BIG BOLD NOTE (Again): The show dates are Fridays May 5th and 12th and Saturdays May 6th and 13th at 8pm, as well as Sundays May 7th and May 14th at 2pm Tickets are not on sale at the moment but pricing information, as well as information on advertising, boosters, and our upcoming season of summer camp, can be found here at our theatre's website.
Written by: Justin Murphy
Date of Rehearsals Listed: 3/20 and 3/21
Rehearsal Location: NCT
I should probably clarify something regarding these blogs. There's been more than two rehearsals for this blog (in fact, there was one tonight too), but remember, as a cast member, if I'm not called for a particular rehearsal, then I can't cover it at all. Sorry about that for anyone who's curious about what happens on nights when only certain people are called. Now then, on to the blog!
For the rehearsal on March 20th, at the beginning, there were two sets of people called, the Munchkins and everyone in the show's first few scenes at the farm in Kansas were all called at 7, while the full cast was called at 8 (I showed up a little early). Bette mentioned a few more things about the show, such as paying the entrance fee and mentioning that Courtney, the costumer, would likely arrive next week, as well as Holly, the choreographer, to teach the Munchkins their dance. She also plugged a few upcoming things like our NCT fundraiser at the Engeman*, and our NCT 15th anniversary tote bag.**
The Munchkin children spent their time working with Donna on learning their two songs, as their scene contains quite a bit of musical numbers, from "The House Began to Pitch" to "Ding Dong, the Witch is dead", and then "Follow the Yellow Brick Road". The people in those first farm scenes would head into a separate hallway with grand stupendous poobah director extraordinaire*** Jim to work on those first farm scenes (minus both Dorothys, who along with a few other students, were absent this evening due to prior high school engagements). In addition, the early arriving adult males (John Morale, Vinny Dillon, and myself) were brought into the hallway too at Bette's suggestion to give a potential hand, as the third farmhand had yet to be cast. We read through the scene about 3 or 4 times, getting a feel for the scene as well as sharing some interesting tidbits, such as a placement of a word that means nothing in England (where the script was adapted) but is quite offensive in the states, sort of like how spastic is relatively fine to use in the states, but is quite offensive in England.**** By the end of the night, all three farmhands were cast (which farmhands are played by which cast member has yet to be confirm. We think we have it figured out, but you never know).
After quite a bit of progress, we returned to the main hallway, where we worked some more on The Merry Old Land of Oz. Since Dorothy wasn't there, Barri Feuer, one of two actresses playing The Tin Man, stood in for Dorothy in addition to her own part of the Tin Man. This time, the song incorporated the beginning parts involving the main quartet***** and the Emerald City Guard's solo. Donna was very impressed with the solos and the group singing, sounding as if we had had plenty of practice on the song and weren't just working on it as a full group for the second time. We even worked on the tiny reprise, which is fitting as the Munchkins song ends the same way that this one does...everyone screaming at the sight of the Wicked Witch (except this time, rather than a bunch of kids, it's a bunch of adults who are scared stiff by the witch).
I don't have quite as much to talk about regarding the next rehearsal, as I was only present for about a half hour of it. Jim worked with everyone in the Scarecrow's introduction scene (namely Dorothy, Toto, The Scarecrow, and The Crows), closing the curtain to separate them from Donna, who worked with both the Guard and Glinda during that time. Donna worked first with the Guard, once again on the solo in The Merry Old Land of Oz, since this was the first time she had both Guards together to work on the solo part of the song, at separate having us do the song individually, and then one at a time, to make sure we both understood the song and could hit the notes properly. After this was over, Donna presumably worked with both Glindas on their solo numbers in "Come out Come out" and "You're Out of the Woods" as was scheduled, but I cannot verify as both myself and John Morale (the other guard), departed following the work on our song, as it was the only thing we were needed for during the evening.
