‘Anything Goes’ comes to Shelton High School stage

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