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New Trier presents Zombie Prom, The Threepenny Opera
12/5/11 Northfield New Trier students practice for the upcoming performance of Zombie Prom at the Cornog Auditorium.Makaila Rosin and Jeffery McHugh during rehearsal. | Tamara Bell~Sun Times Media
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Updated: January 13, 2012 10:59AM
The Performing Arts Division of New Trier High School will present Zombie Prom and The Threepenny Opera this week.
Zombie Prom, New Trier’s freshman-sophomore musical workshop, will warm the Cornog Auditorium at the Northfield Campus Dec. 7 at 7:30 p.m., Dec. 8 and 9 at 4:30 p.m., and Dec. 10 at 7:30 p.m. This girl-loves-ghoul rock and roll musical tells the story of the students at Enrico Fermi High. Toffee has fallen for the class bad boy, an orphan named Jonny. Toffee’s parents force her to end the romance and Jonny rides his motorcycle into the nuclear waste of the neighboring atomic power plant to his death. Somehow, Zombie Jonny escapes his lead-lined coffin at the bottom of the ocean and returns to town determined to reclaim Toffee’s heart and take her to the prom. Could there be a better reason to become one of the undead?
“This musical is such fun on many levels,” says director Hilerre Kirsch. “First, it’s just such a joyous send-up of the fifties genre – complete with poodle skirts and cheesy horror film clichés. But it’s also a loving commentary on the extreme nature of teenage emotions and offers a chance for kids to make fun of themselves. We are all working hard and having a great time putting this workshop together.”
The Wednesday at 7:30 and Friday at 4:30 cast includes Joe Agase, Samantha Bravos, Caroline Corley, Esther Fishbein, Isaac Gamoran, Catherine Heath, Ben Klein, Hailey Kline, Mary Lee, Jack Levin, Jeffrey McHugh, Krista Mersino, Laura Montenegro, Sammie Mulmot, Makaila Rosin, Lucas Sanders, Nikki Scheman, Rebecca Schriesheim, Katie Shelman, Leah Sherin, Alina Taber, Kenneth Townsend, Brad Wiedrich, and Elizabeth Woodburn.
The Thursday at 4:30 and Saturday at 7:30 cast includes Alice Barlow, Kevin Blair, Shira Brandhandler, Helen Feeney, Sabrina Fosse, Preston Fulks, Rachel Goldstein, Rachel Goldstein, Katie Gotta, Madeline Harbaugh, Carolyn Kaiser, Zach Lobman, Natalie Miller, Maddie Murnane, Emma Noyes, Jack Oldfield, Allie Pappas, Josh Philoon, Brian Reedy, Kevin Slowey, Aria Szalai-Raymond, Loucine Topouzian, Brian Weaver, Max Weiner, and Lindsey Whisler.
Bertolt Brecht’s Threepenny Opera sets the stage for laughter, music, and suspense Dec. 8 and 9 at 7:30 p.m. and Dec. 10 at 2:00 p.m. in the McGee Theatre at the Winnetka Campus. This play with music explores the underbelly of jazz-age London and the twisted world of beggars, thieves, and entrepreneurs. The sly portrayal of epic theatre promises to push audiences to consider whether it is worse to rob or worse to ruin.
“I’m very excited by the work of our scenic designer, Richard Penrod,” says director Josh Rubin. “The play itself is set at the start of the Victorian age when carnivals and side shows were popular entertainment for both upper and lower class citizens in London. The set features a functioning carousel and weaves together the elements of carnival showmanship and spectacle with music and drama.”
“Also,” Rubin continues, “the play was first written in 1928 and criticized the growing separation of upper and lower class citizens in both Europe and the US. Given the economic and political issues of today ranging from the debt crisis to the occupy movement, the issues are still relevant and the play provides a lens for students and audiences to consider our past as we determine our next steps.”
The cast includes Abby Albrecht, Emily Ashenden, Sarah Bachler, Zoey Bond, Emma Bressler, Maude Brown, John Burns, Christie Castagna, Valerie Feygel, Barbara Harvey, Kyle Kahnweiler, Chloe Knight, Jill Lurie, Gregg Miller, Bridget Murdoch, Ellen Naughton, Jessica Perelman, Christopher Perrin, Alexi Seigel, Leah Silberman, and Emily Trevor.
Tickets for both productions are available online for purchase by credit card now and up to 24 hours prior to each performance at www.seatyourself.biz/newtrier., Tickets are $8, which includes the service charge. Tickets at the door will be $8.50.
