Meet the Dynamic Duo of C & R

The seemingly perfect working relationship of Performing Arts leaders started when now Musical Director/Choreographer Cathyann Roding approached now Director Toni Cartisano and asked for help on her first production, Pippin. Cartisano said, “If there’s anything I can do to help…” Twenty-six years later, the creative duo is embarking on one of their most elaborative and profound productions: .

Sitting side by side in director’s chairs, the two giggle and remember the first days, more than two decades ago. “We were hanging lights, baking brownies and painting sets,” said Cartisano.

Today, the performing arts organization has hundreds of students, parents and community members who work together to make every production come to life, but back in the early years of Pippin and then South Pacific ­– the first production the two really executed together ­– the ladies were very much on their own.

Roding pulled out a note card Cartisano had given her the first year; it read: P2 = S2. That is, preparation squared, equals success squared. “The first year,” confesses Roding, “we were both very sensitive and emotional.”

Roding said the first year she chose Pippin because of the small cast. The show was performed three times to overwhelming responsive audience of 1,000. Now when choosing productions, the team gets together to find the biggest numbers they can with lots of parts because there are so many participants. What Roding says she doesn’t do, is choose shows that her group can’t sing.  “If we don’t have the voices to sing something…” said Roding, they won’t chose the production.

Phantom, however, is kismet for the team who found out last summer that the Broadway show was being released to amateur groups. Knowing their singers, which includes the seasoned guys Ryan Bloomquist (who will play the Phantom) and Greg Nobile (who will play Raoul) and powerhouse singer, junior Alison Johnson (who will play Christie), Roding and Cartisano knew immediately this would be the production for 2011.

“It’s the hardest show and hardest score I have ever encountered,” said Roding. “It takes you by surprise because people know a couple of tunes and go out singing it, but it’s so much more.” Sighing she added, “Andrew Loyd Webber is a genius.”

Cartisano adds of her excitement for the musical, which they have already pre-sold 2,600 tickets for. “After 25 years it’s hard to feel excited and challenged and we do.”

It’s truly an honor to be able to perform Phantom and the team shares that they had to apply for the rights to perform the musical. On a summer afternoon last year, the two were researching productions and came across Phantom. They quickly drafted their proposal, which Roding said barely fit in space offered for the online form. She then followed up with several emails immediately expressing interest and Branford High School was approved in just five days.

Getting to this pivotal moment in theater history for the high school has taken a long time and a lot of things to work right. From Cartisano who had never directed anything in her life 25 years ago, to Roding who said her break-through year was the 2003 production of Les Miserables, the team is full of enthusiasm for opening night. And still a bit nervous they said, “there’s no turning back; the tickets are sold.”

What has always been important to the team through every production is the students. Evidence lies in the many framed thank you collogues hanging on Roding’s wall in the music room as well as the way in which every student refers to C and R as their heroes.

Cartisano said her experience has been a lot of learning on the job but her background as a 35-year-veteran teacher and sports coach has helped her work with students. “What makes it different,” said Cartisano, “is that we are both teachers. We have the same philosophy.” She adds that theater is like coaching sports, “You do what’s right for the team first.”

Roding says from the first year to now, she always had a hard time picking students for parts. “This isn’t community theater,” explained Roding, where she is picking people for roles she is never going to se again. “Here it’s a completely different thing. I care deeply about them.”

Meet the first of nine leads in Phantom of the Opera, Noah Perito, in Thursday installment of Behind the Mask.