengths.
“Shrek the Musical” will come to life thanks to creative costumes by Carol Klerk, extreme and extraordinary make up by David Hartz and outstanding choreography by Debbie Luczka
“The show is funny. It’s a children’s musical but it’s good for the whole family,” said Eutsey. “We have huge dance numbers and choreography that has everyone on stage dancing and some dancing in the aisles.”
Set in a mythical “once upon a time” land, Shrek (Jacob Woods), a hulking, green ogre, crosses paths with a wise-cracking Donkey (Marina Stefano), Princess Fiona (Sarah Hamman), Pinocchio (Trent Bauer) and Gingy (Sophia Jones) in the fairy tale land governed by the vertically challenged Lord Farquaad (Noah Allison).
“Our talent is huge. The sets are amazing. Donkey’s slap-stick is funny, Lord Farquaad does the entire show on his knees and our Pinocchio is 7 feet tall,” said Eutsey. “This show will not disappoint.”
Laurel Highlands
What: “Beauty and the Beast”
When: 7 p.m. March 6-8
Where: The State Theatre, Uniontown
Admission: $10
Tickets:724-437-4741 ext. 22003
“It’s one of my favorite shows. I could direct it without a script,” said Lauren Groves about the musical “Beauty and the Beast.”
Groves and her 80 cast members have feverishly been pulling together the musical.
“The expectations are high, and we can provide quality entertainment for everyone,” Groves said.
She fully expects the audience to be blown by the showstopping voices of the cast telling the story of Belle (Ari Retzer) who takes the place of her imprisoned father in the castle of a Beast (Gino Mollica), who is really a cursed prince. The enchanted castle of characters, Lumiere (Marco Morici), Mrs. Potts (Elise Glad), Cogsworth (Jesse Spano), Babette (Sarah Zajac), Wardrobe (Emma Glad) befriend Belle, while the menacing Gaston (Joseph Onesi) and his sidekick Lefou (Sean Stevok) make plans to destroy the Beast.
Groves invites the audience to ‘Be Our Guest’ and to be prepared for Beast’s end of Act 1 performance of “If I Can’t Love Her.”
Carmichaels Area High School
What: “Back to the 80s”
When: 7 p.m. March 14-15 and 3 p.m. March 16
Where: Carmichaels Area High School auditorium
Admission: $8 advanced tickets, $5 for seniors/students; $10 at the door, $6 for seniors/students
Tickets: 724-966-5045
Mary Lisa Dohanick chose “Back to the 80s” for her debut as director because there are several lead characters and many opportunities to show off the talent of each while enjoying the ride.
“The show is so much fun and there is a lot of audience participation. Everyone knows the music and can sing along,” said Dohanick.
Corey Palmer Sr. (Adam Mazza) narrates the story of the 1989 graduating class of William Ocean High and the love that 17-year-old Corey (Noah Dohanich) has for Tiffany Houston (Devan Doman). But she barely notices him because she is mooning over the hottest guy around, Michael Feldman (Noah Kaczmarczyk). Meanwhile Feargal McFerrin III (Ethan Hennessy), Debbie Fox (Morgan Voithofer) and Lauren Wilder (Kenzie Blasinsky), all nerds will compete with the cool kids, Cyndi Gibson (Charlotte Nyland), Eileen Reagan (Katlyn Allison) and Billy Arnold (Matthew Hendrick).
Dohanick said seven of the leads have never had lead roles before but it is their time to shine and showoff “their gifts and talents.”
Among the outstanding performance numbers under the choreography of Jen Henry and Anita KcKean, will be ‘Man in the Mirror,’ ‘Video Killed the Radio Star,’ ‘Walkin’ On Sunshine,’ and full cast numbers ‘Kids In America’ and ‘Nothin’s Gonna Stop Us Now.’
Geibel Catholic
What: “42nd Street”
When: 7 p.m. March 14-15 and 2 p.m. March 16
Where: The State Theatre, Uniontown
Admission: $10, all reserved seating
Tickets: State Theatre box office 724-439-1360
It’s Nick Bell’s 15th show at Geibel Catholic High School and the second time he’s directed “42nd Street” as a musical at the school.
“I have such a good company of dancers and personalities,” Bell said. “It’s the perfect show for them.”
Peggy Sawyer (Gabrielle Omatic) a chorus member in the cast of a Broadway musical, catches the eye of famous director Julian Marsh (Matt Emerson) who gives Peggy her big break after the show’s leading lady, Dorothy Brock (Joann Medifer), breaks her ankle on opening night, and a chance to perform with the show’s romantic lead Billy Lawlor (Jonah Delmar).
