The musical Hairspray, which is about a teenage girl’s mission to end segregation on the popular T.V. segment “The Corny Collins Show” while getting the guy of her dreams, and winning the highly coveted Ms. Teen Hairspray award, was written by Mark O’Donnell and Thomas Meehan. It was nominated for twelve Tony’s in 2003, winning eight, including Best Musical.

Despite having an incredibly large cast, Robinson’s production of Hairspray felt both professional and fresh. Every character was dedicated to the demanding musical numbers like “Run and Tell That” and “You Can’t Stop the Beat,” and the vocals were equally as impressive. Tracy’s character development was completely on point, and her supporting cast members did a great job authenticating the various character relationships and bonds. Even though the story of Hairspray revolves around the racial inequality in 1960s Baltimore, characters like Wilbur, Penny, Edna, and Motormouth Maybelle brought much appreciated humor to their roles, leaving the audience gasping for air!

Although not the strongest vocalist onstage, Hannah Sikora did a fantastic job portraying the larger than life, star-struck Tracy Turnblad! The ease in which she flitted around the stage, shaking what her mama gave her, made it quite clear that she was full heartedly committed to the role, and had put in a lot of rehearsal time. Her love interest, the dashing heart throb Link Larkin (Jamie Green), had a beautiful voice which really showed through in his solo, “It Takes Two,” keeping the girls in the audience swooning. His chemistry with Tracy was completely believable, and there was a real sense of devotion between the two.

The supporting cast was equally impressive, with stunning vocals by Michael Lamar who played Motormouth Maybelle, the mother of Seaweed and Little Inez. After an incredible rendition of “I Know Where I’ve Been,” everyone in the audience stood and clapped thunderously for what felt like a true Broadway performance! Tracy’s parents Edna (Jackson Viccora) and Wilbur (Spencer Boyd) were equally amusing, and did a fantastic job in the funny song “(You’re) Timeless to Me” about growing old together and becoming more self-accepting. The vicious mother-daughter duo, Velma (Rachel Van Meter) and Amber Von Tussle (Carys Meyer), were great vocalists and had incredible facial expressions which conveyed every emotion from disgust towards Tracy and her “negro” friends to superficial sweetness as Amber competes for the Ms. Teen Hairspray award. Both girls did a great job feeding off one another, and ganging up on Tracey and her friends. If it is possible to steal a show, then Penny Pingleton (Katie Rogers), Tracy’s nerdy and awkward friend, did just that! Her timing was great, and the rapid arm flapping she did to curb perspiration was hilarious. Both Penny’s awkward interactions with Seaweed and humorous remarks were endearing and funny to watch!

Several cool lighting techniques were used throughout the show such as the rainbow backdrop and Tracy’s jail cell. The costuming and sets were period appropriate, and the makeup (especially Motormouth’s drag makeup) was very impressive.

Robinson’s production of Hairspray was an incredibly enjoyable performance, with its fair share of professional-quality moments, strong vocals, and convincing characters!

by Halie Beard of Bishop Ireton High School

Photo Gallery

Jamie Green as Link Larkin	Carys Meyer (Amber), Hannah Sikora (Tracy Turnblad), Kolya Rabinowitch (Sketch), Darla Reynolds (Shelley), and Jessica Israel (Lou Ann)
Rachel Van Meter and Carys Meyer as Velma & Amber Von Tussle	Ivonte Milligan as Seaweed J. Stubbs
Michael Lamar as Motormouth Maybelle

Photos by Sarah Irving

Casts of nominated shows and the performers of nominated songs presented musical numbers as well as scenes from the nominated plays. The entire show will be aired on Cox Cable “Red Apple” Channel 21 beginning the week of July 2 and will continue throughout the summer.

Throughout the year, the Cappies program is driven by hundreds of area high school theater student critics who attend each others’ shows, write reviews, and serve as Cappies awards judges.

The Gala ceremony was marked with excitement and encouragement. There was never a sense of competitiveness or negative reactions as any of the Awards were announced.

