The J. Taylor Finley Middle School drama club is in the final weeks of rehearsals for its production of Mulan Jr. The show promises to take its place among the finest ever staged at the school.
“The Broadway musical Mulan Jr. offers our Finley performers a powerful, complex music score with fugues, lyrical pieces and lively swing numbers,” said teacher Gina-Marie Molvaut, who serves as the drama club’s faculty advisor. “This fabulous music score combines with its script into a grandiose production of impressive historical scenes, large-group dances, touching domestic scenes, humorous exchanges and self-reflective moments.”
Ms. Molvaut and the actors and stagehands who comprise this year’s drama club are excited to perform for what’s expected to be back to back of packed houses.
“The setting of Mulan’s journey in Imperial China demands a certain exquisite simplicity suggested visually through color, form and subtle detail and opposed by the harsh, brutal reality of war, destruction and death,” Ms. Molvaut said. “The legend of the Chinese heroine Mulan has been told for centuries and yet seems so contemporary in its questioning of gender roles. The actions of this young woman, who disguises herself as a man to serve in the army in her father’s place, makes Mulan an inspirational model for young woman of all times, while affirming the core values of loyalty and honor. Mulan’s pathway; one of destiny, strength and love, inevitably becomes one of change.”
Rehearsals and the entire musical experience has been exceedingly educational for the students participating in the show. “Our production of Mulan Jr. has the Finley drama club exploring the universal theme of individual sacrifice for the greater good and how the path of personal discovery often lies in that sacrifice,” Ms. Molvaut said.
Performances are scheduled for Friday and Saturday, February 9-10 at 7 p.m. Tickets will be sold at the door for $8.
“Mulan Jr. is great piece for the Finley drama club because it offers our cast members many varied roles,” Ms. Molvaut said. The cast includes:
Mulan: Ally Kustera
Shang: Mack Brunner
Mushu: Dylan Brinn
Fa Zhou & Shan-Yu: Josh Youngquist
Grandma Fa: Angie Hernandez-Ramos
Fa Li: Alexis Kaloudis
Ancestor Laozi: Sophia Matheus
Ancestor Lin: Lauren Holly
Ancestor Yun: Sophia Segal
Ancestor Hong: Erin Purcell
Ancestor Zhang: Anaya Watkis
Chi Fu: Dianna Harris
The Matchmaker: Delia Caruso
Soldier Ling: Nick Barretta
Soldier Qian Po: David Canas
Soldier Yao: Jeffrey Gudiel
Emperor: Morgan Colleluori
Hun Soldier Magyar: Shannon Milner
Hun Soldier Subar-Tu: Christina Drummings
Chinese Soldiers Chen & Liu: Charlotte Simon, Aislyn Franciscovich
Villagers: Maria Verfenstein, Devon Boyle, Sarah Corwin
Cheongsam Salesperson: Katerina Damiano
“I was really nervous to take on a lead, but I’m surrounded by such great, supporting people,” said Ms. Kustera, who will play the part of Mulan. “I am so excited to share this incredible show!”
Dozens of Finley students are involved with the production in one way or another. “Our additional ensemble members Danielle Mendikyan, Nadeera Ali, Kyla Crowder, Katerina Damiano, Kayla Fives, Isabella Lanfranco and Linnea Wong not only play, sing and dance in the roles of mothers, daughters, maidens, villagers, Chinese soldiers and Huns, but their voices give our production its full-bodied power and they create the many essential sound effects that are necessary to advance the play’s action,” Ms. Molvaut said.
The play’s vocalists are being coach by Huntington High School choir director Victoria Garbarino. Finley music teacher Daniel Santangelo is supervising stage crew members Jack Alba, Aydan Bachman, Hannah Byers, Annika Galvin, James Kretschmer, Katie Nunez, Leda Reldon and Emma Waters.
Huntington junior Andy Ulloa is assisting as the play’s student director, participating in all facets of the production. “Both his technical knowledge and staging experience have been essential throughout the creative process,” Ms. Molvaut said.
“I has been an amazing experience working with amazing and talented students,” Mr. Ulloa said. “Despite a couple of bumps in the process, I know the whole cast will do amazing and it will teach them that hard work really does pay off.”
Eighth graders Ally Kustera, Josh Youngquist, and Lauren Holly have assumed the role of junior directors during rehearsals. Eighth grader Christina Drummings has taken on responsibilities as the dance captain.
“I have had an amazing time putting together this production with everybody involved,” said Mr. Youngquist, who is playing the parts of Fa Zhou, Mulan’s father and Shan-Yu, the Hun leader. “Drama club is an unforgettable experience.”
As rehearsals reach a critical point, all signs point to the musical being a smash hit. The actors are having a blast along the way. “Finley drama club is a lot of fun,” said Mr. Brunner, who is playing the part of Shang, the Chinese army leader. “I am also learning about what goes into putting a production together. I am really grateful to be a part of Mulan Jr.”
Theater-goers are in for a treat. “With the support of several parent volunteers, especially Amy Fives, we have acquired an incredible collection of costumes, which are sure to enhance the spectacular local color of our production of Mulan Jr.,” Ms. Molvaut said.
