Experience a classic Broadway production when the Park Players of Wheeling Park High School present the spring musical, On the Town, Friday, May 4, through Sunday, May 6, at the J.B. Chambers Performing Arts Center.
The curtain goes up at 7 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and 3 p.m. on Sunday and is sure to be an entertaining audience pleaser.
Set in 1944, three sailors land in New York City and have 24 hours of shore leave. Wanting to make sure they make every second count, they plan to see the sights and meet women. After Gabey sees an advertisement of Ivy Smith, “Miss Turnstiles for June,” his fellow sailors, Chip and Ozzie, help him set out to find her. While in pursuit of Miss Turnstiles, Chip hooks up with the brash Hildy, and Ozzie swoons for the prim anthropologist Claire. Through it all, the six get into one misadventure after another as they take in all New York City has to offer.
On the Town features exhilarating music by Leonard Bernstein with lighthearted lyrics and book by Betty Comden and Adolph Green. The show’s renowned score includes a number of musical theater standards, including “Come Up to My Place,” “I Can Cook, Too,” “Some Other Time” and “New York, New York.”
Bill Cornforth, one of the theater directors at Wheeling Park, leads this production.
“This production has an array of talented actors, singers, and dancers in the leads, supporting cast, and ensemble. The performers are motivated and excited. They have rehearsed long and hard and are ready to offer a very entertaining rendition of On the Town,” Cornforth said.
The cast for this year’s play is made up of 30 of Park’s most talented students. Leading the cast as the fun-loving sailors on leave are Vance Mazure as Gabey, Maguire Glass as Chip and Tino Kayafas as Ozzie. Kathryn Roe portrays the loudmouth cab driver Hildy, while Faith Richter plays the charming anthropologist Claire. The lovely Ivy Smith is played by Madeline Mandel.
The remainder of the cast is comprised of David Gaudio, Robert Irvin, Adam Marquart, Zachary Calvert, Sarah Hedrick, Tanner Keen, Sydnee Porter, Afton Aulick, Morgan Marquart, Mary Prather, Anna Allman, Paushaly Sau, Phillip Gray, Matthew Porter, D.J. Daugherty, Joel Connor, Tyler Faulstick, Visaal Sherazi, Natalya Wood, McKinley Kimmins, Emily Loh, Karlee Griffin, Lizzie Romanek, Laura Tighe and Kylie Parker.
Assisting Cornforth in the capacity of production assistants for the play are Kayla Kreitzer Nelson, Brigitte Mazure, Scott Hedrick and Mike Harris.
Joyce Jingle is the production’s musical director. “The music is filled with high-spirited rhythms and soaring melodies, performed by a well-trained group of singers,” Jingle said.
David M. Alfred will lead the orchestra. Christie Curley acts as the orchestra’s conductor. Anna Harsh is the show’s choreographer.
Seniors Hinal Pujara and Sydnee Porter are student leaders and Cornforth’s assistant directors for the production.
The stage manager for the show is Reese Kefauver. Other Park Player crew heads include: Maria Goudy, Emily Higgs, Faith Richter, Hinal Pujara, Ritika Reddy, Lydia Bischof, Beighly Ayers, Morgan Marquart, Mary Prather, Rebecca Erwin, Nataya Bartlett, Emily Braun, Zoe Kefauver and Spencer Romanek.
Park Player performances bring hundreds of people from the community together to experience the creative spirit of their talented actors and technical crews. It is their hope that they can count on your support.
Tickets can be reserved by calling the theater at 304-243-0417, the high school’s main office at 304-243-0400 or can also be purchased online at wphswv.booktix.com.
