Theater Review: 'Dare to Dream, Jr.' by City Hill Middle School Drama Club

Review by Connecticut Critics Circle member and Naugatuck Patch neighbor Nancy Sasso Janis

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City Hill Middle School Drama Club has produced a well-rehearsed version of “Dare to Dream, Jr. A Disney Musical Review.”

This charming musical review features a book developed by the Disney Theatrical Group, with music adapted and arranged by Patrick Sulken, orchestrations by Sulken and additional vocal arrangements by Britt Bonney. The song list includes songs by 27 composers and lyricists that have worked with Disney, including Phil Collins, Elton John, Alan Menken, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Randy Newman, the Sherman brothers, Stephen Schwartz/Tim Rice and Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez. The revue celebrates 100 years of Disney music.

THINK * DREAM * BELIEVE * DARE

The directors note in the printed program that in the show we join an eager group of trainees on their first day at Walt Disney Imagineering Studio. “This group sets out to help each other discover their dreams and work together to explore the power of their dreams to unite, inspire, and make anything possible.” They add that “this show reminds us that there are big things in store for all of us.”

The musical review contains 24 musical numbers from the Disney canon that are woven together with brief dialogue, much of which focuses on the dreams of the trainees. Most songs are slightly shortened versions, and a few pieces are mash ups of two songs. Many feature one or two of the Players in the lead, backed by the ensemble. A few at the beginning and the end of the performance feature the full company.

There are many of the expected timeless classics from “Beauty and the Beast,” “Moana,” “Aladdin,” “The Lion King,” “Frozen,” “Toy Story,” “Cinderella,” "Pinocchio," The Little Mermaid,” and “The Jungle Book.” The less familiar songs might be “Just Around the Riverbend” from “Pocahontas,” “Out There” from “The Hunchback of Notre Dame,” “Surface Pressure” from “Encanto,” “Dig a Little Deeper” from “The Princess and the Frog,” “Try Everything” from “Zootopia,” “Go the Distance” from “Hercules,” “When I Am Older” from “Frozen 2,” “I’ve Got a Dream” from “Tangled,” and “You are the Magic” from “Disney’s Enchantment.”

There is also a very fun “Nonsense Medley,” a bilingual “Remember Me” from “Coco,” and an uplifting finale.

The cast is listed in the program as numbered players and ensemble members. Each and every member of the middle school-aged cast gives it their all and sings very well. While the boys are outnumbered by the girls, the guys definitely hold their own onstage.

Player 1 is played by Katherine Abner and Player 2 is Katelynn Abner. Player 3 is Ayanah Ramos, Player 4 is played by Grace Swierbitowicz and Player 5 is Princeton Thompson. Emily Peterson is Player 6, Kaylee Nieves is Player 7, and Thiago Santos portrays Player 8. Player 9 is Miles Langston, Player 10 is Abriana Rodriguez, and Player 11 is played by Lydiani DeJesus and Tiffany Casasnovas. Player 12 is played by Quinn Rua, Player 13 is Elena Ramos, Player 14 is Maddisyn Work, and Player 15 is Richard DaSilva.

The members of the strong ensemble include Abby Cornut, Chloe Cummings, Brianna Gutierrez, Brianna Watts, Eliana Zapata, Emilia Chevalier, Giovanni Hall, Laurel Marte, Ledah Kear, Lydiani DeJesus, Mackenzie Bos, Raissa Lisboa Pereira, Vidhi Marvadi, and Yaneliz Figueroa.

The students were dressed in Disney-inspired contemporary costumes that looked great. The simple set included places for the ensemble members to sit. At the Wednesday performance, young members of the audience arrived in Disney costumes to watch the show.

Congratulations to the adults on the production team that worked with the middle school students. Bonnie McKinney and Mariah Michaud worked together as directors of the show, with Katie Tayler in the role of music director and in charge of the prerecorded tracks. Melanie Szczesiul and Anya Nanda shared choreography duties, with charming dance moves for “Be Our Guest” and “Try Everything.” Manuel Meregildo worked as stage manager and Audrey Swierbitowicz designed the props. McKinney expressed her thanks to the City Hill administration, advertisers, members of the community and the resilient cast members.

The show runs just under an hour, making it very family friendly. Two performances are scheduled for this Friday.

Photos via City Hill MS Facebook page