Drinking, sex and partying, taboo topics that are not exactly typical musical themes, are anything but hushed in Paly’s upcoming production of “Anything Goes.”
“We usually do a musical every other year,” theater teacher Kristen Lo said. “We’ve never done a big musical like this one before.”
Lo chose to do this particular musical because she performed it when she was in high school. It also has different roles and types of acting than other plays or musicals put on at Paly.
“It [“Anything Goes”] has lots of leads,” Lo said. “We can have three or four guys and girls as huge parts. This is a big change for the senior class to have the opportunity to be in a larger role.”
Lo also decided to put on this musical because it had a new style of acting that Paly has no seen before. Lo explains the acting to have “lots of jokes with the stereotypical characters in acting.”
Lo explains how everyone in the musical must be able to act, sing and dance.
This year’s musical also has brought new people into the theater program. Senior John Stirrat and junior Kelly Hafner are both making their debut as actors on the Paly stage.
Hafner joined choir this year at Paly, but has never been part of a theater production at the school until this musical.
“I’ve always wanted to do a musical and my choir teacher, Mr. Najar encouraged us to try out,” Hafner said. “I thought it [the musical] was going to be a boring, old-fashioned script, but it turned out to be pretty funny. It has some raunchy jokes that you wouldn’t expect people from the 1930’s to say.”
There will even be changes this year with the musical’s opening night on March 16. Lo has decided to hold a Gala night with dessert and dancing, after the musical’s first show. Lo hopes this new addition to opening night will attract more people and encourage a younger crowd to see the musical.
Lo has high expectations of her cast in their performances.
“[This is] one of the best casts I’ve had,” Lo said. “They are very willing to perform.”
Currently, the cast has “got the elements down,” but is still putting the details together, according to Lo.
Opening night for “Anything Goes” will take place March 16 at 8:00 p.m. in the theater. Shows on March 17 and March 22 through March 24 will be at 8:00 p.m. and March 21 will be at 4:00 pm. Tickets for opening night will be $20 for everyone. All other nights will be $5 for students and $10 for adults.