By By KEVIN SCOTT CUTLER
Lifestyles & Features Editor
The smell of greasepaint and the roar of the crowd is expected to fill the air in the Washington High School Performing Arts Center next week.
The occasion is the school’s annual musical, scheduled for March 19-20 at 7:30 p.m. and March 21 at 2 p.m. Tickets are $7 per person for each performance.
“Anything Goes” has been a hit on and off Broadway, and various incarnations have graced the movie screen, in 1936 and 1956, as well as television, in 1954. Such well known performers as Ethel Merman, Bing Crosby, Frank Sinatra, Patti Lupone, Leslie Uggams and Donald O’Connor have been featured in the show.
But this time around, the stars are Washington High School students. Among them is sophomore Erin Stowe, who portrays saucy Reno Sweeney.
“She is a former-evangelist-turned-nightclub-singer,” Stowe said of her character. “This show has a wonderful cast, good songs, and it will be better than anything on TV.”
Joining Stowe in praising the students’ efforts is Charlotte Kassnove, a WHS art teacher who is helping stage the show and design the sets.
“We all pitch in to do our share,” Kassnove said of the other staff involved in the project, including Travis Carter, Penny Paul, Chris Stanton and Melissa Moore.
“This show is going to be great,” Kassnove said. “It’s going to be extremely entertaining, and this will be a show everyone needs to come and see.”
In addition to Stowe, the “Anything Goes” cast includes, in no particular order, York Winstead, Elisha J. Whitney; Harley Taylor, steward; Ashley Bostic, reporter and girl No. 3; Kayla Bruce, cameraman and girl No. 2; Dylan Willoughby, Sir Evelyn Oakleigh; Jessica Bass, Mrs. Wadsworth T. Harcourt; Megan McLawhorn, Hope Harcourt; Will Blake, Bishop Henry T. Dobson; Charlie Tingen Billy Crocker; Thomas Sutton, Moonface Martin; Megan White, Ching; Elizabeth Nuckols, Ling; John Hill, purser; Sarah Oswald, Bonnie; Gray Peedin, captain; Allie Evans, Chastity; Lauren Gargaro, Purity; Brittany Woolard, Virtue; Courtney Jennette, Charity; and Chelsea Fucito, girl No. 1.
Russell Holloman, WHS principal, said he is impressed with the show.
“The entire cast and all of the directors have been working so hard to make this an amazing show. I don’t know if people realize how many months of preparation, hours of set building and day after day of rehearsals it takes to make this happen,” Holloman told the Daily News on Wednesday. “These students, faculty members and community volunteers really give it their all to make this a Broadway-class performance. I hope we have a packed house every night so they can really showcase their talents. They are already deserving of a Tony Award in our book.”
Tickets to the show are available from any cast member and the Washington High School office.