A cast strong in basic tap steps? Check. A group of dedicated, talented kids? Check. A well-known musical loaded with big song-and-dance numbers? Check.
So now, the classic Cole Porter show, “Anything Goes,” is ready to open at Scarborough High School with a cast of more than 30 students taking center stage.
The show opens at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 5, and runs through Sunday, Nov. 15, at 1 p.m.
Called “one of the greatest musicals in theater history,” the show had its most recent run on Broadway in 2011, when it took home three Tony Awards, including Best Revival of a Musical and Best Choreography.
Porter, who wrote “Anything Goes” in 1934, is also known for penning the music and lyrics for other hit Broadway shows, such as “Kiss Me Kate” and “High Society.”
“Anything Goes” takes place on an ocean liner, the S.S. American, which is crossing the Atlantic from New York to London. The story follows a young man, Billy, who falls in love with a girl he meets in a taxi on the way to the docks.
The love-struck Billy stows away in order to pursue the girl of his dreams, Hope, who, unfortunately for him, is already engaged to a stuffy British aristocrat, Lord Evelyn. With the help of the other passengers, who range from a gangster and his moll to a couple drunks, Billy seeks to win Hope’s heart.
The score of “Anything Goes,” includes several well-known numbers, including “Blow Gabriel, Blow,” “You’re the Top” and the title song.
Director Jon Miele is in his sixth year working the annual fall musical at Scarborough High. He chose “Anything Goes” partly because he knew most of his cast still had their tap shoes and dance moves from last year’s production of “White Christmas.”
Miele also chose “Anything Goes” because it’s a “very familiar musical” and because it’s such “a fun and light show” that the audience is guaranteed to leave “feeling happy and uplifted.”
While the show is somewhat racier than the musicals Miele usually chooses, with a lot of innuendo, he’s done his best to make the script G-rated so that people of all ages can enjoy it.
Along with praising his cast for their commitment to going all out, Miele said his backstage crew, which includes a number of adults, is also stellar. He particularly mentioned set designers and builders Neil Gregoire, Stu Axelrod and Carla Bradish.
Miele also said he couldn’t get the show off the ground without the help of costume designer Debbie Axelrod, musical director Donna Emma and his go-to for making sure all the bases are covered, Diane Vafiades.
Senior Abby Vafiades, who plays one of the main characters, the nightclub singer Reno, said what she most likes about the show is how challenging it is.
“We are really stretching the boundaries,” she said.
And while there are some risque? scenes, she said the show is still “family friendly.”
Henry Yoder, who plays the ship captain, said it’s hard to believe opening night is only a few weeks away. He said that while there’s still a lot of work to do, “somehow we always pull it off.”
Senior Spencer Stewart, who plays a gangster, said his role is one of the most challenging and complicated he’s taken on while at Scarborough High because the role is “the polar opposite of who I really am.”
Junior Amy Ollove, who plays the mother of Hope, said what’s so great about “Anything Goes” is that “each character has something quirky, something fun about it.”
She also said with such a diverse cast, “everyone can find a character they can like.”
Senior Hayden Jones, who plays Billy, said he’s watched other productions of “Anything Goes,” including the movie, so he can “dive into” his character.
Junior Hallie Scammell, who plays the gangster’s girl, said what audiences should expect from the Scarborough production is a “big song-and-dance show that everyone can enjoy.”
The cast of “Anything Goes” at Scarborough High School includes a lively list of quirky characters. Playing those characters, are, in back from left, Abby Vafiades, Sarah Griffin, Spencer Stewart and Hayden Motter. And, in front, from left, Hayden Jones, Henry Yoder, Abe Jordan, Hallie Scammell and Amy Ollove. Staff photo by Kate Irish CollinsSend questions/comments to the editors.