I am not being called for any rehearsals next week with the exception of next Thursday at the moment, so next Tuesday or Wednesday, I'll be doing something a little different for the blog. I'm going to write an opinion piece on a film I first heard about from The Nostalgia Critic, watched for the first time 8 years ago, and was reminded of by Stephanie Sultana (thanks Steph!), that being the 1986 Disney/Jim Henson feature film Return to Oz! Why do I feel it's worth talking about for a whole blog entry? Well come back next week and find out, and being that I mentioned that the rehearsal sections on Tuesday were separated by a curtain, I can't think of a better quote to end this blog on.
"Pay no attention to that man behind the curtain!" -The Wizard of Oz
*: In conjunction with the Engeman Theater, the April 2nd performance of Jekyll and Hyde will have many of its proceeds given back to NCT, which has blocked out a significant amount of tickets for people participating in the fundraiser, which can be purchased at this link here. https://web.ovationtix.com/trs/pe/10063989/prm/COMMTHEATER You may also purchase tickets by calling Todd at 631-261-9700 extension 23, or bought in person at the box office. Just remember to mention the fundraiser! Tickets are 71 dollars each.
**: Priced at a nifty 15 dollars! Buy buy buy! And remember, you're hearing it from a guy who was a traveling salesman! (Or a guy who played one once)
***: I know I said I'd try to top my description of Jim every blog, but this description's better than the last one for a very simple reason...I actually spelled poobah right this time! I mean poohab? Come on, brain! Now I feel bad for correcting someone's spelling earlier today...spellcheck may become a good friend of mine starting with this blog...a good thing too because I almost just misspelled the word traveling! Come on, brain!!!
****: Mario Party 8 was even recalled from UK stores for a few weeks due to its use of the word spastic. It was later re released with the word removed.
*****: From now on, whenever I say that, assume I'm talking about Dorothy, The Scarecrow, The Tin Man, and The Cowardly Lion.
NOTE: Daniel Schweitzer has withdrawn from the show within the past week. We wish him the best in all of his future endeavors. In addition, Amanda and Nicholas Lemza's status for the show is in question, but they have not officially withdrawn from the production.
SECOND NOTE: Any new cast members or new casting information such as splits or newly decided parts will be in bold print.
CAST
Dorothy Gale: Bella Donneruno (5/5, 5/7, and 5/13)/Meaghan Maher (5/6, 5/12, and 5/14)
Scarecrow: Justin Autz (5/5, 5/7, and 5/13)/Sam Schoeps (5/6, 5/12, and 5/14)
Tin Man: Barri Feuer (5/5, 5/7, and 5/13)/Tess Robinson (5/6, 5/12, and 5/14)
Cowardly Lion: John Walsh (5/5, 5/7, and 5/13)/Lawrence Palevsky (5/6, 5/12, and 5/14)
Wicked Witch of the West/Miss Almira Gulch: Stephanie Sultana (5/5, 5/7, and 5/13)/Casey Savin (5/6, 5/12, and 5/14)
Wizard of Oz: Rich Lau
Glinda: Kim Sultana (5/5, 5/7, and 5/13)/Avery Infranco (5/6, 5/12, and 5/14)
Emerald City Guard: John Morale (5/5, 5/7, and 5/13)/Justin Murphy (5/6, 5/12, and 5/14)
Aunty Em: Teresa Morale (5/5, 5/7, and 5/13)/Barbara Schulman (5/6, 5/12, and 5/14)
Uncle Henry: Joel Ackerman (5/5, 5/7, and 5/13)/Joe Centamore (5/6, 5/12, and 5/14)
