This Valentine’s weekend saddle up to your sweetie at a local high school’s production of the “Most Happy Fella." Summerfield Waldorf High School students charm and delight audiences with a rich production, including a full orchestra, forty songs, and a dozen or more costume changes. Set in a Frisco Café and a Napa Valley farm, the production is likely to vividly remind locals of their own youthful summers. “Lanterns glowing, vino flowing, and the good strong smell of mozerella in the air – set it up and I’ll be there!” The intimate Sophia Hall offers supreme, “unplugged” amplification and the perfect setting for a Valentine’s Day date. Tickets for the show are $10 per person, with childcare available on Sunday (by reservation) for just $5 a child. Students will sell baked goods and tea at intermission.
The last three showings are scheduled for Friday (7:30), Saturday (7:30), and Sunday at 2:00. Call the Summerfield school office at (707) 575-7194, x 100 for your tickets today!
The talented Summerfield students enrapture audiences for two and a half hours by deftly cajoling the audience to recant a range of emotions. The full, student orchestra sets the tone as a xylophone softly chimes in the breeze of summer, and later a violin plays out feelings of a young rushing heart or quickening anger. The student set crew uses warm red lights, large-scale backdrops depicting the vineyard covered hills in Napa, and a range of props to “set the stage” for the student actors. More than thirty students act on stage to engage audiences through dance (including swing flips, the Charleston, and Waltzes), songs (including four part harmonies), and side-splitting humor. The seamless coordination of this high quality show will have you asking yourself – “was this really teenagers carrying out this production?”
Kevin Simmons, Summerfield’s beloved Drama Teacher, declares he selected this operatic production as it is one of the best musicals in history. “Although people under the age of 40 are unlikely to have heard of it, this show was once a huge hit and deservedly so – yet undeservedly it fell into disuse.”Wherever this show landed in history, its lyrics managed to permeate popular culture. Dean Martin ensured that most people know the tune to “standin on the corner watching all the girls go by…” Today’s Summerfield High School production is sure to have you singing along too!
Come out to judge the students’ performance for yourself. Your heart is sure to flutter as lead actor, 18 year old Sela Shiloni, declares his love for Rosabella in a rich Italian bravado. It’s no wonder he’s already received an offer to attend the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in Los Angeles, and may soon hear from the California Institute of the Arts. Other on-stage talent includes Sela’s friend Max Allen, who aptly plays Herman the comedic cowboy. Allen easily finds his footing on-stage through his experience as the lead singer in a local teen band. Lidia Tropeano, cast as Rosabella, has the pure, lovely voice of a bird twirling for spring. Many of these roles are double cast by other talented members of the high school. For example Ruben Steinegger, a German exchange, proves his language mastery as he alternates with Sela to play e Italian-speaking lead role! 
Kathy Foley, former Hollywood make-up artist, styles the students in 1920’s slick, cropped hair styles. One young man, Paxton Miller-Fitzpatrick gave up shoulder- lengthed hair to better assume character with such a cropped cut. With help from the 6th Street Playhouse, Sonoma State’s Costume Department, Hot Couture and Saddles to Boots, the students tap across the stage in heeled Mary Jane’s, shaggy flapper dresses, cowboy boots, suspenders and other uthentic garb that dramatically (pun intended) bring the production to life.Call the Summerfield school office at (707) 575-7194, x 100 for your tickets today!
0 comments
Post a Comment