Expect amazing choreography by John Wagner and a cast of 57 performers who are committed to giving the best performances possible in big numbers like ‘Shuffle Off To Buffalo’ and ’42nd Street.’
“It’s upbeat and a show within a show,” said Bell.
Frazier High School
What: “Seussical the Musical”
When: 6 p.m. March 14-15
Where: Frazier High School Auditorium
Admission: $8 adults, $5 students
Tickets: Available at the door
Based on the works of Dr. Seuss, the Cat in the Hat tells the story of Horton, an elephant who discovers a speck of dust containing Whos, including JoJo, a who child sent off to military school for thinking too many “thinks.” Horton must, not only protect the Whos from a world of naysayers and dangers, but must guard the abandoned egg of Mayzie La Bird, while facing ridicule, danger, kidnapping and trial. Ultimately, the powers of his friendship with Gertrude McFuzz help him emerge triumphant.
Uniontown Area
What: “Shrek the Musical”
When: 7 p.m. March 27-29
Where: Uniontown Area High School auditorium
Admission: $10
Tickets: 724-439-5000
With a deep pool of talent from which to choose, director Megan Cerullo couldn’t wait to dive into the fairytale land where “Shrek the Musical” takes place.
“This year we have so many talented boys who are all seniors,” she said. “It’s a fun and funny musical with lots of good male roles.”
Shrek (Jay Clinton), a hulking, green ogre, meets up with a wise-cracking Donkey (Wyatt Wilson), Pinocchio (Alex Swaney), and Gingy (Caileigh Holbrook), and other fabled creatures in a fairy tale land governed by the vertically challenged Lord Farquaad (Bobby Basile) while eventually falling in love with Princess Fiona (Elyse Kaplan).
Intense staging and make up will add to the entertainment Cerullo anticipates the audience to be overwhelmed by.
“Lord Farquaad has the potential to steal the show and Donkey will feed off the audience and give back so much more,” said Cerullo.
Lots of surprises are in store in a show lead by mostly seniors.
Brownsville Area
What: “Hairspray”
When: 7 p.m. March 27-29 and 2 p.m. March 30
Where: Brownsville Area High School auditorium
Admission: $10 for adults, $5 for students
Tickets: 724-785-8200
In the 14 years that Tricia Rohlf has directed musicals at Brownsville, she has chosen everything from traditional to edgy. This year Rohlf was on a princess-like mission.
“I wanted a Cinderella story. A girl who had never done shows before and wow I got it,” she said. “Hairspray’s” message is tolerance and acceptance. It fights stereotypes. In this show you don’t have a stereotypical leading. It’s a little woman taking charge.
Hairspray is set in Baltimore in 1962 featuring songs and dances from the era of downtown rhythm and blues. A curvy, plus size teenager, Tracy Turnblad’s (Erin Stumpf) dream is to dance on the Corny “Collins (Christian Sesek) Show.” When Tracy wins a role on the show she becomes a celebrity overnight and meets with a colorful array of characters including some like Velma Von Tussle (Katelyn Victor), the mother of Amber (Becca Bochna), that don’t share her political points of view including her efforts to integrate the show.
Tracy is supported in her efforts by her mother Edna Turnblad (Nick Gardner), Motormouth Maybelle (Colbie Mickins), Penny Pingleton (Megan Johnson) and Link (Riley Higenbotham).
The middle school chorus will also be incorporated into the show, which is promising to be dynamic.
“It’s production number after production number. Dancing, dancing, dancing. The kids have a blast and the audience can look forward to a night of fun,” said Rohlf.
Rohlf, notes of her talented leads, that many are “first timers.”
“When you plan a cast you plan around what you have but this year I threw all caution to the wind,” she said.
Albert Gallatin Area
What: “Beauty and the Beast”
When: 7 p.m. March 28-29 and 2 p.m. March 30
Where: Albert Gallatin Area High School auditorium
Admission: $5
Tickets: Available at the door
The beautiful young Belle takes the place of her imprisoned father, Maurice, in the enchanted castle of the Beast, who is really a cursed prince. Belle teaches the Beast to be courteous and respectful with a little help from her new found friends Lumiere, Mrs. Potts, Cogsworth, Babette and Wardrobe while Gaston and his toady, Lafou, orchestrate the Beast’s demise.
Check under the A&E tab at HeraldStandard.com for additional photos and videos of dress rehearsals as they become available.