Leonard Bernstein's 'Wonderful Town' Coming to Caldwell This Week

James Caldwell High School will present its 2011 spring musical Wonderful Town, starting Thursday through Sunday, March 24 to 27.

The Leonard Bernstein musical comedy celebrates the excitement and pitfalls experienced by two sisters pursuing big dreams in New York City in the 1930s. The musical debuted on Broadway in 1953, winning the Tony Award that year for "Best Musical."

The JCHS production features a cast of more than 50 students from the high school and the community who, along with a diligent crew and dedicated pit orchestra, have been working very hard preparing for the show's debut on the JCHS stage. 

The students are led by director/choreographer Jensyn Modero and her husband, David Modero, who is musical director/conductor for the show. 

This is the first JCHS musical directed by "Mrs. Mo," as the students call her. Modero brings to the production her extensive experience as an instructor, director, choreographer, and actor in a host of theatrical and school organizations.    

There is much anticipation surrounding the Wonderful Town production, which will be the first musical staged in  which was unveiled in the fall.

The JCHS Music & More Booster Club will sponsor an IPad raffle at the show, with proceeds benefiting senior music scholarships. The raffle will be offered at each performance, with the winning ticket pulled at the final performance.  

"Wonderful Town" runs Thursday through Saturday, March 24 to 26, at 7:30 p.m., and Sunday March 27, at 1 p.m. Tickets are $10 at the door, with half-price tickets offered to senior citizens attending the Thursday performance. For more information, visit www.cwcboe.org.