‘Once Upon A Dream:’ Summer Musical Workshop Performance Planned

On Friday, July 18, at Newtown High School, the talented students of The Summer Musical Theatre Workshop will perform their first cabaret.

As a group they have developed the creative and dynamic concept of the show: a dreamy journey through musical theater past, set in a sleepover setting. Students will perform popular Broadway musical hits including “The Nicest Kids in Town” from Hairspray, “Popular” from Wicked, “Mix Tape” from Avenue Q, and “Sunday” from Sunday in the Park with George, and many others.

Since June 30 the students have been developing their performance skills through improvisation and movement games, vocal techniques, and investigating all of the technical aspects of putting on a production. Along the way they have made new friends who also share their love the theater.

The director of the workshop is John Harned, who is the choral director at Newtown High School and director of the high school’s musical productions. He has been joined by technical director and set designer Erin Thomas, who is set designer and artist-in-residence at the National Technical Institute for the Deaf.

Assisting them are interns Diana Curcuruto and Alex Vetrano, assistant musical director Alex Hennesey, and assistant intern Ryan Calderara.

The performance will be at 7 pm on a transformed version of Newtown High School’s stage. Through an intimate, cabaretlike setting the performers will take the audience on a journey through popular musical culture.

Tickets are available through Newtown Continuing Education (call 426-1787) and will also be sold at the door. Reservations are suggested, however, due to the limited number of seats.