Millstone Township Middle School presented Oliver! a musical with music and lyrics by Lionel Bart. The script was based upon the novel Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens. The production was directed by resident Lisamarie Cappuzzo, with the help of Assistant Directors Vince D’Aniello and Jackie Tesoriero (both teachers at the Middle School), and Musical Director Michael Gilch.
Lisamarie Cappuzzo is a local Millstone resident with over 20 years of experience directing students from preschool through high school. She has been directing productions since graduating from The Catholic University of America, where she earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Theatre Education in 1992. She has formally taught and directed theatre at St. John Vianney High School in Holmdel and Sampson G. Smith Intermediate School in Franklin Twp. In the last 5 years, she has directed 10 productions for grades 1-8. This will be her 3rd production at the Middle School. (Previous Middle School productions include Guys and Dolls and Bye Bye Birdie.) Lisamarie is excited to be working with middle school students again, and is so thankful for the encouragement, support and enthusiasm she has received from parents, students, and staff.
Lisamarie was assisted by Vincent D’Aniello. Vince teaches Spanish at the Middle School, and has assisted with the school’s productions for the last 5 years. This year Jackie Tesoriero, a part-time Language Arts teacher at the Middle School, joined the directing team. With the help of two assistants, it was possible to have multiple scenes being rehearsed at one time, and allows the actors to experience more one-on-one coaching. Rehearsals were very busy – we didn’t waste a second! We hope that this will ultimately enable our actors to develop their roles to their fullest potential. But this was not just about one isolated production. Besides continuing to develop their talent, we were also working to develop their self-confidence, their communication skills, and the way they collaborate with others – all of which are invaluable life skills.
The musical numbers were choreographed by Allentown High School students Rachel Lew (senior) and Rachel Masci (junior). “We were so fortunate that these young ladies share their time and talent with us! Choreographing dances for a group this size is a challenge, even for seasoned choreographers. They handled the task with remarkable professionalism, creativity and patience!”
The cast was made up of 75 middle school students, including 8th grader Davis Bush (playing the title role), Victoria Merse (grade 8) as Nancy, Hunter Stahley (grade 8) as Fagin, Mike Ragosa (grade 6) as The Artful Dodger, Obi Chikezie (grade 7) as the evil Bill Sykes, Michael Deitz (grade 8) as Mr. Bumble, and Grace Ragosa (grade 8) as Widow Corney. Other featured performers include Gianna Pallante (grade 7) as Bet, Zach Elwell (grade 8) as Mr. Sowerbery, Gillian Finnegan (grade 8) as Mrs. Sowerberry, Daniel Shuttner (grade 8) as Noah, and Shannon Donnelly (grade 8) as Charlotte. I wish I could name all 75 actors! As far as I am concerned, each and every one of them is an integral part of this production. Their collective energy, talent, and enthusiasm was key to making this Dickens classic come to life!
The scenery was designed, built and painted by Jamie Allaire of Jackson Twp and Art Teacher Frank Iglesias, with the assistance of the Middle School Art Club. The design team worked to create a set that is versatile, allowing creative staging, and visually established the action within the context of the streets of London in the mid-1800’s.
We were also fortunate to have such a wonderful group of parents who volunteered their help in various ways, from props and costumes to concessions, ticket sales and even organizing the cast party! We couldn’t have achieved such a professional quality without all of their time and talent.
This play was selected primarily because of its music, which often juxtaposes dark, sinister lyrics with upbeat, bouncy melodies. The score includes many Broadway favorites, including “I’d Do Anything,” “Food, Glorious Food,” “Where Is Love,” and “Consider Yourself.” These are the kinds of songs the audience will definitely leave the theater humming!
Oliver! Is a story of loyalty vs. betrayal, villainy vs. friendship, despair vs. hope. It is set in London around 1850, a time of extreme poverty, and follows the journey of Oliver Twist, an orphan in a dreary workhouse. Things go from bad to worse for Oliver, when he is sold to a funeral director for the purpose of being a coffin follower for children. He manages to run away and is taken in by the quirky and somewhat self-promoting Fagin and his gang of pickpockets. Oliver feels at home amongst this motley crew of thieves, and they waste no time teaching him the ropes. However, on his first outing, Oliver is arrested for picking the pocket of the wealthy Mr. Brownlow. The “twist” in the tale is that the kind-hearted Mr. Brownlow takes Oliver in and cares for him. Of course, the story doesn’t end there! The murderous Bill Sykes vows to bring Oliver back before he reveals information that could not only implicate Fagin and the boys, but Sykes as well. And not even the loyal and doting Nancy can get in his way. Does Oliver’s tale have a happy ending? We invite you to come see our production to find out!
Oliver! was performed on Friday and Saturday, March 7 & 8.
Oliver! was produced with permission by Tams Witmark Music Library, Inc. 560 Lexington Ave, New York, NY 10022.