Westfield High School received ten awards, including Musical for their production of Crazy For You. McLean High School received five awards, including Play, for A View From the Bridge.

Rising Critic

• Julian Sanchez, Westfield High School

Returning Critic

• Madelyn Paquette, McLean High School

Madelyn Paquette also was awarded the first Washington Post Critic Award.

Graduating Critic

• Joseph Biagini, Westfield High School

Critic Team

• McLean High School

Marketing and Publicity

• Kyle Norfleet, Michelle Slivinski, Jenny Rubin, Caitlyn Herron, South Lakes High School, West Side Story

Sound

• Alex Allen, Lydia Carroll, Lindsay Worthington, Walt Whitman High School, Frankenstein

Lighting

• Nikolas Allen, Andrew Elman, Walt Whitman High School, Frankenstein

Stage Crew

• Walt Whitman Stage Crew, Walt Whitman High School, Frankenstein

Sets

• Walt Whitman Set Crew, Walt Whitman High School, Frankenstein

Costumes

• Ana Mendelson, Abby Deatherage, W. T. Woodson HS, Alice in Wonderland

Make-up

• Brianna Weiner, W. T. Woodson HS, Alice in Wonderland

Props

• Rita Fair, Jordyn Stewart, Mount Vernon, Blithe Spirit

Special Effects and or Technology

• Brian Clarkson, Walt Whitman High School, Frankenstein

Orchestra

• “Crazy for You” Pit Orchestra, Westfield High School, Crazy For You

Choreography

• Colby Dezelick, Westfield High School, Crazy For You

Creativity

• Arjun Baxter, Composer, W. T. Woodson HS, Alice in Wonderland

Ensemble in a Play

• The Mechanicals, Robinson Secondary School, Ken Ludwig’s Midsummer/Jersey

Ensemble in a Musical

• Follie Dancers and Cowboys, Westfield High School, Crazy For You

Featured Actress

• Kaity Hinojosa, Langley High School, The Crucible

Featured Actor

• Mitchell Buckley, Westfield High School, Crazy For You

Female Dancer

• Corinne Holland, Westfield High School, Crazy For You

Male Dancer

• Nikko Custodio, South County Secondary School, West Side Story

Female Vocalist

• Ariana Kruszewski, South Lakes High School, West Side Story

Male Vocalist

• Sam Allen, Dominion High School, Pippin

Comic Actress in a Play

• Virginia Coffield, St. Stephen’s & St. Agnes School, Fools

Comic Actor in a Play

• Kamau Mitchell, HB Woodlawn Secondary Program, The Foreigner

Comic Actress in a Musical

• Alexandra Nicopoulos, Fairfax High School, Sweeney Todd

Comic Actor in a Musical

• Ian Peterson, Stone Bridge High School, Anything Goes

Supporting Actress in a Play

• Mia Amado, Woodbridge Senior High School, The Miracle Worker

Supporting Actor in a Play

• John Downey, Chantilly High School, I Remember Mama

Supporting Actress in a Musical

• Michelle Radcliffe, Heritage High School, Legally Blonde the Musical

Supporting Actor in a Musical

• Joseph Biagini, Westfield High School, Crazy For You

Lead Actress in a Play

• Lexie Shoaibi, McLean High School, A View From the Bridge

Lead Actor in a Play

• Damian Leverett, McLean High School, A View From the Bridge

Lead Actress in a Musical

• Sean Pugerude, Paul VI Catholic High School, Hello, Dolly!

Lead Actor in a Musical

• Colby Dezelick, Westfield High School, Crazy For You

Song

• Brotherhood of Man, James Madison High School, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying

Play

• McLean High School, A View From the Bridge

Musical

• Westfield High School, Crazy For You

Celebrated playwright Ken Ludwig, wrote Midsummer/Jersey and was able to work personally with the student cast to perfect his play. This mash-up of Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Jersey Shore gives a timely, hilarious, easy to understand version of the Shakespearian romantic comedy.

