Last Chance To See Stoneham's Top Young Theatre Talent In Summer Festival

There are only a few more days to see the 42 Stoneham students who will be taking the stage at Stoneham Theatre during the young company Summer Festival Aug. 10-20.

Stoneham Theatre’s young company offers year-round theatrical training and performance opportunities for students in grades 1-12. The Summer Festival is the culmination of 5 weeks of preparation by the students and their professional directors, music directors, choreographers, stage managers, and design team.

The young company Summer Festival includes 6 fully staged productions: family friendly Doctor Dolittle Jr., upbeat and classic High School Musical, the quintessential Broadway musical Guys and Dolls, the dazzling and ingenious Peter and the Starcatcher, hilarious toe-tapping The Drowsy Chaperone, and the powerful and political Cabaret.

Eleven Stoneham students will appear in the heartwarming world-wide adventure Dr. Dolittle, Jr. Joan Dolittle is a wacky, but kind, doctor who hasn’t had the most success treating humans. With a natural skill of learning animal languages, Dr. Dolittle becomes one of the greatest animal doctors around. Stoneham actors are Melis Baloglu, Julia Costa, Cecillia Degen, Madelyn DiLeo, Mia Gerges, Erica Harmon, Abigail Martin, Chloe Nasson, Lyla Palmere, Fiona Simeqi, and Marissa Simeqi.

Nine Stoneham students will appear in High School Musical, Disney Channel's smash hit movie musical. The students of East High are used to the status quo: the jocks play sports, the braniacs study for the scholastic decathlons, and the thespians perform in the school plays. However, when new student Gabriella arrives, the status quo is shaken up as the students attempt to be honest with what they love and try new things in the face of adversity and peer pressure. Stoneham actors are Marianna Axiotakis, Armando Degan, Stella DePaula, Skylar DiCecca, Jazmin Hopkins, Carlie LaFauci, Lauren Linn, Judah Nossoughi, and Kara Quinlan.

Seven Stoneham students will appear in Guys and Dolls, the classic musical comedy featuring songs like “Adelaide’s Lament” and “Sit Down You’re Rocking the Boat.” With a cast of wild and fun characters, Guys and Dolls takes us from the heart of Times Square to the cafes of Havana, Cuba, and even into the sewers of New York City in an attempt to get everyone right where they belong. Stoneham actors are Olivia Alleyne, Beliz Balogu, Marissa DiPlacido, Katrina Haddad, Keira Haughey, John Pagliarulo, and Michael Stanley.

Four Stoneham students will appear in Peter and the Starcatcher, the ingenious and imaginative adventure that took Broadway by storm. From marauding pirates and jungle tyrants to unwilling comrades and unlikely heroes, and featuring 16 actors portraying well loved villains and heroes, Peter and the Starcatcher playfully explores the friendship, duty, bravery, and what it means to grow up. Stoneham actors are Colleen Green, Katherine Kelley, Max Lehmann, and Casey Moriarty.

Eight Stoneham students will appear in the hilarious toe-tapping musical, The Drowsy Chaperone. With the houselights down, two people in chairs appear on stage and put on their favorite record: the cast recording of a fictitious 1928 musical. The recording comes to life and The Drowsy Chaperone begins! Mix in two lovers on the eve of their wedding, a bumbling best man, a desperate theatre producer, a not-so-bright hostess, two gangsters posing as pastry chefs, a misguided Don Juan and an intoxicated chaperone, and you have the ingredients for an evening of madcap delight. Stoneham actors: Daria Contino, Maya Cunningham, Dalilah Degen, Angela DiLeo, Greta Hall, Sydney Newcomb, Joseph Pizzano, and Dezaray Surprise.

Three Stoneham students will appear in the thrilling musical Cabaret. Lights go up in a Berlin nightclub, as the 1920’s draw to a close. The Emcee bids you, the audience, a fond welcome and assures you that you will forget all your troubles at the cabaret. Musical numbers include “Willkommen,” “Maybe This Time,” “Don’t Tell Mama” and “Mein Herr.” Stoneham actors: Ben Doucette, Tess Flammia, and Zachary McCarville.

Performances:

Guys and Dolls — Thursday, Aug. 10th at 7 pm; Saturday, Aug. 12th at 7 pm; and Sunday, Aug, 13th at 7 pm. Guys and Dolls is recommended for all ages.

Doctor Dolittle, Jr. — Friday, Aug,. 11th at 12 pm; Saturday, Aug. 12th at 12 pm; and Sunday, Aug. 13th at 12 pm. Doctor Dolittle, Jr. is recommended for all ages.

High School Musical — Friday, Aug. 11th at 7 pm; Saturday, Aug. 12th at 3 pm; and Sunday, Aug. 13th at 3 pm. High School Musical is recommended for all ages.

Peter and the Starcatcher — Thursday, Aug. 17th at 7:30 pm; Saturday, Aug. 19th at 4 pm; and Sunday, Aug. 20th at 12 pm. Peter and the Starcatcher is recommended for all ages.

The Drowsy Chaperone — Friday, Aug. 18th at 4 pm; Saturday, Aug. 19th at 12 pm; and Sunday, Aug. 20th at 7:30 pm. The Drowsy Chaperone is recommended for ages 13-and-up.

Cabaret — Friday, Aug. 18th at 7:30 pm; Saturday, Aug. 19th at 7:30 pm; and Sunday, Aug. 20th at 4 pm. Cabaret is recommended for ages 13-and-up.

Tickets are $15. For more information, call Stoneham Theatre’s Box Office at (781) 279-2200, or visit www.stonehamtheatre.org.

Photos:

Stoneham act 1 and 2 Students (yellow shirts): Front row, L-R Marianna Axiotakis, Chloe Nasson, Fiona Simeqi, Cecilia Degen, Erica Harmon, Lauren Linn, Marissa DiPlacido; Middle row, L-R Stella DePaula, Julia Costa, Lyla Palmere, Marissa Simeqi, Melis Baloglu, Mia Gerges, Abigail Martin, Olivia Alleyne, Jazmin Hopkins; Back row, L-R Kara Quinlan, Michael Stanley, Madelyn DiLeo, Beliz Baloglu, Armando Degen, Judah Nossoughi, John Pagliarulo, Keira Haughey, Katrina Haddad, Carlie LaFauci. Not pictured: Skylar DiCecca.

Stoneham act 3 Students (grey shirts): Front row, L-R Maya Cunningham, Casey Moriarty, Sydney Newcomb, Dalilah Degen; Middle row, L-R Dezaray Surprise, Colleen Green, Daria Contino, Katherine Kelley, Tess Flammia, Angela DiLeo; Back row, L-R Greta Hall, Ben Doucette, Joseph Pizzano, Zachary McCarville, Max Lehmann.

Credit: Kelly L. Gaudet