If you have a sense of humor you’ll want to be in the audience this weekend. The Huntington High School drama club will present the musical comedy Once Upon a Mattress this Friday and Saturday in the school auditorium. Tickets will be available at the door.
The curtain will go up on Friday at 7:30 p.m. and again on Saturday at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. General admission tickets are priced at $10. Senior citizens, staff members and students showing an ID card will be admitted for $5. The auditorium is handicapped accessible.
Auditions began in early September and rehearsals have been ongoing for weeks. Drama club faculty advisor Michael Schwendemann said club members have had to “go with the flow” and overcome many issues along the way.
“We have had a tough go this year,” Mr. Schwendemann said. “The auditorium is used for so many events we have had to rehearse in any space that was available. No room was safe once we started rehearsal. You were liable to spot us singing and dancing anywhere; even in the hallway.”
The cast includes (in order of appearance) Abby Semelsberger, Grace Gedeon, Peter Ciccone, Jordan Biener, Olivia Baldanza, Will Fallon, Robert Jean-Gilles, Isabella Cahill, Luis Cuji, Bradley Landberg, Andrew Aprigliano, Zubair Ali, Rory Dara, Chris Porzio, Amelia Maggio, Amara Ayler, Amelia Reilly, Keenan Lyons, Phoebe Walther, Mary Kate Wolber, Maddie Shea, Anna Ardell, LJ Kindall, Nicole Sevilla, Natalie Ciccone, Faith Youngquist, Jennifer Low, Kyra DeSalvo, Alyssa Befumo and Hannah Olesen.
The seniors who have been part of the club for so many years are somewhat emotional about this being their last production. They are striving to both have fun and go out with a hit show.
“I’m so excited to be a part of the musical again this year,” Ms. Biener said. “It has been a long and hard process, but I can’t wait to see all of our hard work pay off this weekend. It has been hard to come to the realization that this will be my last show at the high school. I couldn’t think of a better way to go out. The friends and memories I have made will last a lifetime. I would like to especially thank Mr. Schwendemann for all his dedication and support. He is the reason why the drama club is what it is. I could not imagine the program without him. I hope everyone comes out to see the show and enjoys watching it as much as we love performing in it.”
The original 1959 Broadway show starred a young Carol Burnett. Huntington’s actors and musicians are set to breathe new life into the delightful story this weekend.
“The dedication of this year’s cast, especially my seniors was evident this past weekend as we rehearsed both Saturday and Sunday,” Mr. Schwendemann said. “The seniors have led by example through both quiet confidence and by showing the underclassmen the ropes as to what is expected from them both now and in the future.”
A sensational group of musicians will be in the orchestra pit for the show. The group has been learning the music and rehearsing for months. Crowds are in for a treat when they hear these talented teenagers perform this coming weekend.
“At its heart Once Upon a Mattress is the story of a princess that understands who she is and is not afraid to show it,” Mr. Schwendemann said. “Showing us that we should not judge a book by its cover, for we all have something we can share with another human being and the world.”
