The last few weeks of the 2014 school year saw Suffern High School students suffering through the flu. There was coughing, congestion and many other misery related signs and symptoms.
But for a particular group of students, the show must go on. Auditions for the just announced Spring Musical production took place and by all accounts everyone had to bring his or her A game.
After a few spring and fall production missteps over the past year or so, this year’s Spring Musical will be How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, the song and dance story of the rise of J. Pierrepont Finch from window washer to chairman of the board. The recent Broadway revival of the popular show had Daniel Radcliffe of Harry Potter fame in the lead.
The March production will see the pairing of the school district’s key musical talents work together, which prompted much of the student anticipation. Director of Suffern’s highly regarded Band program, Randall Schwartz, will direct How to Succeed, teaming with Dan McCarter, who heads up all things Orchestra. The musical’s production team includes Vocal Director Alison Meyer and cheer leading coach Perry Hammershlag as choreographer. Rich Murray will direct sets and crew.
The spring production team created buzz enough for students auditioning, and by all accounts, most stepped up their game for the occasion. Auditions took place just before the New Year break and students danced and sang through sickness and all sorts of other pressing engagements to audition for the middle row, demonstrating a competitive stage spirit that shows off the level of theater talent at Suffern.
Aside from the performing cast, the production will include a pit crew of student musicians and tech crew of Suffern’s homegrown lighting and sound specialists, under the direction of Dan McCarter. There will also be an array of students participating on the stage crew, plus costuming.
Suffern High School will stage How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying Thursday, March 19 thru Saturday, March 21 at the Suffern High School Auditorium. Rehearsals for the play begin the first week of January.
How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying cast:
