The Harvey School’s Walker Center for the Arts was alive with a little bit of Americana from the Middle School’s spring production of Meredith Wilson’s The Music Man Jr. this past week. The original Broadway show, Wilson’s musical theater salute to his native Iowa, debuted in December, 1957 and went on to win six Tony Awards, including Best Musical.
Directed by theatre teacher, Marcus D. Gregio, the Harvey Middle School production showcased the extraordinary talents of students and staff alike. The audience was wowed by the quality of the singing and dancing of the middle school cast. Also doing outstanding jobs were students Sophia Nahon who assisted Mr. Gregio with his lighting design as board operator and the stage managers, Lily Alexander and Zachary Gault.
The choreography was directed by Harvey health teacher Melanie Gambino who also directs the school’s dance company. Harvey’s music teachers Andrew Tyson and Christin Cooper shared the duties of directing the show’s memorable musical numbers. Science teacher Marcie Hajem coordinated and designed the costumes while Mr. Gregio and Performing Arts Chair Vincent Alexander designed the set. Mr. Alexander, who constructed the set, was assisted by two artists and friends of Harvey, Brittany Merola whose scenic design enhanced the stage spectacle, and Coulter Young, who contributed the design of the Wells Fargo coach and other components of the set. This was the first production performed fully in the round since the construction of the new Arts Center.
The members of the cast who contributed to the great success of the show are listed here alphabetically: Courtney Alexander, Joseph Bakas, Madeline Blinderman, Alexander Breitenbach, Emily Carillo, Andrew DeRose, Macy Drude, Samantha Feuerstein, Danielle Glade, Tillie Glucksman, JoJo Greenwood, Kylene Groff, Andrew Lebowitz, Jake Lewis, Zoe Lewis, John Madigan, Elizabeth Mahony, Sarah Manners, Maya Mehrara, Ashley McKenzie, Jared Peraglia, Sidney Piekarski, Elisabeth Reid, Chloe Savitch, Sophia Scarsella, Courtney Warren, Michael Wilson, John Wise, and Kiersten Wittmann.
The spring production of Music Man concludes an outstanding run of The Harvey School's theatrical performances in the Lasdon Theater this academic year.
