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Barrington High School set to stage ‘Guys and Dolls’
Updated: April 1, 2013 6:39AM
BARRINGTON EAST — Songs that capture the imagination and captivate the soul flow throughout the musical “Guys and Dolls.”
This Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award winning show, based on a book by Jo Swerling and Abe Burrow, with music and lyrics by Frank Loesser, is a personal favorite of my family. If you rewound the clock about 10 years, you would frequently see three exhilarated kids dancing around the kitchen table to “Luck Be a Lady.”
Whether you have always loved this musical, or have never seen it before, you are in for a treat. From Feb. 28 through March 3, Barrington High School will present this classic masterpiece.
The production is directed by choral director Nancie Tobison; acting director Lisa Southern; choreographer Ellen Werksman; orchestra director Randy Karon; technical directors Amy Jessup-Tilford, Jason Burke and Jason Kaiser; costumer Sharon Schmidt; rehearsal accompanist Bonnie Spurling; box office Laurie Mack and Grant Sahr. The cast and crew includes dozens of area young people and adults as well, so I am dividing my coverage of the musical into two columns!
Taking a “straw poll” of some of the leads, the “Havana Club Scene” is a not-to-miss favorite!
Harry Fox of South Barrington, who plays “Sky Masterson,” said: “It’s a vibrant and lively setting for the musical with beautiful music, spectacular dancing, and it shows the more decent side of Sky that usually is not seen, as well as the more unruly side of Sarah.”
Elizabeth Stermer of Lake Barrington, who plays “Sarah,” agreed.
“I love performing the Havana scene,” she said. “It’s the scene where my character, Sarah, gets to liberate herself a little bit. ... After spending the first part of the show as a very prim and proper character, it’s fun for me as an actor to be able to show off a completely opposite side to my character. I’ve been told I play ‘tipsy’ very well, which is funny and surprising considering I’ve never had a drink before!”
And it’s a safe bet that “Luck Be a Lady,” with its cast of youth and adults will bring down the house!
“The song is not the biggest chorus piece, but it is the really big ‘guys number’ in the show, which gives it a stronger feel than a typical musical song,” Fox said.
Elizabeth concurred: “It’s such a classic, upbeat song and we’ve got an amazing group of boys that sound phenomenal on it. Harry has his character down to a tee so it’s always fun watching him sing it.”
Andrea Schumann of Lake Barrington who plays “Miss Adelaide,” also loves the Havana scene. She added that her favorite song is “I’ve Never Been in Love Before.”
“The cast and crew this year are especially unified,” Schumann said. “Everyone has a lot of dedication to the show. I am really enjoying working with kids from all the different grade levels.”
My daughter, Brittany, is the understudy for “Sarah” and is also a “Hot Box Girl.” And my husband, Dr. Robert Albrecht, is going to play a gambling thug in the “Luck Be a Lady” scene! I am truly looking forward to being his “audience” for a change!
Other area cast and/or ensemble include: Michael Waldron, Justice Good, Tim Foszcz, Matt Zhang, Grant Walsh, Quinn Kelch, Grace Hayes, Alex Wirth, Giacomo Marenco di Moriondo, Nick Witek, JT Snyder, Jonathan Perez, Adam Velleuer, Grant Walsh, Maggie Eastham, Patrick Andriessen, Jillian Karande, Caroline Stanton, Josh Altshuler, Stefano Egleston, PK Singh, Jordan Ginsberg, Danny Stermer, Ashton Dato, Patrick Fitzgerald, Patrick Andriessen, AJ Priola, Jessica Malec, Daniel Navitsky, Lily O’Leary, Paul Roeckell, Maty Bauer, Peri N, Katie Rouse, Stefano Egleston, Ali Lidbury, Maty Bauer, Lily O’Leary, Katie Rouse, Abbey Cerek, Jillian Karande, Maggie Eastham, Amanda Rudolphi, Katie Sieger, Franceska Karasinksi, Kitty Hoffmann, Delaney Battle, Lauren Messemer, Kate Fox, Callie Gerak, Caitlyn Thornton, Emily Andriesen, Brianna Grafflan, Molly Fruecht, Grace Kramer, Anna Yager, Taylor Johnson, Colleen Kelch, Jessica Holzknecht, Erica Van Nest, Dani Freeman, Alexa Rebecca, Cary Reynolds, Marissa Longo, Kate Himes, Clare McLaughlin, Matt Lenz, Patrick Fitzgerald, Ryan McCarthy, Stefano Egleston, Paul Roeckell, Alex Nakos, Quique Ballado, Daniel Navitsky, Pari Narayanan, Filip Duda, Scott Jonske, Kevin Cagney.
Cameo adult men: BHS principal Steve McWilliams, Mike Eastham, Mike Fox, Craig Zachrich, Bill Hannay, Bryan Schumann, Dave McGranahan, Greg Werner, Brian Kober, Marty McLaughlin and Dick Van Liersburg.
Cameo children: Andrew Velleuer, Maggie Bruce, Ellen McGinn, Mark McGinn, Lindsey Kozel, Natalie Kozel, Margaret Higgins, Kathleen Higgins, Kevin Higgins, Josaphine Tilford, Mia Priola and Suzette Campbell.
Shows are at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 28, March 1 and 2. Matinee shows are at 2:30 p.m. on March 2 and 3.
Tickets (reserved) may be purchased online at www.bhsfinearts.org. The cost is $13 for adults, $8 for children/students, and senior citizens are admitted free.
Questions: contact LMack@barrington220.org.
News? Kimproductions@sbcglobal.net.