Farmhands: Gerald Quigley, James Roche, and Justin Murphy
Crows: Taryn Feuer, Quincy Jackson, and Suzie Walsh (5/5, 5/7, and 5/13)/Dana Schoeps, Jake Kalinowski, and Amelia Lau (5/6, 5/12, and 5/14)
Trees: Judy Avena, Elise Autz (5/5, 5/7, and 5/13), and Patsy VanDyke (5/5, 5/7, and 5/14)/Noel Dillon, Cynthia Piacentini (5/6, 5/12, and 5/14), and Kathy Lau (5/6, 5/12, and 5/13)
Winkie General: Gerald Quigley (5/5, 5/12, and 5/14)/Kathy Lau (5/6 and 5/13)/Vinny Dillon (5/7)
Toto: Ella Smith (5/5, 5/7, and 5/13)/Michael Deaner (5/6, 5/12, and 5/14)
Ozians: Joel Ackerman, Elise Autz, Judy Avena, Honey Brown, Joe Centamore, Michelle Centamore, Noel Dillon, Vinny Dillon, Barri Feuer, Jillian Graci, Kimberly Lapidus, Patricia McCarthy, John Morale, Theresa Morale, Justin Murphy, Lawrence Palevsky, Cynthia Piacentini, Mia Femia Pizzo, Gerald Quigley, Kellsey Roy, Casey Savin, Barbara Schulman, Shira Schweitzer, Kim Sultana, Stephanie Sultana, Angie Tomala, Patsy VanDyke, John Walsh, and Corrie Ann Young
Jitterbugs: Justin Autz, Bella Donneruno, Taryn Feuer, Avery Infranco, Quincy Jackson, Arianna Keating, Grace Keating, Meaghan Maher, Tess Robinson, James Roche, Maggie Saum, Dana Schoeps, and Samantha Schoeps
Other High Schoolers: Sarah Caulfield, Sarah Meade, Liana Scala, and Celia Spero
Middle School Chorus (presumably Poppies and Snowmen): Julie Barbier, Luca Bergin, Juliette Bonchonsky, Bridget Caulfield, Natalie Ceonzo, Kailin Donnelly, Jillian Fehrenbacher, Luke Frisoli, Riley Gayer, Andrew Geres, Jennifer Golder, Alyssa Infranco, Amelia Lau, Ava Mackey, Samantha Madden, Kyra Perles, Caitlin Rees, Nikki Scala, Nina Scala, Amelia Semple, Leeva Slevin, Emily Starin, Clare Vogt, and Suzie Walsh
"A" Munchkins (5/5, 5/7, and 5/13): Sydney Aguirri, Kylie Balezos, Gabrielle Blum, Kieran Brown (5/7, 5/13, and 5/14), Jude Centamore, Goldie Centamore, Alexandra Colaccio, Isabell Colaccio, Alexandra Curatolo, Annabelle Deaner, Michael Deaner, Michael Donatelli, Lily Eagen, Amelia Eisenberg, Carter Eisenberg, Julia Eisenberg, Markus Fehrenbacher, Quinn Fehrenbacher, Rayna Feuer, Maggie Fitzmaurice, Emma Morale, Juliet Morale, Ava Olsen, Joey Pizzo (5/7 and 5/13), Lily Rankin, Cami Rees, Carlie Rees, Elliote Salisbury, Reilly Salisbury, Juliet Scannapieco, Olivia Scannapieco, Grace Sewell, Anthony Shah, Vivian Sultana, Tara Weiss, Gabrielle Weissman, Fallon Young, and Nathan Zarko
"B" Munchkins (5/6, 5/12, and 5/14): Juliette Bergin, Casey Bernson, Sienna Boden, Lily Brown, Ryan Brown, Maya Burget, Mairead Camas, Liam Caulfield, Jude Centamore, Goldie Centamore, Elizabeth Ceonzo, Katie Conway, Julia Dean, Ryan Dean, Annabelle Deaner, Hannah Feinstein, Rayna Feuer, Lindsay Grabowski, Chloe Gucciardo, Ethan Hoerning, Sofia Kabacinski (5/6 and 5/14), Jacob Karp, Katie Karp, Liam McLaughlin, Brody Mackey, Lily Majewski, Trixie Moran, Cate Ricciardi, Kelly Ricciardi, Ayla Schulman-Hughes, Ella Smith, Vivian Sultana, Chloe Wagner, Luc Wagner, and Lacey Zaharis
The specific Munchkin roles including The Mayor, The Coroner, The Barrister, The 3 City Fathers, The 2 School Teachers, The Fiddler, The Braggart, The Lullaby League, and The Lollipop Guild have yet to be officially cast.
Nikko, the commander of the Flying Monkeys, has yet to be cast.
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