In the play, the two love-struck couples become lost in the wooded beach. The fairies that inhabit the wood decide to have fun with the lovers and confuse their affections. Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream explored by New Jersey teens provided for many pop culture references, jokes and songs well-known and loved by adolescents everywhere.

Mia or “Cookie” DiCarlo (Gabby Rojtman), the counterpart of the Shakespearian Hermia, gave her part sass and sparkle with a simple flip of her poofed hair. Her leopard print dress, small stature, and stiletto shoes added to her serious Jersey attitude and charisma. Lyle or “The Understatement” Fagioli (Ethan Malamud), the Shakespearian Lysander, barely held back in showing his adoration for his forbidden love, Mia. His well-timed, “Family Guy” poetry kept Mia flabbergasted in his “romantic wisdom.” Helene (Emily Rowson) and Denis (Kolya Rabinowitch), the second floundering couple, provided a stark contrast to the love-struck interactions between Rojtman and Malamud. Mia’s slight stature and Helene’s towering height gave their cat-fight a comic flair.

From his rip-stick entrance to his dancing exit, Puck (Adam Bradley), Oberon the Fairy King’s right-hand fairy, kept the audience in stitches. With his boyish charm and love-meddling antics, he showed the audience what a true Jersey Shore fairy was. The Hairdressing Mechanicals, inspired delight in the audience each time they rehearsed their rendition of Romeo and Juliet for the Governor’s wedding. Nikki Bottom (Carys Meyer), the strong-willed hair stylist from the Mechanicals’ ensemble, provoked shrieks of laughter from the audience every time she uttered a word. Her performance was exceptionally egotistical, yet immensely endearing.

The sets, lighting, sounds and costumes were brilliantly intertwined showing remarkable timing in their cues. The elevated boardwalk set provided depth and interest to the choreography. Even the vibrantly colored lighting changed as the emotions on stage shifted. Actors beneath the tall boardwalk set playing instruments and sound effects added to the creativity of the production. The tattooed winged fairies, captured the modern, edgy, Jersey aspect while offering a beautifully magical presence.

Robinson Secondary School’s world premiere of Ken Ludwig’s Midsummer/Jersey is a fresh take on two completely different shows in a contemporary, yet charming production. This production captured the beauty and timelessness of Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream in an easy to understand Jersey Shore setting that will stick to your mind and heart for a long time to come.

by Danika Saxon of Teens and Theatre Homeschool program

Photo Gallery

Gabby Rojtman and Ethan Malamud	Dan Barr
Sarah Irving	(front) Jackson Viccora, Hannah Sikora, Gabby Rojtman, Emily Rowson; (back) TJ Albertson, Aubrey Benham, Hillary Hollaway
Carys Meyer and Sarah Irving	Sarah Marksteiner, Brandy Skaddan, Molly Johnson, Mary Turgeon, Jamie Green, and Carys Meyer
Carys Meyer and Sarah Marksteiner

Photos by Frank Ruth

Madge Owens (Christy Fischer) has a beauty that attracts many men to her front door. Her uniquely moody sister, Millie (Hannah Bunting) is boyish and quite the opposite of her sister. Madge’s boyfriend, Alan Seymour (Jason Rath), is the perfect compliment for Madge. The girls’ mother, Flo Owens (Caitlin Viccora) worries about the fate of her two very different daughters. One hot summer day, the rough and tough Hal Carter (Kyle Lynch) comes to visit Alan, looking for a job, and he soon becomes the center of attention for the ladies.

Christy Fischer as Madge Owens flittered about the stage in new dresses and held the confidence of her character with much dedication. Hannah Bunting was able to characterize the introverted nature of her character with an extra kick in her step. From her behavior as a timid misfit, to her emotional reveal of affection toward Alan, Bunting’s interpretation of the divergent sister proved very believable.

Mrs. Potts — the adorable neighbor with a bubbly personality and love of baking cakes — was welcomed to the stage with various laughs. Hannah Sikora as Mrs. Potts, kindled a very cheery voice throughout the show that added to her bouncy walk, dramatic gestures and animated expressions. Her comedic looks at the audience and loving stares at the beautiful Hal Carter continually kept the audience laughing.

