Purchase this image
He’s coming to town – and coming in on the railroad.
Harold Hill and the characters of “The Music Man” will take to the Whitehall Central Junior/Senior High School auditorium this Friday and Saturday for the annual Drama Club musical production.
“I am very excited for what the cast is going to present,” said Drama Club advisor Chris Palmer, who is directing the musical along with help from music teacher Marc Pratt and Francis “Fra” Putorti and Sondra Smith.
“It’s nice to know that the students are excited and I am very proud of them,” said Palmer. “I look forward to seeing everyone in the audience.”
“I think that the kids are going to put on a really good show,” said Smith. “They have put in a lot of time and hard work.”
“We are trying to put on a good show for everyone and hopefully, people like it,” said senior Hope Gordon, who plays Marian Paroo in her third musical production. She said of her character, “She is a 26-year old librarian who has never had a boyfriend and lives with her mom, waiting for her ‘white knight.’”
Cue Harold Hill. In this case, Evan Lavin.
“He’s a fast-talking salesman that comes to swindle from the town but ends up falling in love,” said Lavin, who is in his third drama club musical. “It’s just fun to do and be part of the whole thing.”
Other characters to the story include Mayor Shinn, played by Travis Gonyea.
“He has a wife and a daughter who is running around with a kid from the wrong side of the town,” said Gonyea about his character. “For me, doing the musicals is just a lot of fun because you’re with everybody and you get to be someone that you’re usually not.”
Shinn’s daughter, Zaneeta, is played by Shelby Cuomo.
“She goes behind her parents’ back and dates a boy from the other side of town,” said Cuomo, who is in her fourth musical. “I love doing this because of all the new friends that you make and all the time we spend together.”
Shinn’s “bad boy”-friend, Tommy Djilas, is played by Troy Rollins.
“I had a great time last year and this is so much fun,” said Rollins, who is in his second production. “I am playing the kid who dates the mayor’s daughter. I’m basically a teenage hoodlum that helps Harold Hill sell his products.”
Allie Putorti plays the part of Marian Paroo’s mother in her fourth musical.
“All of the fun that we have backstage keeps me coming back,” said Putorti. “I’m used to the performing now, too. It’s just fun times.”
Dawn Dumas plays the part of Mayor Shinn’s wife in her third production.
“I like to come out for the experience and being close to everybody,” said Dumas. “It’s like a little drama family.”
Dana McLaughlin, in his fifth Drama Club production, plays Harold Hills’ lackey, Marcelus Washburn.
“It’s just fun to do,” said McLuaghlin. “I love the excitement of pulling it together in the end.”
“The Music Man” will be performed at 7 p.m. on Friday, April 3 and Saturday, April 4, with a 1 p.m. performance on Saturday. All performances will be in the school’s auditorium, with tickets selling for $8 per person.
For more information, contact the school at 499-1770.
Comments
Read more in this week's Times in newsstands now or click here to read right now with our e-edition.
