6 days ago
Stage Notes in shipshape for 'Anything Goes' this weekend
Jul. 22—WATERTOWN — When the classical musical comedy "Anything Goes" was updated for contemporary sensibilities three years ago, Stage Notes founder Ticia K. Aumell, and her husband and co-director Kyle Aumell, knew they had to launch it one day.
"We knew it was just a matter of time before Stage Notes would add it to our list of productions," Ticia said. "We have the largest group of students we have ever had, so a big musical with lots of roles and an ensemble fits us this year."
Stage Notes will present "Anything Goes" Thursday, Friday and Saturday at the Dulles State Office Building auditorium.
"Anything Goes" premiered on Broadway on Nov. 21, 1934, at the Alvin Theatre, where it ran for 420 performances, becoming the fourth longest-running musical of the 1930s. The music and lyrics are by Cole Porter. The original book was by P.G. Wodehouse, Guy Bolton, Howard Lindsay & Russel Crouse. The book was revised by Timothy Crouse and John Weidman.
"Anything Goes" is a musical set aboard the ocean liner S.S. American, where nightclub singer Reno Sweeney is traveling from New York to England. Her friend Billy Crocker stows away to be near his love, Hope Harcourt, who is engaged to the wealthy Lord Evelyn Oakleigh. The story unfolds with a series of romantic escapades, misunderstandings and comedic antics among the eccentric passengers, culminating in a lively and entertaining journey filled with Cole Porter's classic songs, such as "You're the Top," "It's De-Lovely," "Anything Goes" and "I Get a Kick Out of You."
Stage Notes has 31 students in the production, representing eight different high schools: Alexandria Bay, General Brown, LaFargeville, Liberty University online, Lowville, Lyme, South Jefferson and Watertown.
Proceeds from "Anything Goes" will support the David Simmons Scholarship Fund through the Northern New York Community Foundation. The scholarship supports students from Jefferson County who participated in the performing arts during high school. "In this way, it will help extend the support and encouragement David shared with arts and theater students during his life," Ticia said. "The first scholarships will be awarded this year, with recipients being announced soon."
Simmons, known for teaching self-worth and confidence, died in September 2023 at the age of 60. The self-taught, volunteer choreographer began a 26-year, 50-show relationship with Watertown High School and its Select Choir in the fall of 1988 with a production of "Guys & Dolls." He also shared his choreography skills with Stage Notes, He's credited with raising Stage Notes to a "triple arts program" — offering training that combined the disciplines of acting, singing and dancing.
'pivotal' performances
Stage Notes is a nonprofit youth theater group for exceptional theater students founded in 2009 by Ticia. Proceeds from its shows have allowed the nonprofit to donate thousands of dollars to local community groups.
The organization's motto is "Performance With a Purpose," and the benefits it brings to its performers also go well beyond the stage.
For example, Mia Mouaikel, who graduated in June from South Jefferson Central School, plays main character Reno Sweeney in "Anything Goes." This will be the fourth Stage Notes show for Mouaikel, daughter of Cyril and Dr. Marlene Mouaikel.
"The experience has been great for my leadership skills, and I've brought in a lot of those skills to other areas of life, like the clubs I'm in and organizations that I'm a part of," Mouaikel said. "It's also taught me a lot about just being a team member. It's great to work with a large group of people from different age groups and to collaborate. It's definitely helped me with every aspect of my life throughout high school. It's been very pivotal."
In the fall, Mouaikel will attend Cornell University, Ithaca, to major in biology. "I will also be pursing a theater minor," she said.
Mouaikel's character, Reno, is a charismatic nightclub singer and former evangelist. Reno is clever, funny, persuasive and extremely confident.
"It's very comedic," Mouaikel said of "Anything Goes." "Pretty much every scene, including the songs and dances, are full of comedy and very witty jokes."
Shipbuilding
The set for this year's musical is a "big build," Ticia explained.
"Our team is very excited. They are building the deck of the S.S American on the stage. Each production brings its own needs. For 'Guys and Dolls' we used backdrops with set pieces to enhance the scenes. Last year, for 'The Prom,' it was the first time that we delved into the world of projections, while also having set pieces to add to the scenes. This year, we are excited to be building a static set after several years of smaller set pieces."
