"That's where the four school board members who used to argue all the time realize they can do something together through music," the Harborside Middle School sixth-grader said. Stephen, a veteran of lead roles in the past three Christmas plays at his church, sings the baritone part in the junior version of the famous Broadway play, premiering tonight at 7 at the middle school, 175 High St. "We all have different parts to sing," he said of his three other quartet singers.
"We have different notes and just have to remember them. When it comes out right, it sounds great. Sometimes, it doesn't sound right and it's bad.
" The other quartet members are James Cottrell, first tenor, and A.J. Bonnetti, bass, both eighth- graders; and sixth-grader Kyle Carriero, lead.
Two shows are also set for Saturday at 2 and 7 p.m. Tickets are $3.
The quartet involves the school board pursuing con man Harold Hill for his "credentials" as he scams the early 20th century town into buying band instruments and uniforms. But he always interrupts them by having them sing another song. Eighth-grader Raymond Arnold has the lead role of Hill, the one who plans to skip town with the money without teaching a note.
Raymond, who hopes to attend Education Center for Arts in New Haven next year as well as Jonathan Law High School, can't wait for the show to
Ever since I saw the movie, I loved it. You can do so much with the role. It's great for a ham, and I'm a ham.
" "We started with 50, and we ended up with 45," she said. "It's a long commitment for the kids to make, but they've been right there." Musical Director Theresa Voss said she has done musicals before, but handling a quartet was a new challenge.
"The trick here is to sing without musical accompaniment," she said, noting the other songs will come through a full orchestra played on a CD. "I think they've been rehearsing long enough so they can feel the part, like through muscle memory.
News RSS