iences with three outstanding renditions of “Singin’ in the Rain” at the VHS South auditorium last week.View Photo Gallery of the Performance
With superb singing, dancing and flawless delivery of lines, students in the Vineland High School Cap 'n' Dagger Club wowed audiences with three outstanding renditions of “Singin’ in the Rain” at the VHS South auditorium last week.
The sets –including the colorful street scene with “real” rain for the show’s famous dance number – drew “oohs” and “ahhs” and lavish applause from the crowd. The costumes were also worthy of any professional production.
All the cast members deserve kudos for their months of hard work. In particular, senior Gabe Pena, performing in his first Cap ‘n Dagger production, was impressive as Don Lockwood, especially dancing his way through the signature Gene Kelly. Junior Carla Catrambone’s superb singing and great stage presence – honed by three other VHS performances, vocal study and professional acting lessons, brought great depth and emotion to the role of Kathy Selden. Dominique Oliva was also a crowd favorite with her “fingernails on chalkboard” voice and hilarious delivery of some of the show’s funniest lines. And Evan Flood was truly outstanding in several of the tap dance numbers and a riotous song, dance and over-the-couch tussle with a female dummy.
The play also used pre-recorded, black and white video to highlight some of the more important aspects of the production.
The show was under the direction of Joseph Marcello. Natalie Quackenbush handled the choreography, and Eileen Bosco was the group’s vocal instructor. Hank Ehrlich directed the stage crew, and his group was faultless handling props, equipment and the complicated audio arrangements. The technical crew included: Donald (DJ) Hill III, Audio; Melanie Rivera, Lighting; Amanda LaBoy and Kristina Kanakis, Spot Light Operators; Amanda Reuben, Curtain; Joe Jones, Josue Feliciano, Steve Bristowe, Nick Banko, Samantha Forsman, Peter Doulis, and Joseph Wheeler, Set Movers.
William McDevitt directed the 15-piece pit orchestra that was first-rate. The orchestra included Mike Denice, Rob DeSantis, Keith Bradbury, Dave Dilks, Robert Schiavinato, Daniel Seda, Lynn Enright, Jose Vazquez, Ray Nunzi, Karen Park, Pat Cummines, Buddy Capuccio, Andrew Johnson, Joe Kim, and Matt Thomas.
The complete cast:
Maria Vastano as Dora Bailey; Victoria Druziako as Zelda Zanders; Bethany Ruccolo as Olga Mara; McKenzie Lillia as Mary Margaret; Brent Butler as R.F. Simpson; Julia Wilderman as Mrs. R.F. Simpson; Edward Curtis as Roscoe Dexter; Evan Flood as Cosmo Brown; Dominique Oliva as Lina Lamont; Gabriel Pena as Don Lockwood; Noel Gomez as Rod; Dee'Anna Denelsbeck as Lady-in-Waiting; Carla Catrambone as Kathy Selden; Michael Roslatov as Butler; Heather Smaniotto as Wardrobe Mistress; Tyrell Cooper as A Production Singer; Brandon Tomasso as Sid Phillips; Ali Furman as Miss Dinsmore; P. J. Connelly as Male Diction Teacher; Scott Shapiro as Sound Engineer; Andrew Bermudez as J. Cumberland Spendrill III; Jennie Crescenzo as Stripper; James Holland as Sid's Assistant; Tiara Denelsbeck and Evan Flood as Dance Captains; Adrian Lelli, Melanie Shapiro, Kristina Gannotta, Cori Rose Schroer, Jennie Crescenzo, Dee'Anna Denelsbeck and Amanda Roe as Featured Dancers; Jenna Vargo, Yasenia Wagner, Brigid Wallace, Amanda Padro, Samantha Wallace, Laura Mortorano, Felicia Mainiero, Katelyn Brown-Torpey, Ashley Birmingham and Angelica Quiles as Ensemble.
The famous Broadway production, directed and choreographed by Twyla Tharp, opened on July 2, 1985 at the George Gershwin Theatre, where it ran for 367 performances. The cast included Don Correia as Don, Mary D'arcy as Kathy, Peter Slutsker as Cosmo, and Faye Grant as Lina.