The Stage Notes Orchestra returns for the show. It's made up of professional musicians, music educators, Stage Notes alumni and exceptional high school musicians. Andrea Wischerath, a recently retired instrumental music teacher from Watertown High School, coordinates the orchestra.
Josh Marra, Stage Notes alum from 2022 (middle son to Ticia and Kyle), returns this summer as "Anything Goes" choreographer. He is studying television and film arts at Buffalo State University. Guest choreographer is Lisa Boulter.
"Lisa has been teaching the students how to tap dance and helping with the big dance numbers in the show," Ticia said. "It's been a thrill to be working with her. Lisa choreographed 'Anything Goes' at Watertown High School for Russ Faunce back in 1987, with Kyle and I both in the production."
A few years later, Boulter starred as Reno Sweeney in a Watertown Lyric Theater production of "Anything Goes."
"I was one of her Angels (backup singers)," Ticia said. "Kyle and I couldn't do this show without Lisa involved. 'Anything Goes' and Lisa go hand in hand in our hearts. It's a thrill to have her working with our students and on our team this year."
Collin Zehr, vocal music teacher at Thousand Islands Central, is new to the Stage Notes production team this year.
"He brings refreshing, youthful energy and ideas to Stage Notes," Ticia said. "Just one of many examples is that he appointed three social media ambassadors to help with our marketing of the show. It's fun to watch the students engage with Mr. Zehr and to watch him support their ideas on how to make their peers interested in what we are doing."
nonprofit mission
Stage Notes shows are held at the Dulles State Office Building auditorium. However, increasing rental fees by the state for use of the space has hampered what Stage Notes can give back to the community.
For example, in 2023, Stage Notes paid $1,641 to use the theater for rehearsals and show weekend for "Guys and Dolls." Last summer, the nonprofit paid the state $5,641 and used the building for less time than the previous year for its "The Prom" musical.
"Stage Notes students are fortunate to have amazing supporters who value it, not only for the entertainment we bring to our community, but also the education in theater and philanthropy that is the cornerstone of our organization," Ticia said.
She said that Stage Notes students are obligated to fundraise, as they learn the challenges of financially supporting a nonprofit organization and advocating for the arts.
"The annual sponsorship campaign is our biggest fundraiser, and this year our students raised over $32,000 for our budget," Ticia said. "Stage Notes is incredibly fortunate to have a community that chooses to support our students and our mission, as we receive no other outside funding."
Stage Notes budgets, on average, approximately $1,000 per student for its productions.
"So our students have made it possible for us to pay for the show by opening night, ensuring that ticket sales can go back into the community, fulfilling our motto of 'Performance with a Purpose,'" Ticia said.
Ticia has a self-commitment of 20 years in managing Stage Notes. "Anything Goes" marks its 17th season and its 19th production.
"The freshman class this year will be our seniors in our 20th season," she said. "We're already thinking about what that will look like, and it's fun to know the students who will be celebrating that milestone with us."
All aboard
The cast of "Anything Goes":
Reno Sweeney, played by: Mia Mouaikel
Reno's Angels: Kelsee Donato, Frances Weir, Hazel Coughlin and Felicity DelGranado.
Hope Harcourt: Finley Swartz.
Evangeline Harcourt: Lillian Exford.
Lord Evelyn Oakleigh: Rhett Beuttenmuller.
Elisa Whitney: Andy Merryman.
Billy Crocker: Jack Bickel.
Moonface Martin: Trey Urf.
Erma: Mia Kelly.
Spit: Arianna Dyer.
Dippy: Willow Terrell.
The Captain: Camden Haynes.
Purser: Ira Blauvelt.
—Brady Horton plays the bartender, an FBI agent, newspaper photographer, the "young swell," a sailor and is a featured dancer.
—Aiden Cain also plays the above roles, with the exception of the bartender.
Rev. Henry T. Dobson: played by Leon Kelsey.
Featured passengers and dancers: Natalie DiFabion and Julianne Goodenbery.
Featured passenger: Michaela Adsit.
Featured passenger and old lady: Isabella Davies.
Passengers: Madison Bennett, Jade Coughlin, Lucy Johnson, Nevaeh Kelsey, Abigail King, Evangeline Lane, Noelle Voss and Paige Widrick.
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