With winter extending into our usual spring, Brewster High School’s sunny musical, The Music Man, warmed the hearts of audiences on March 22, 23 and 24, 2018. The Music Man engaged dozens of high school students in the cast, crew, pit, and production team as well as a few cast members from the younger grades. The Music Man has book, music, and lyrics by Meredith Willson with a story by Mr. Willson and Franklin Lacey.
The show started off strong with the iconic train song, Rock Island sung by the Jimmy Hartigan (Charlie Cowell) and Traveling Salesmen. Some of you may recall how Hugh Jackman and rap artists, T.I. and LL Cool J. gave the song a 21st century twist at the 68th Annual Tony Awards show in 2014, where Jackman cheekily claimed that Meredith Wilson composed the first rap song to hit a broadway stage.
The cast was lead by Megan Campbell (Marian) and RJ Frankenberry (Harold Hill). Megan’s sweet sounding vocals showed her character’s inner vulnerability behind her protective shell. RJ took a slicker approach to the traditional Harold Hill portrayal of the fast-talking shyster. Their voices blended beautifully in their duet Till There Was You.
The Barber Shop Quartet was another musical highlight of the show harmonized by Aaron Lurin, Joe Likens, Gunnar Gabriel andBen Pollak. Their songs included Sincere, Goodnight Ladies, It's You, and Lida Rose. The combination of Lida Rose (Quartet) and Will I Ever Tell You (Marian) was a sweet as the mix of Pickalittle and Goodnight Ladies was humorous.
Comedy reigned thanks to the talents of Maxwell Likens (Marcellus Washburn) and Cecilia Guida (Eulalie McKecknie Shinn). Each demonstrated strong character development with vocals to match. Maxwell worked the crowd, both on and off the stage, with his rendition of Shipoopi while Cecilia commanded her Pickalittle Ladies with an amusing, but still regal, fortitude.
Marian’s younger brother, Winthrop was double cast with Jarrid Bryggman and Roderick Cassidy. Both young gentlemen delivered excellent performances equal to their older cast mates. The energetic Tommy Froessel (Tommy Djilas) employed his impressive dancing skills throughout the production.
No Brewster High School show is complete without a robust chorus, a hard working crew, and an outstanding pit. The sets and costumes complemented the production nicely. All involved are to be commended for an entertaining and engaging show.
Photo Credit: Bob Nash of 4 Son's Photography and Dawn Rossi
Keep in the loop! Click here to sign up Brewster HamletHub's free Nightly Newsletter, like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter and Instagram.
Please see below for the complete list of those involved in the production.
Cast
Harold Hill: RJ Frankenberry
Marcellus Washburn: Max Likens
Marian: Megan Campbell
Mrs. Paroo: Sarah Borsari
Winthrop: Jarrid Bryggman/Roderick Cassidy*
Amaryllis: Brooke Ryan
Mayor Shinn: Andrew DiFabbio
Eulalie McKecknie Shinn: Cecilia Guida
Zaneeta Shinn: Erin Vaughan
Gracie Shinn: Annie Sullivan
Tommy Djilas: Tommy Froessel
Charlie Cowell: Jimmy Hartigan
Conductor: Alonzo McLemore
Constable Locke: Will Banks
School Board/Barbershop Quartet:
Olin Britt: Aaron Lurin
Oliver Hix: Joe Likens
Ewart Dunlop: Gunnar Gabriel
Jacey Squires: Ben Pollak
Pick-A-Little Ladies:
Ethel Toppelmeir: Grace Curley
Maud Dunlop: Skye Connolly
Mrs.Squires: Caitlin Otto
Pick-a-little Ladies: Charlie Fitzpatrick, Izzy Izaguirre, Florence Cuomo
Rock Island Salesmen: Aaron Lurin, Tommy Froessel, Ben Pollak, Liam Payne, Joe Likens
Rock Island Paper Readers: Gunnar Gabriel, Max Likens, Andrew DiFabbio
Farmer: Liam Payne
Farmer’s Wife: Izzy Izaguirre
Wells Fargo Wagon Soloists: Caitlin Otto, Charlie Fitzpatrick, Aaron Lurin, Annie Sullivan, Mili Gonzalez, Grace Stathatos, Ben Pollak, Jenn DeSantis, Fiona McCoppin, Madeline Majette
Wa Tan Ye Girls: Jackie Bechara, Bridget Courtney, Dora DeVenuti, Maeve Healy, Fiona McCoppin, Brooke Ryan, Grace Stathatos, Annie Sullivan
Featured Dancers: Taylor Byrne, Jenn DeSantis, Tommy Froessel, James Hartigan, Maeve Healy, Katie Howell, Angela Hupp, Layla Pagan, Liam Payne, Erin Renzi, Nicole Rivera, Brooke Ryan, Grace Stathatos, Annie Sullivan, Julie Tramontana, Erin Vaughan
River City Youth Band: Marley Beal, Jarrid Bryggman, Jeffrey Bryggman, Ellie Cassidy, Roderick Cassidy, Nico Corrado, Harrison Dakin, Keira Golash Ronald Kubilus, Stevie Nadig, Haley Riolo, Alexandra Schajer, Ava Stano
River City Townspeople: Brianna Barbosa, Jackie Bechara, Rhiana Brennan, Christine Brown, Alexa Byrnes, Skye Connolly, Bridget Courtney, Florence Cuomo, Grace Curley, Jenn DeSantis, Dora DeVenuti, MaryAnn Droesch, Charlie Fitzpatrick, Tommy Froessel, Gunnar Gabriel, Mili Gonzalez, Jimmy Hartigan, Maeve Healy, Katie Howell, Angela Hupp, Izzy Izaguirre, Karen Kimble, Erin Kirkpatrick, Joe Likens, Aaron Lurin, Madeline Majette, Fiona McCoppin, Caitlin Otto, Layla Pagan, Liam Payne, Ben Pollak, Haley Riolo, Nicole Rivera, Brooke Ryan, Chiara Saraceno, Grace Stathatos, Annie Sullivan, Angelica Tapia, Julie Tramontana, Erin Vaughan, Hailley Vieira
*Jarrid Bryggman will perform as Winthrop on Thursday Night & Saturday Night.
