Newtown Spring Musical, ‘Man Of La Mancha,’ Phenomenal

By Tanjua Damon

The Newtown High School Drama Club’s spring musical, Man of La Mancha, can be described in one word: phenomenal. The young actors did a fabulous job portraying two story lines during the two and a half-hour performance.

The musical, under direction of Ann McNulty Ferraro, showed the talent that filters from Newtown High School students who participate on stage and behind the scenes of the production.

Man of La Mancha takes place in the 1500s. Miguel de Cervantes, played by Grant Skinner, is placed in prison for an offense against the church. As he waits for his trial by the Spanish Inquisition, he and his servant Sancho, played by Pat Curran, take the prisoners to an imaginary world defending himself in another trial by his fellow prisoners.

During his entertaining defense before the other prisoners, Grant becomes Don Quixote, using the other prisoners as characters in the play. The plot provides a story of battling evil and doing what is right.

Grant Skinner is an amazing singer who left audience members in awe as he sang throughout the performance. He had no trouble leading the cast in an awesome performance.

Pat Curran brought humor and comic relief to an adult plot. Laughter could be heard from the audience many times as Sancho helped his master through the imaginary plot that intertwined all the cast members through a complex story.

Erin Zaruba plays Aldonza, a woman who does not have much self esteem and believes it is acceptable for men to treat her badly, until she meets Don Quixote and realizes she is worth something and only she can make that happen. Erin portrayed scenes with complexity. She did a marvelous job singing during the performance.

All the cast members did a fabulous job of keeping the audience focused and entertained with the story lines. Travis Finlayson played the Governor of the prison and the Innkeeper in the imaginary plot of the musical. He did a great job giving both characters different personalities, taking the audience from one plot to the other.

Scott Jackson (Duke/Dr Carasco/Knight of Mirrors) did a great job portraying three different characters, giving them all different personalities and voices throughout the play.

Mike Sobo as Padre did a wonderful job acting and singing, as did Deirdre Dougherty as Antonia and Lindsay Kaye as the Housekeeper.

Hats off to the rest of the cast who did an awesome job throughout Man of La Mancha, including Jeff Corbeil as Captain of the Inquisition; Muleteers: Alex Kromidas – Jose, Steve Tomasiewicz – Anselmo, Chris Lyddy – Pedro, Todd Winner – Tenorio, Evan Graves – Paco; Brandon Kirch – Juan, Justin Yllanes – Julio, Andrew Beck – Andres; Sheila O’Connor as Maria; Beth English as Fermina; Brett Boles as the Barber; Moorish Dancers: Christine Shannon, Lauren Harmata, Julia Lysaght; Horses: Cannon Jones, Leslie Greenfield; Ensemble of Soldiers, Prisoners, Prison Guards and Gypsies: Kendra Barrow, Michelle Black, Josh Ellen, Chris Fendt, Beth Leety, Jarrod Lively, Abby McLoughlin, Chris Miller, Christie Polchowski, Kristen Ryan, Adam Summerer, Amanda Tredger, and Tyler Wood.

Many people took part in the production of the musical; their hard work and behind the scenes efforts can not go unnoticed. The Production Staff included: Director – Ann McNulty Ferraro; Producer – Cherie Swetts; Set Designer – Andrew Knapp; Orchestra Director – James Dumas; Choreographer – Jennifer Turey, Edgard Gallardo; Pianist – Leigh Ellen Lively; Technical Director – Erin Thomas; Assistant Technical Director – Donald Rowe; Stage Manager – Kaitlin Dunseith; Assistant to Director – Chris Fendt; Assistant Stage Manager – Lauri Manion; Construction Managers – Jeremy Barczak, Dan Amodeo; Prop Masters – Lauren Parrish, Jen Dunseith; Lighting Manager – Donald Rowe; Assistant Lighting Manager – Dan Henry, Brian Rowe; Sound Coordinator – Kate Donahue; Sound Manager – Paul Kastner; House Coordinators – Daniel Cruson, Aaron Russo; Scenic Artists – Mary Kate Addyman, Pamela Lynn Henry; Assistant Scenic Artist – Kate Mayer; Publicity Manager – Nicole LaRoche; Playbill Manager – Daniel Cruson; Costume Coordinator – Katie DiPerrio; Makeup Mistress – Jackie Alpert; Makeup Managers – Alicia Barry, Kilen Barry; and Advertising Coordinators – Nicole LaRoche, Daniel Cruson, and Kristen Coates.

The stage and props would not be possible without the people who prefer to work on the pre-show than be on center stage when the curtains rise. Crew members included: Prop Crew – Lauren Parrish, Lauri Manion, Kristen Coates; Lighting Crew – John Polchowski, Josh Tamarkin, Austin McChord; Sound Crew – James Kaechele; Construction Crew – Sarah Kaechele, James Kaechele, Austin McChord, Josh Tamarkin, Ed Wolf, John Gill, Adam Berlinger, Dan Henry, Brian Rowe, Mary Kate Addyman, Pamela Lynn Henry, Katie Mayer, Kate Donahue, Paul Kastner, Sasha Mastrocinque, Chris Timmel, Christina Bennett, Erin Dennen, John Polchowski, Katie Fuller; Publicity Crew – Pat Curran; Costumes Crew – Christie Polchowski, Michelle Grimaldi, Michelle Black, Kristen Coates, Megan Riley, Robin DiPerrio, Jen Badillo, Amy Doyle, Katie Fuller; Makeup Crew – Laura Amodeo, Margaret Donahue, Kasia Orzechowski; Painting Crew – Katie Mackay, Sasha Mastrocinque, Chris Timmel, Christina Bennett, Erin Dennen, Kristen Coates, Katie Fuller; House Crew – Thomas Swetts, Nicole LaRoche, Amy Doyle, Jen Badillo, Pamela Lynn Henry, May Kate Addyman, Katie Mackay, Chris Timmel; and Backstage Crew – Dan Amodeo, Jeremy Barczak, and Mike Deluca.

Pit Orchestra members included: Flute – Larisa Zaleta, Katie Sullivan, Bonnie Robinson, Sarah Letson, Liz Upshur; Oboe – Rachel Romanelli; Clarinet – Geoff DeBeneditto, Nadine Krause; Baritone Sax – Laurence Dworkin; Trumpet – Christina Bennett, Patrick Dalton; French Horn – Lauren Carbonell, Rebekah Foote; Guitar – Cuyler Bryant, Devin Glass; Bass – Rob Krosky, James Marron; Percussion – Tim Cardoso, Daviel DosSantos, Aly Themel; Trombone – Brendon Harris, Andrew Portnoy, Christ Espy; and Piano – Leigh Ellen Lively.