Newark Middle School Choral Club will present “Curtains Young@Part” May 1st at 7 p.m. and May 2nd at 2 p.m.. Read More View Image
“Curtains Young@Part” is a musical murder mystery comedy with a whodunit twist. The year is 1959 and “Robbin’ Hood of the Old West” had an opening night in Boston’s Colonial Theatre end with tragedy when the leading lady collapses at curtain call. Turns out she was murdered. A local theater-loving detective steps in to solve the mystery, salvage the show and finds love to boot.
“Newark High School produced Curtains in 2010 and it remains one of my favorite shows. I knew the group at the middle school was ready for a challenging piece of theatre and I was excited to learn there was a version of the show for younger performers. This show requires our named characters to memorize many more lines than usual. The ensemble is also present more frequently on stage and must react in real time to the drama that enfolds. Our students have worked especially hard on both skills – memorization and being present on stage. I am so excited to have them share their work with audiences this weekend!” said Director/Choreographer and Newark High School English teacher Emily Howard.
Melissa Viscusi, NMS vocal music teacher is the music director for the show. Lincoln School staff member, and musical parent, Gina Landry stepped in to help the crew with set build and painting.
Newark High School Drama Club members have served as mentors and rehearsal assistants. High school mentors include: Alena Black, Madison Chamberlin, Sloane Colling, Reagan DeSain, Anna Eckert, Kylie Gravino, Elizabeth Hamelinck, Brooklynn Hand, Ava Herrington, Bella Humphrey, KaylaJo Kaufman, Gavin Klingman, Rylee Mayo, Alyxandria Newark, Alexandria Pellegrini, Kloie Sergeant, Eliza Wheatley, and Genevieve Witter.
Cast members include: Madelyn Backus, Mackenzie Bartholomew, Adison Bean, John Bickford, Gabriella Bilotti, Jiovanni Brooks, Joann Brown, Payton Bump, Violet Campbell, Colin Chamberlin, Zha’niyah Collins, MacKenzie Contario, Chloe Crawley, Carlee Creighton, Josiah Fagner, Mia Hernandez, Emily Hobart, Laila Isham, Mackenzie Kesecker, Brayden Kleiboer, Theodore Kuperus, Peter Kuperus, Dominic Kuzmenko, Emma Landry, Madalyn Lincoln, Noah Michel, Avery Paro, Sophia Pellegrini, Jayden Raike, Zoey Richwalder, Mia Rivera, Samantha Shulla, Emily Sinack, Sara Springett, Declan Uerz, Gabriella Williams, Annamarie Winkler and Rose Young.
Crew members: Benny Blackall, Raphael Botelho, Justin Brown, Zoe Compton, Evelyn Danforth, Bristol DeVelder, Beth Goodemote, Alexis Grass, Anna Hamelinck, Alexis Hendler, Onika Hill, Zoe Parker, Lucas Parkison, Madelyn Stewart and Henry Wheatley.
Tickets for the musical, that will be presented in the NMS auditorium are $3 and are available at the door.