The musical “Anything Goes” will be presented by the Shelton High School Drama Club in early May.
Performances will be Thursday, May 2 at 7 p.m.; Friday, May 3 at 8 p.m.; and Saturday, May 4 at 8 p.m. in the high school auditorium, 120 Meadow St., Shelton.
Ticket information and student leads
Tickets are $15 for adults and $10 for students at www.showtix4u.com; 203-922-3004, ext. 1755 (Shelton High); or through Center Stage Theatre at 203-225-6079.
The production features Shelton High School seniors Chelsea Rodrigues as Reno, Stavros Koumbaros as Lord Evelyn, Kylie English as Hope, and Max Marrone as Lord Evelyn; juniors Tom Ball as Moon, Ariana Maione as Erma, and Scott Shelton as Mr. Whitney; and sophomore Alexandra Koumbaros as Mrs. Harcourt. (See a complete cast list at the end of this story.)
About the play and music
The play was first performed in 1934. It is a comedy that is set on the ocean liner S.S. American, sailing from New York to England.
Music and lyrics are by Cole Porter, including such well-known tunes as “It's De-Lovely,” “Friendship,” “I Get A Kick Out Of You,” “All Through The Night,” “Anything Goes,” “You're The Top,” and “Blow, Gabriel, Blow.”
The story line
Included on the ship’s passenger list are a nightclub singer, Reno Sweeney; a gangster, Moonface Martin, and his gun moll, Erma; a wealthy debutante and her mother, Hope and Evangeline Harcourt; as well as Hope’s British fiance, Lord Evelyn Oakleigh, and a wealthy New York businessman and his stowaway assistant, Elisha Whitney and Billy Crocker.
It turns out that Hope is Billy's long-lost love, despite the fact that she is engaged to be married. After a series of comedic happenings, Billy manages to win back Hope.
Meanwhile, Billy's friend, Reno, manages to seduce and win Lord Evelyn. All this happens while Moonface Martin attempts to escape the law and Hope's mother strives to maintain her social status.
Director, assistants, choreography, dance
The play will be directed by Gary Scarpa, with assistance from his daughter Mia Scarpa. Gary Scarpa is well known for running Center Stage Theatre in Shelton with his wife, Francesca.
“You can’t beat ‘Anything Goes’ for a great night of entertainment,” said director Gary Scarpa, recently retired from Shelton High School. “Cole Porter’s songs are immortal, and the script is one of the lightest and funniest ever written. Our cast of teens is having a ball preparing the show.”
Mia Scarpa, an English teacher at Shelton High, is choreographing the production.
Also working on the production are Drama Club advisors Dan Nazzaro and Joe Sedlock and Shelton High alumnae Katie Sedlock, who is serving as dance captain.
Performers: Main roles
In the Shelton High production, performing the main speaking roles are:
Chelsea Rodrigues as Reno Sweeney
Stavros Koumbaros as Billy Crocker
Kylie English as Hope Harcourt
Max Marrone as Lord Evelyn Oakleigh
Thomas Ball as Moonface Martin
Ariana Maione as Erma
Scott Sheldon as Elisha Whitney
Alex Koumbaros as Mrs. Harcourt, Hope's mother
Other roles
Other roles will be performed by:
Kathryn Twohill as Purity (Angel)
Elise Sullivan as Chastity (Angel)
Tara Werner as Charity (Angel)
Avery Kaklamanos as Virtue (Angel)
Connor Hamme as Captain
Katie Hunter as Purser
Jake Anderson as Bishop Henry T. Dobson.
Nick Markus and Charlie O'Keefe as Luke & John (two Chinese converts)
Ensemble
In the play's ensemble cast are:
Jake Anderson
Johnna Bakalar
Stephen Casinelli
Jenna DeLeo
Emily DeRosa
Deanna Diaz
Alexis DiZenzo
Claire Fox
Danielle Franceschini
Connor Hamme
Monica Holler
Katie Hunter
Avery Kaklamanos
Kayci Kekacs
Cassie Kryger
Charlotte MacDonald
Nicholas Markus
Julie Mauriello
Lauren Montagna
Charlie O'Keefe
Michael Pertoso
Veronica Pleasant
Nicole Romeos
Braeden Sagehorn
Alison Scalenghe,
Lili Sierra
Elise Sullivan
Shannon Toole
Kathryn Twohill
Tara Werner
Benjamin Yambao