BOALSBURG — For the fourth consecutive year, the students of Saint Joseph’s Catholic Academy’s musical theatre program are set to perform their spring musical. Two performances of the Broadway classic ‘Oliver’ will take place at 7 p.m. Thursday and Friday at Nittany Christian School, 1221 W. Whitehall Rd.
‘Oliver,’ which is based on Charles Dickens’ ‘Oliver Twist,’ tells the tale of an orphan who gets entangled in the world of pickpocketing and street crime, but finds acceptance and camaraderie along the way.
The spring musical has become a yearly hit at Saint Joseph’s, with the past three years seeing productions of three acclaimed musicals:’Fame,’ ‘Into the Woods,’ and ‘The Sound of Music.’
Joseph Hergenreder, performing arts teacher and student life director at Saint Joseph’s, said that several elements set this year’s ‘Oliver’ apart from previous productions. With 32 students in the cast and 10 students in the technical crew, it will be the largest show ever produced by the school. And its new location at State College Alliance Church/Nittany Christian School brings a new set of exciting challenges and opportunities to the table.
“For the first time, the cast, crew and production staff will be responsible for every aspect of the performance,” said Hergenreder, “including set design, costume design, lighting, sound, and hair and make-up.”
Hergenreder said that a good audience turnout will be especially important to the students in this ambitious new undertaking.
“A large audience is vital to the success of the show,” he said. “The cast needs to feel energy and response to what they are doing on stage.”
Tickets are available for $10 for adults and $5 for students 18 and under. They can be purchased at the door, or reserved by calling the SJCA office at (814) 808-6118 or emailing Joseph Hergenreder at [email protected].