Roderick Cassidy will perform as Winthrop on Friday Night & Saturday Matinee.
Student Leaders
Stage Manager: Charlie Fitzpatrick
Assistant Stage Managers: Sierra Cervantes, Alonzo McLemore
Crew Chief: Erin Clark
Assistant Crew Chiefs: Alonzo McLemore, Martina Rossi
Props Master: Patricia DeLanoy
Assistant Props Master: Joy Johnson
Scenic Paint Charge: Julia Giardina
Assistant Scenic Paint Charge: Eddy Monges
Hair/Makeup Charge: Jojo Spatz
Assistant Hair/Makeup Charge: Geena Thomas
Fly Captain: Will Banks
Assistant Fly Captain: Matt Clark
Production Assistants: Erin Kirkpatrick, Sierra Cervantes
Costume Charge: Danielle Castellano
Assistant Costume Charges: Isabella Ayala, Kathryn Salisbury
Dance Captain: Tommy Froessel
Assistant Dance Captains: Angela Hupp, Erin Vaughan
Student Vocal Director: Julie Tramontana
Stage Crew
Booth Headset: Sierra Cervantes
Light Board Operator: Brendan Burns
Sound Board Operators: Aidan Rivadeneira, Josh Lowe
Sound Runner: Mia Gagnon
Sound Mixing: Austin Simmons
Followspot Operators: Ally Giardina, Connor Anderson
Props: Patricia DeLanoy, Arianna Ostojic, Joy Johnson
Costumes: Danielle Castellano, Izzy Ayala, Kathryn Salisbury, Emily Vescio, Siobhan Mulcahy
Hair/Makeup: Jojo Spatz, Geena Thomas, Emily Vescio
Flies: Will Banks, Matt Clark, Alonzo McLemore, Nick Carinha, Victor Farias, Fernando Mora
Stage Right Run Crew: Martina Rossi,Julia Giardina, Joe Castellano, Cameron Hart, Aidan Izaguirre, Kaylie Weiss, Rachael McDonnell, Ryan Denmark
Stage Left Run Crew: Erin Clark, Alonzo McLemore, Fernando Mora, Eddy Monges, Anderson Roll
Set Construction & Painting: Connor Anderson, Isabella Ayala, Will Banks, Brendan Burns, Sydney Burns, Nick Carinha, Danielle Castellano, Joe Castellano, Sierra Cervantes, Erin Clark, Matt Clark, Patricia DeLanoy, Ryan Denmark, Victor Farias, Mia Gagnon, Allesandra Giardina, Julia Giardina, Cameron Hart, Aidan Izaguirre, Joy Johnson, Josh Lowe, Sam Lowe, Rachael McDonnell, Alonzo McLemore, Eddie Monges, Justin Moore, Fernando Mora, Siobhan Mulcahy, Arianna Ostoijic, Julia Paddock, Aidan Rivadeneira, Anderson Roll, Martina Rossi, Kathryn Salisbury, Jojo Spatz, Chloe Stalker, Geena Thomas, Emily Vescio, Kaylie Weiss
Pit
Assistant Music Director/Piano: Joanne F. Archibald
Violin: Robert Baseman
Viola: Barbara Becker
Cello: Beth Howell
Bass: James Raspanti
Flute: Kathleen Olsen
Oboe: Joe Thoensen
Clarinet: Eliza Pattie
Low Woodwinds: Ann Howell
Trumpets: Matt Amodeo, Sarah Comer
Trombone: Jonathon Walch
Baritone Horn: Aimee Rodriguez
Percussion: Peter Arnold, AJ Gallo
Production Staff
Director/Vocal Coaching: Stephanie Rubino
Musical Direction: George Viglucci
Choreographer: Meggan Herod
Lighting & Sound Design: Michael Campbell
Scenic Design & Scenic Carpenter: Tony Kimble
Vocal Direction: Joanne Archibald, Traci Greenberg