High schools across the Historic Triangle are acting, singing and dancing their way through rehearsals for upcoming spring musicals. Find a rundown here of all the local shows, including dates and brief background on each production.
While older students are waiting for the curtain to open, a group of first-grade students put on a production for friends and family, and two York County students will have their work displayed by the division.
High Schools Present Spring Musicals
Williamsburg Christian Academy presents “Annie”
Follow the adventures of a curly-topped orphan and a dynamic cast of characters this weekend at Williamsburg Christian Academy.
Based on the comic strip “Little Orphan Annie,” the Broadway musical “Annie” originally opened in 1977. It has since been brought to the big screen twice, featuring such stars as Carol Burnett, Bernadette Peters, Ann Reinking, Kathy Bates, Audra McDonald and Kristin Chenoweth.
With well-known tunes “Tomorrow” and “Hard Knock Life,” WCA’s production opens at 7 p.m. Friday. Shows continue at 2 and 8 p.m. Saturday, with admission $12 for adults and $10 for children ages 12 and younger. Tickets can be reserved by emailing [email protected] or by calling 220-1978.
Jamestown High School presents “Sweet Charity”
Originally directed by Bob Fosse, “Sweet Charity” debuted on Broadway in 1966. Three years later, it was made into a movie starring Shirley MacLaine. Including the song “Big Spender,” the musical follows dancer Charity Hope Valentine.
About 60 Jamestown High School students will tackle the Neil Simon book this weekend. Shows are 7 p.m. Thursday and Friday, and at 2 and 7 p.m. Saturday.
Tickets are $8 for students and $10 for adults, with a flat rate for the matinee at $7. Call 259-3644 to reserve seats.
Hampton Roads Academy presents “Cabaret”
Come hear the music play at the second weekend of “Cabaret.” The Kander and Ebb musical details turbulent life in 1930s Berlin, centered on the seedy Kit Kat Klub and its singer Sally Bowles.
Later made into a 1972 film with Liza Minelli, the original musical opened in 1966 and won eight Tony Awards.
Watch HRA students take on mature roles at 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday night and 2 p.m. Sunday. Tickets are available at the door.
Lafayette High School presents “Singin’ in the Rain”
Adapted from the 1952 movie starring Gene Kelly, the stage version of “Singin’ in the Rain” shows silent film stars adapting to the innovation of sound on the silver screen.
With comedy, romance and dancing through precipitation, the show opens March 20 at Lafayette High School. Performances are at 7 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday, with an additional 2 p.m. matinee on Saturday.
Tickets are $10 each. Call 565-0373 to reserve a seat.
Tabb High School presents “Little Shop of Horrors”
A strange and interesting plant arrives to change the lives of the downtrodden residents of Skid Row. While the plant helps clumsy protagonist Seymour Krelborn win his love, Audrey, it starts to create big issues with its choice of diet.
“Little Shop of Horrors” was written by Alan Menken – of Disney fame – and Howard Ashman, and contains both comedy and horror set to rock and doo-wop music.
Tabb High’s production runs at 7:30 p.m. March 20 through 22. Tickets are $6, $8 or $10 depending on seat location, and are available at the door or by calling 876-5360.
Walsingham Academy presents “The Music Man”
March in the seats to the music of 76 trombones, when the classic musical opens at Walsingham Academy. In the show, conman Harold Hill turns a small Iowa town upside down with the promise of a boys’ band, and love sprouts between him and skeptical librarian Marian Paroo.
The 1962 film adaptation starred Robert Preston and Shirley Jones.
See “The Music Man” at 7:30 p.m. on March 21, or at 2 and 7:30 p.m. on March 22. Tickets are $8 for students and $10 for adults.
Warhill High School presents “Thoroughly Modern Millie”
Enter the era of bobbed haircuts, flapper fringe and prohibition. “Thoroughly Modern Millie” follows small-town girl Millie Dilmount as she takes on the big city in a quest to become a modern woman. She gets sidetracked by romance though, as well as an elaborate kidnapping plot.
A comedy pastiche with lots of lively music and dance, “Thoroughly Modern Millie” opened on Broadway in 2002 and took home six Tony Awards.
Tickets are $10 at the door for shows at 7 p.m. on March 27 through March 29. There will be a matinee at 2 p.m. on March 29 as well.
Bruton High School presents “The Sound of Music”
The classic Rodgers and Hammerstein musical comes to life, produced by Bruton High’s fine arts department. Students will be running all technical elements for the show, which includes the songs “My Favorite Things,” “Do Re Mi,” “Sixteen Going on Seventeen,” “So Long, Farewell” and many other favorites.
In addition to high school students, some of the von Trapp children will be played by students from Waller Mill Elementary and Queens Lake Middle School.
Tickets are $7 at the door, and the production opens at 7 p.m. on March 28. The show continues at 2 and 7 p.m. on March 29.
Grafton High School presents “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee”
A quirky group of outsiders find a sense belonging at a student spelling competition. Grafton students will perform the high school version of this show, which carries at PG-13 rating.
“The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee” premiered on Broadway in 2005, when it won the Tony Award for best book.
The show will run April 24, 25 and 26 at 7 p.m. and April 26 at 2:30 p.m. Tickets are $6 in advance, and can be purchased at the Grafton High School Office from 8 a.m. to 3:30 pm each day during the week of the show. They will be $8 at the door.
York High School presents “Shrek The Musical”
Based on the movie starring Mike Meyers, Eddie Murphy and Cameron Diaz, “Shrek The Musical” opened on Broadway in 2008. It follows the plot of the movie, with the addition of a comical soundtrack.
York High students are also preparing to take their roles overseas to participate in the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, the largest performing arts festival in the world.
Ticket information will be updated when it is available.
Matthew Whaley Students Perform Play
First-graders at Matthew Whaley Elementary School recently presented the play “The Music of Life” for families and friends.
Dressed as a variety of animals, students sang songs, danced, played musical instruments, and performed the children’s book “Caps for Sale” by Esphyr Slobodkina.
The play was the second performance this year by children at Matthew Whaley. Under the direction of music teacher Julie Jones, every student has the opportunity to participate in a class play during the school year.
YCSD Showcases Student Art
In February, the York County School Division honored the Winter 2014 Student Art Contest winners during a reception. The contest is open to all YCSD students, and winners are selected at the elementary and secondary levels.
Emily Anania, a student at Yorktown Elementary School, was awarded the elementary prize for her artwork, while Grafton High School student Christina Tyndall earned the secondary prize. Both pieces of artwork join a permanent display of student artwork at the school board office.
