22
|
bulletin
THE GUNNERY
The Gunnery Drama Society Presents Shrek: The Musical
A
lthough the winter musical productions are always free to the public, The Gunnery has seldom had to turn away enthusiastic theatergoers for lack of standing room. Shrek: The Musical was such a show. It built a reputation on campus and in surrounding towns during the weeks of rehearsals as a fun show with an enthusiastic cast. The resultant crowds of students, faculty and faculty children, and townspeople enjoyed a rollicking evening with some spot-on comedic timing, fun and funny characterization, a 21st century set, some wild costumes, and an appealing story. The Broadway production of Shrek: The Musical was based on the Dreamworks film for Disney Productions released in 2001. The musical, with music by Jeanine Tesori and book and lyrics by David Lindsay – Abaire, ran on Broadway from 2008-2010. It was based on a 1990 book written by William Steigs. The Gunnery’s production was directed by Elizabeth Dayton ’08, produced by Sarah Albright, with music direction from Oksana Protenic. Al Chiapetta was the Technical Director and Set Designer, and Terry Hawley was in charge of costumes and props. Zoë Cameron ’16 was the Stage Manager and Lexi Nanavaty ’17 and Brendon Vejseli ’17 were the choreographers. The stage crew, some of whom were also extras in the show, included Sean Dowd ’16, Marcus GuerreroGomez ’18, Ross O’Connor ’18, Sean Tronsen ’18, Connor Lemieux ’17, and Tim Tscheppe ’19. The play’s poster was designed by Jingqiong (Miranda) Yang ’17 and was photographed at the railroad tunnel in Steep Rock. Director Elizabeth Dayton said of her cast, “This group of students I had the honor to direct is incredibly supportive of one another, and the students truly embrace the show’s mantra, ’What makes us special makes us strong.’” Many members of the cast were already seasoned Gunnery performers, some with Halo nominations under their belts. These included: Gabby Lescadre ’17 (Fiona with a Broadway voice), Tim Cervera ’17 (Thelonius), Eva Jones ’17 (the Dragon), Brendon Vejseli ’17 (Pinocchio), Lexi Nanavaty ’16 (student director/Queen Lillian/Wicked Witch), Jamie Lamy ’16 (Fairy Godmother), Max Italiaander ’17 (King Harold/Knight/Farquaad’s dad), Three Pigs (Sam Joslin ’16, Jack Kolpack ’16, and Harrison Howell ’16) and, of course, Ollie Williams ’17, the inimitable Shrek. This year Ollie Williams and Lexi Nanavaty were accepted into Russell Sage’s Theater Honors Program. Lena Mak ’16, a senior in her first Gunnery show, said, “I hope to be one of the best Mama Bears EPAC has ever seen.”
(L to R) Sabryna Coppola ’18, Sean Tronsen ’18, Katie Nemergut ’19, Eva Jones ’17, Brendon Vejseli ’17, Ollie Williams ’17, Sean Douglas ’19
(L to R) Tim Cervera ’17, Sabryna Coppola ’18, Christian Kummer ’18
Some of the best contributions came from freshmen and sophomores, new or nearly new to the Gunnery stage and insuring future Gunnery successes: Sabryna Coppola ’18 (Gingy), Lucas Gosman ’18 (Mad Hatter/Knight), Sean Douglas ’19 (Papa Ogre/Big Bad Wolf/Knight), Clare Costello ’18 (Mama Ogre/Peter Pan), Katie Nemergut ’19 (Ugly Duckling/Teen Fiona), Christian Kummer ’18 (the hilarious Lord Farquaad), and Sam Johnson ’19 (Donkey), whose impeccable timing kept the audience in stitches. Two of Gunnery’s faculty children played significant roles: Luke Martin, a 6th grader at Washington Montessori, played the little Shrek, and Mary Carew-Miller, a 7th grader at Shepaug Valley, played young Fiona. Mary had played Fiona and Little Red Riding Hood in other Shrek productions.