M-P students go back to the '80s for musical
Published on Thu, Apr 23, 2009 by Beckye RandallRead More Arts & Entertainment
The cast of Marysville-Pilchuck High School's production of "The Wedding Singer" is ready to rock 'n roll. The show opens April 23 and runs Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights at 7:30 p.m. through May 2 at the M-PHS Auditorium.
Senior Nick Poling embodies the musical's title character, Robbie Hart, who is "New Jersey's favorite wedding singer." Robbie is the life of everyone's party until his own fiancée leaves him at the altar. Broken-hearted and miserable, he makes every wedding he plays as disastrous as his own.
A young waitress named Julia, played by Malia Zurcher, befriends Robbie, but she's engaged to a ruthless Wall Street type. Robbie has to convince her to take a chance on him by giving the performance of a lifetime.
"We've been rehearsing for three months," Nick said, "and it's been a blast. I really enjoy musicals, and in this one, I get to act, sing, dance and play guitar." This is the sixth high school show for Nick, who was last seen as the butler in "Clue."
Malia is also a senior this year, and has enjoyed doing theater at M-PHS. She took on the role of Cinderella in last spring's "Into the Woods" and was Miss Scarlet in "Clue" earlier this school year.
"This show's getting better everyday," Malia observed. "Getting our costumes and all the last minute details in place will make it even more amazing."
Supporting actors Shane Hoffmann as Sammy and Elyse Osterhaug as Holly are also veterans of the M-PHS stage, adding strong performances as the leads' best friends.
The show features 30 singers and dancers, and a recent rehearsal demonstrated the cast's infectious enthusiasm and energy. Choreographer Molly Jordan of Stanza Performing Arts has devised some interesting staging that showcases the students' dance strengths.
Nick and Malia both plan to continue their theatrical experiences beyond high school. Malia hopes to attend Whitworth College or UW next year, majoring in English with a minor in drama. Nick hasn't finalized any college plans yet, but he's sure that he wants to pursue acting as a career.
"The Wedding Singer," based on an Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore movie, played on Broadway for a few years and regional productions of the musical have since dotted the landscape. The nostalgic musical pays tribute to the pop songs of the 1980s, "when hair was big, greed was good, collars were turned up, and a wedding singer just might be the coolest guy in the room."
Tickets for the show are available at the door.
Senior Nick Poling embodies the musical's title character, Robbie Hart, who is "New Jersey's favorite wedding singer." Robbie is the life of everyone's party until his own fiancée leaves him at the altar. Broken-hearted and miserable, he makes every wedding he plays as disastrous as his own.
A young waitress named Julia, played by Malia Zurcher, befriends Robbie, but she's engaged to a ruthless Wall Street type. Robbie has to convince her to take a chance on him by giving the performance of a lifetime.
"We've been rehearsing for three months," Nick said, "and it's been a blast. I really enjoy musicals, and in this one, I get to act, sing, dance and play guitar." This is the sixth high school show for Nick, who was last seen as the butler in "Clue."
Malia is also a senior this year, and has enjoyed doing theater at M-PHS. She took on the role of Cinderella in last spring's "Into the Woods" and was Miss Scarlet in "Clue" earlier this school year.
"This show's getting better everyday," Malia observed. "Getting our costumes and all the last minute details in place will make it even more amazing."
Supporting actors Shane Hoffmann as Sammy and Elyse Osterhaug as Holly are also veterans of the M-PHS stage, adding strong performances as the leads' best friends.
The show features 30 singers and dancers, and a recent rehearsal demonstrated the cast's infectious enthusiasm and energy. Choreographer Molly Jordan of Stanza Performing Arts has devised some interesting staging that showcases the students' dance strengths.
Nick and Malia both plan to continue their theatrical experiences beyond high school. Malia hopes to attend Whitworth College or UW next year, majoring in English with a minor in drama. Nick hasn't finalized any college plans yet, but he's sure that he wants to pursue acting as a career.
"The Wedding Singer," based on an Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore movie, played on Broadway for a few years and regional productions of the musical have since dotted the landscape. The nostalgic musical pays tribute to the pop songs of the 1980s, "when hair was big, greed was good, collars were turned up, and a wedding singer just might be the coolest guy in the room."
Tickets for the show are available at the door.