Cast Finds This Year’s Spring Musical To Be A Lot Of Laughs

By Tanjua Damon

Next week the Newtown High School auditorium will come alive with Cole Porter’s Anything Goes thanks to members of the school’s drama club. Many of the cast members find this year’s musical less intense and a relaxing production compared to past performances.

Senior Brett Boles plays Billy Crocker, whom the musical revolves around. He is a bit saddened that this will be his last musical on the high school stage, but looks forward to his future studying music composition for Broadway.

“It’s really a wonderful show. It’s very comic. It’s a show for everyone,” Brett said. It’s just all out there. It’s a sit back and relax and enjoy yourself show.”

“I’ve gotten so close to everybody. We’ve become a close knit family,” he added. “The whole idea of being someone else, portraying somebody that is completely different than you, but that you can relate to in some way, too.”

Again this year’s cast comes from a variety of backgrounds of sports, academics, and the NHS stage regulars. Michelle Grimaldi comes back for another round of spring musicals also ending her senior year on a fun note.

“It’s really upbeat. It’s my senior year and I wanted to do something fun,” Michelle said. “I’ve learned that I work well with others, and I haven’t tapped in awhile, but I’m able to go back and remember how to do things. It’s a love story that we can relate to [even though it is set in the 1930s].”

Tim Robinson, who finds the character interesting and humorous, will portray Lord Evelyn Oakleigh.

“He is a very rigid gentleman and very naïve,” Tim said about his character. “It’s hilarious, especially my character. The fact that he is naïve is funny. I’d have to say I’m opposite to Lord Evelyn. I’m very casual, very relaxed. It’s difficult to stand up right and be proper all the time.”

Austin Bowes plays Ching. He plays three sports –– football, basketball, and golf –– at the high school as well.

“I like new experiences and I like to meet new people. I find the drama club to be more of a family than other activities I’m involved in,” Austin said. “But they are also very similar. They both take a lot of team work and working together.”

Many of the cast members find the plot of the musical to be much simpler than in the past, but the dancing and singing are challenging.

“Singing and dancing at the same time [is a challenge] because you get out of breath,” Dana Martenson said. “I think it’s different than last year’s performance. This year’s is a comedy and is very upbeat.”

Matt Cullinan is Moonface Martin. Matt feels he is a bit like the character he is playing because they both like to use humor. This is his first musical.

“Moonface has to be over the top and funning,” Matt said. “I have experience doing that because I try to be fun in real life. I’m not well known for my singing.”

Katie Fuller comes to the stage as Hope Harcourt. She is especially excited because this is a more “mature and feminine role” compared to others she has portrayed in past years on the stage.

“It’s a little difficult finding a character for her. It’s hard to make her not seem bland on stage,” Katie said. “It’s hysterical. We have done so many tragedies. It’s incredibly entertaining. I still laugh hysterically and get a kick out of the jokes during rehearsal.”

Leslie Greenfield will play nightclub singer Reno Sweeney. It is a new role for her and a show she is learning from.

“She’s very larger than life. It’s something new for me. I’ve never played a character quite like this,” Leslie said. “It’s difficult keeping her attitude consistent and constantly portraying her personality. It’s a lot of fun. I get to be this crazy famous woman.

“It’s the first tap show I’ve performed in,” she added. “I’m learning a lot. It’s a lot different than West Side Story. The time period is interesting too.”

Four performances of Anything Goes are scheduled for March 20 at 7:30 pm, March 21 at 8 pm, and March 22 at 2 and 8 pm. Tickets for Anything Goes are $15 for adult reserved seats, $12 for students/senior reserved seats, and $8 for general admission. For tickets call Nanci DiPerrio at 426-4212.