Rehearsals underway for

“Nice Work”

about the show Rehearsals for the March 2-4 Spring musical production of “Nice Work If You Can Get

It”  began January 2nd at Newark High School.“Nice Work If You Can Get It” is a new musical with an old twist! The show premiered

on Broadway in 2012 and features music by George and Ira Gershwin. Set in the 1920's, it's a screwball comedy as actors sing and tap dance their way through a story of romance, rum running, and snappy dialogue. Songs include "Someone to Watch Over Me", "Fascinating Rhythm", "But Not For Me" and "S'Wonderful". More information is available here: https://www.newarkcsd.org/Page/7256

So why did Director Emily Howard pick this show?“I spend a lot of time with our team finding the best fit for our students each year,” she said.

“I was excited to find a musical that featured traditional music but still has a modern feel. "Nice Work" is a spruced up version of a 1926 musical called "Oh, Kay!".

“In this version, the dialogue is snappier and many of the characters have been revamped,” she continued. I especially love the female roles in this show. The main character, Billie, is a real three-dimensional woman running a business. Sure, it's a bootlegging operation . . . but the show is set in the 1920's! I love tap dancing and have been waiting to find the right show to get all of our actors tapping. This is it! I held open tap class for interested students starting in October and it has been really wonderful to see them develop this skill. I'm excited to see what our end result will be!” 

NHS vocal music teacher Kate Flock is the vocal director for the show; NHS instrumental music teacher Bob Humphey is the orchestra director and Mary Lou Bonnell is the piano accompanist. Howard is also the choreographer and artistic director for the show.

The Cast features: Carson Jordan as Jimmy Winter, Natalie Acquista as Jeannie Muldoon, Madison Chandler as Billie Bendix, Jaston Brooks as Cookie McGee, Ben Cepulo as Duke Mahoney, Nicholas Stalker as Senator Max Evergreen, Megan Cauwels as Duchess Estonia Dulworth, Ryan Hermenet as Chief Barry, Lindsay Whiting as Eileen Evergreen and Anisha Stallworth as Millicent Winter. The Chorus Girls include: Isabella Bailey, Anna Bouwens, Kelsie Bushart, Liljen Draasch, Isabelle Figueroa, Jaidyn Fontanez-Orwen, Alena Freiberga, Cherylanne Garrett,

Emma Healy, Lauren MacTaggart, Jadan Smith, Stallworth, Deborah Szarek, Medina VanDuyne and Emma Whiting. Members of the Vice Squad include: Arin Blaisdell, Liam Childs, Jack Comella, Isaiah Hall, Ashton Keene and Alex Sepulveda. The Bubble Girls and Boys include: Acquista, Bailey, Bushart, Childs, Freiberga, Garrett, Ashton Keene, MacTaggart, Szarek and VanDuyne. Orchestra members include: McKenna Briggs and Grace Kreuser on clarinet; Brendan Briggs and Mallory Williams on trumpet; and Nick Cepulo on percussion. Dave Howard is in charge of set design and Linda Whiting is in charge of costumes. Amanda Williams and Kayla Williams are the stage managers; Preston Precourt is the lighting board operator; Olivia Bailey is in charge of artwork design; and Lauren Santino is in charge of cast, crew and orchestra headshots. Deck, fly team, spotlight and sound crew members include: Blake Aldrich, Phillip Collum, Liberty Faliveno, Rachel George, Heather LeBerth, Lauren Mays and Jacob Stalker. Show times will be 7:30 p.m. March 2nd and 3rd and at 2 p.m. March 4th. Tickets are $7 for adults, $5 for students/seniors and will be available at the door.

Make sure to see it!