Fabiolla Brennecke’s characterization of Rosemary Sidney was consistent and thoughtful. Her articulate voice carried a strong accent that maintained its authenticity. Kyle Lynch also nurtured a heavy accent that suited his character Hal Carter. His calm, yet masculine nature guided him across the stage with as much conviction as the black boots he wore.

On the stage stood the massive construction of a two-story house with a quaint porch. The lighting delicately displayed the sun and its movement throughout the day, which marked the start of each of the three acts.

While some of the faces were occasionally blocked by the set, and the lighting was sometimes a bit too dim, the Robinson cast brought Summer Brave to life with colorful, vibrant energy. The cast reminded everyone that a person’s perfect match cannot be pre-determined by appearances or social expectations and that when it comes to seeking your ideal mate, “it can be a disadvantage to be in love.”

by Caroline Burr of Flint Hill School

Photo Gallery

Kyle Lynch (Hal) and Jason Rath (Alan)	Hannah Bunting (Millie) and Catilin Viccora (Flo)

Photos by Robinson Secondary School.

Madame Dubonnet’s finishing school in France is home to many wealthy girls who adore a typically ‘girly’ life. They idolize over their boyfriends and portray themselves as “Perfect Young Ladies.” Polly Browne (Corrie McNulty) is a rich young lady, with a millionaire father, who worries about a boyfriend only seeking her money. Her friends Maisie (Erica Heer), Dulcie (Micah Chelen), Nancy (Hanna Parsons) and Fay (Monica Bonilla) obsess over Polly’s secretive, make-believe, love affair and partake in ironically flimsy relationships of their own. Polly finally meets Tony (Ben Johnson) and they become an inseparable couple. Identities are revealed and complications arise. The musical’s light humor and frilly dressings of the roaring 1920s, lay the perfect setting for this comical pastiche on the time period’s musicals.

Fabiolla Brennecke as Hortense, the maid, maintained an entertainingly dramatic French accent throughout the show. She was consistent with her accent in her songs and characterized the flirtatious disposition of a clichéd French maid, in the best ways possible. Her bouncy hair and contagious giggle helped dramatize Brennecke’s character. Johnson’s portrayal of Tony was undeniably charming. His adorably awkward interactions with Polly made the perfect combination. McNulty was a pleasant Polly, her timid demeanor and understanding of her role was displayed well.

Madison Auch was an extremely convincing Madame Dubonnet. Her graceful hand movements and delicate walk all characterized an ideally sophisticated French lady. The carefully articulated accent remained wonderfully constant and she even rendered a promising performance of “Poor Little Pierrette.” When she walked on stage with her playful stroll and began teasing Percival Browne with her enticing “You Don’t Want to Play with Me Blues,” she displayed her undying high-energy and confidence. Heer’s intense youthfulness clearly illustrated the character of Maisie which was then portrayed in the cheeky piece “Safety In Numbers.” Heer was able to dance a quick Charleston with her partner; her speedy feet and acrobatic abilities were very impressive and continued to surprise the audience.

The costumes were all made by students. The bathing suits and uniforms all harmonized perfectly and allowed for consistency among the girls and their boyfriends’ matching colors. To highlight the key elements of the show, Paul Mayo, Sean Baird and Cody Clarke presented a wide variety of colored lighting that flashed around the stage adding new texture to the bubbling energy of the cast. The use of the set was well executed, as the cast was able to use all parts of the stage for their musical numbers, even behind the set’s windows! The skillful Robinson Orchestra warmed the atmosphere with their energetic range of pieces.

Despite some pitchy spots and awkward staging, the enthusiasm presented by the cast was admirable considering the intensity of this production. With the giggling environment and upbeat characters reminiscent of young love, Robinson’s The Boy Friend helps remind everyone that “It’s Never Too Late To Fall In Love.”

Caroline Burr of Flint Hill School.

