Hillsborough High School's 2016 spring musical is "Into the Woods." Performances were held in March.
HILLSBOROUGH - The Hillsborough High School Theatre's production of "Into The Woods" was selected by voters in a poll as the Somerset County high school spring musical we should photograph.
You can check out the results of the poll here.
We had a photographer there for the March 6 matinee. Additional performances take place 7 p.m. Saturday and 1 p.m. Sunday. Students in the theater program will also hold an "Into The Woods Tea Time" from 1-3 p.m. Saturday. Children can meet the characters and there will be activities and snacks.
The students performed in front of an audience of over 1,100 and, to get the audience into the mood, the school's entrance was decorated with large trees and silhouettes giving the appearance of walking into the woods.
The lobby included a box office, concession and merchandise stands and the auditorium included drapes reflecting the theme of "Into The Woods."
The design was part of the production staff's creations, under the direction of Hillsborough High School student Sarah Huffman. Cassie Krick, Sitara Vaidy, Morgan Carroll and Megha Sawhney, all ninth grade students, manned the concession stand as part of the production staff, along with eighth grade student Evan Centofanti.
Other student volunteers manned the merchandise stand, as well as greeted guests and acted as ushers. The box office was staffed by Cathy Honwad, Paula Obenauer and other parent volunteers.
Director Casie Fitzgerald, who is new to Hillsborough High School theater community, along with Choreographer Ashley Griffith and Assistant Director Shane Erickson, greeted guests in the lobby before the performance began.
"Into the Woods" is a two-act musical which combines musical numbers with dramatic scenes and costume changes requiring versatility by the actors and the production crew.
"The musical has a witty dialog and intricate plot line," Fitzgerald said. The cast is made up of 21 actors, "who have shown so much talent, dedication and hard work that it is sometimes hard to believe that I am working with a group of teenagers. The students have kept me laughing at every rehearsal."
Hunterdon Central performs 'Sound of Music'
Fitzgerald and Julianna LoBiondo, Hillsborough High School music director, co-produced the musical. LoBiondo served as conductor of the orchestra along with Max Dinunzi, assistant instrumental director. The orchestra includes 18 students and faculty member Sarah Mederos, who played the violin.
Cast members include:
Seniors: Christopher Blum (Narrator/Mysterious Man); Christina Buz (Witch); Dana Cavagnaro (Cinderella's Stepmother); Victoria Schubert (Jack's Mother); Matthew Sisti (Cinderella's Prince); Brendan Szabo (The Wolf); and, Faith Tarantino (Rapunzel).
Juniors: Lara Becker (Florinda); Emily Conlon (Baker's Wife); Deepti Kumar (Cinderella's Mother); and, Rachel Swedberg (Cinderella).
Sophomores: Leena Baloch (Sleeping Beauty); Julianna Ciccotelli (Lucinda); Jillian Cuzzolino (Snow White); Ryan Honwad (Baker); Emily Obenauer (Little Red Ridinghood); and, Matthew Porowski (Cinderella's Father/Steward).
Freshman: Sarah Friedman (Granny) and Jason Guarino (Rapunzel's Prince). Kaitlin Ciurleo played Jack and Ms. Karen Bingert played the giant. Leena, Lara, Jillian, Jason, Matthew and Victoria were also understudies for other roles.
Here are the dates and times of upcoming high school musicals:
Bernards High School - "Guys and Dolls," 7 p.m. Friday, March 11, and Saturday, March 12; 2 p.m. Saturday, March 12, and Sunday, March 13.
Bound Brook High School - "The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee," 7 p.m. Friday, April 22, and Saturday, April 23; 2 p.m. Sunday, April 24.
Bridgewater-Raritan Regional High School - "Pippin," 7 p.m. Thursday, May 12, Friday, May 13, and Saturday, May 14.
Franklin Township High School - "Mary Poppins," 7:30 p.m. Friday, April 8, Saturday, April 9, and Sunday, April 10; 2:30 p.m. Sunday, April 10.
Hillsborough High School - "Into the Woods," 7 p.m. Saturday, March 12; 1 p.m. Sunday, March 13.
Manville High School - "The Wedding Singer," 7 p.m. Thursday, April 7, Friday, April 8, and Saturday, April 9.
North Plainfield High School - "A Chorus Line," 7:30 p.m. Thursday, March 17, Friday, March 18, and Saturday, March 19.
Watchung Hills Regional High School - "She Loves Me," 7 p.m. Thursday, March 17, Friday, March 18, and Saturday, March 19; 2 p.m. Saturday, March 19.