Theater Review: "Oklahoma" at Joel Barlow High School

By Nancy Sasso Janis

The students at Joel Barlow High School in Redding have put many hours of hard work into preparing their upcoming production of “Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Oklahoma.” Joel Barlow High School. Auditions literally were held the second week of school in September.

The dedicated high school performers are directed and choreographed by Matthew Farina. Farina made his directorial debut at Joel Barlow High School with last year’s production of “Beauty and the Beast” and also directed Barlow’s immersive Macbeth experience which won eight awards from the Connecticut Drama Association, including top awards for performance and technical design and went on to compete in the New England Drama Festival.

Mr. Farina, who in his sixteenth year of teaching at Redding Elementary School where he is the advanced learning opportunities instructor, has directed, choreographed, and/or performed in several school and community theaters in western Connecticut including Newtown High School, Immaculate High School in Danbury, Musicals at Richter in Danbury, Brookfield Theatre for the Arts, TheatreWorks New Milford, Seven Angels Theatre in Waterbury, and the Warner Theatre in Torrington.

Producer Erin Pinsky is in her eleventh year of teaching Social Studies here at Joel Barlow, and she enjoys singing in the Staff Choir when they perform at the Barlow Community Carol Sing.

The iconic music by Richard Rodgers with book and lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II that can be dark at times is based on the play "Green Grow the Lilacs" by Lynn Riggs. Musical numbers include "The Surrey With The Fringe On Top,” "Many A New Day," "People Will Say We're in Love," and the title song.

The original dances that were done by Agnes de Mille are brought to life here by Farina with the help of student choreographer Emily Seanor.

The cast members seem to work together as a team to bring their characters to life on their stage.

Curly McClain is played very well by Jackson Bennett, a senior who has been a part of the Barlow theater community since 2012. Laurey Williams is portrayed by Genevieve Seanor, who is a senior at Barlow who performs with the Chamber Singers. She shows off her fine singing voice in the role.

Jud Fry is played by Jared Shuford, a senior at Barlow. The young actor exudes the darkness in his character. Shuford won the Outstanding Actor Award for his performance as Macbeth in “Macbeth” last March. Jared has also been in numerous shows outside of school, such as American Idiot wherein he played the main lead Johnny at Broadway Method Academy in Fairfield over the summer.

Aunt Eller is brought to life by Jillian Robinson, a senior. She has enjoyed many past performing experiences, including “Beauty and the Beast” (Babette), Alan Menken Cabaret (Ariel and Jasmine), and more. Will Parker plays Quinn Speck, a senior appearing in his first Barlow production since “Shrek the Musical” in 2016.

Ado Annie Carnes is wonderfully portrayed by Naila Carter, a junior who was previously seen in “Beauty and the Beast” as The Wardrobe. This young woman has a wonderful stage presence that she uses very well in this fun role.

Ali Hakim is played by Zac Colangelo, a sophomore in his second musical at the high school.
Andrew Carnes is played by Karl Morris, a senior back in the theater for his final year at Barlow after two years of hiatus.

Gertie Cummings is played by Megan Solway, a senior at Joel Barlow participating in her first high school musical. Cord Elam is played by freshman Finn Bermingham. Slim is played by sophomore Kieran Nevins, who plays the violin and is a member of Joel Barlow’s mixed voice a cappella group.

Dream Ballet Soloist Emily Seanor, a senior who was seen as a Silly Girl in last year's production of Beauty and the Beast, but the first time she was on the Barlow stage was when she was ten years old and played Young Fiona in "Shrek the Musical."

The ensemble includes: senior Ava Basile, junior Maya Cotter, sophomore Shannon Darmofal, sophomore Farah Foley, freshman Skylar Giblin (“Footloose” with BMA,) sophomore Marlowe Kaye, freshman Andrew Kopec, sophomore Simone Lupo, sophomore Sage Oliver, junior Emily Ploss, senior Caitlyn Russell, sophomore Alexia Sanchez, sophomore Kristina Stranik, sophomore Sydney Toro, senior Lila Voytek, and senior Lucy Walker.

Musical direction by Gwynne Wittmann and Chris Breault, who conducts the pit musicians, makes the well-known numbers sound impressive. He is in his 20th year teaching music at Joel Barlow High School where he directs the Concert Band, String Orchestra and Jazz Band.

Musicians include Thomas Purcell, senior Sarah Luca, Andrew Woodruff, junior Carsen Schick, Jackie Eckhardt (Class of 2011) senior Catie Gutowski, Rob Patrick, Barbara Reineke,
Evan Gray, Thomas Cuffari and Soren Rasmussen.

Lighting designed by Matthew Farina, Samangini Kalita is glorious at times and intentionally dark around Jud. Costumes from DB Productions help set the cowboy/rancher theme.

The performance is presented with one fifteen minute intermission. HOUSE OPENS 30 MINUTES BEFORE CURTAIN.

THU NOV 10, 2022 AT 7:00 PM, FRI NOV 11, 2022 AT 7:00 PM, SAT NOV 12, 2022 AT 2:00 PM and SAT NOV 12, 2022 AT 7:00 PM

Click For tickets

Playbill https://www.playbillder.com/sh...

Nancy Sasso Janis, writing theatre reviews since 2012 as a way to support local venues, posts well over 100 reviews each year. In 2016, her membership in the Connecticut Critics Circle began and her contributions of theatrical reviews, previews, and audition notices are posted not only in the Naugatuck Patch but also on the Patch sites closest to the venue. She recently became a contributor to the Waterbury Republican-American newspaper. Her weekly column and theatre reviews appear in the Thursday Weekend section of the paper.

Follow the reviewer on her Facebook pages Nancy Sasso Janis: Theatre Reviewer and Connecticut Theatre Previews and on Twitter @nancysjanis417 Check out the NEW CCC Facebook page.