Photo Gallery

Erica Heer and Alex Alferov	Ben Johnson and Corrie McNulty
Fabiolla Brennecke, Madison Auch, and Julian Rosen

Photos by Frank Ruth.

Fiddler on the Roof is based on the tale Tevye and His Daughters, by Sholom Aleichem. The musical version started on Broadway in 1964, where it was controversial but very successful. The show won nine Tony awards and was seen in the last four decades in the form of several Broadway revivals.

One of the grounding features of this production was the energy constantly coming from the Ensemble. All of the actors moved fluently together, with facial expressions and emotional reactions perfectly attuned to the action of the play. They drew the audience right into the action on stage.

In Anatevka, a poor farmer named Tevye lives with his wife and five children. But when his three eldest daughters wish to marry men other than the ones that the matchmaker and Tevye have approved for them, traditions are broken — or maybe just changed with the times.

Eric Fischer gave an exceptional performance as Tevye. He sang and acted with skill, but also with a deeper understanding and appreciation for the lives of the Jewish people in 1905. Madison Auch, Micah Chelen and Erika Heer complemented each other nicely on stage, serenading the audience during “Matchmaker.”

Sarah Russell left a memorable impression as Yente and provided comic relief throughout the show. Joshua Berrent as Lazar Wolf also gave a strong performance with his contagious enthusiasm during “To Life” and his cold disappointment in the wedding scene.

Technical aspects greatly enhanced the production with a remarkably realistic set, time-period appropriate costumes, and a fast and efficient stage crew. The well-tuned orchestra was a bit loud at times, but this did not detract from the actors performances and all of the music was upbeat and in-tune. Aside from a few abrupt lighting changes the effects were skillfully done.

Robinson Secondary’s Fiddler on the Roof went above and beyond expectations, with live chickens, improvisational fiddling from Jose Justiniano and utilization of the entire auditorium space. The success of this show is best summarized by the audience members themselves. They gave it a standing ovation when the final curtain was drawn.

Fiddler on the Roof will also be performed this weekend, May 8th and 9th at 7:30PM. Don’t miss it.

by Leah Samuelson of Annandale High School

The Musical Comedy Murders of 1940 premiered on Broadway in 1987. The play revolves around a classic who-dun-it murder with a farcical twist. A group of theater people auditioning for an upcoming show realize that the Stage Door Slasher, an elusive murderer of chorus girls, happens to reside amongst them. The plot journeys through a hilarious overload of twists and turns resolved by final unmasking of the Stage Door Slasher.

Comedian turned actor Eddie McCuen (Joshua Berrent) encased his corny jokes with a lovable flair. He added over-the-top animation and total commitment to his character, energetically leaping over chairs and under pianos. By act II, Berrent developed his character skillfully into a dynamic hero.

Pianist Roger Hopewell (Michael Criste) became the show-stopper of the evening. Criste’s flamboyant air, complete with his side-tipped beret and lingering cigarette smoke, along with his spastic temper tantrums captivated the majority of laughs. Hostess for the evening Elsa Von Grossenkneuten (Mariah Proctor) exemplified eager tenacity with a variety of voice inflections. Speaking one minute with a composed manner, and the next with squealing hysteria. Impostor Helsa “Dieter” Wenzel (Philip Canniff) portrayed his cross-gendered character with side-splitting stage presence, decked out with high heels, nylons, and a wig.

Although there were some pacing and projection problems early in the show by the second act, the high-octane jokes and physical gimmicks left the audience in stitches. Notably, the “dead” performers did not break concentration or character, a difficult feat considering the uproarious reactions from the audience.

Although there was some persistent microphone feedback, it did not take away from an otherwise seamless production. The set was to die for, literally. The attention to detail left no nook unembellished, such as the windows painted to convey a frosty winter blizzard. The massive, swinging bookcases/secret passageways were adeptly constructed by the set crew, and maneuvered by the timely and inconspicuous stage crew.

Overall, Robinson Secondary rose well above par to deliver a killer rendition of The Musical Comedy Murders of 1940”

by Janice Van of South County