Local youngsters cast in ‘42nd Street'

Five performances scheduled for Vernon High School stage Vernon — Highland Stage will perform “42nd Street” at Vernon Township High School on July 31, Aug. 1, 7 and 8 at 8 p.m. and Aug. 8 at 2 p.m. Based on the 1933 Busby Berkeley movie musical, “42nd Street” tells the story of a starry-eyed young actress named Peggy Sawyer who comes to audition for the new Julian Marsh-directed musical about to open on Broadway. While she can’t seem to stay in the good graces of the show’s aging leading lady Dorothy Brock, Sawyer soon catches the eye of the famous director. On opening night, Brock breaks her ankle and panic spreads through the company as the show is doomed for closure, until it is suggested that Sawyer take the role. In only 36 hours, she becomes a star. With a book by Michael Stewart and Mark Bramble, music by Harry Warren and lyrics by Al Dubin, the score includes “We’re in the Money,” “You’re Getting to be a Habit With Me,” “Lullaby of Broadway,” and of course, “42nd Street.” Cast features Tara Wentzell as Peggy Sawyer The cast features Tara Wentzell as Peggy Sawyer, Rich Albertini as Julian Marsh, Nick Wolf as Billy Lawlor, and Lauren Caldera as Dorothy Brock, the prima donna past her prime. “42nd Street” also features David Rolando (Andy Lee), David Grice (Bert Barry), Tina Tozzi (Maggie Jones), James McMaster (Pat Denning), Bobby Texel (Abner Dillon) and Kristin Tarczynski as Anytime Annie. Also in the cast are Ben Anderson, Kaylee Black, Allison Boehm, Sophia Contreni, Miranda Cooper, Joe Dans,Noelle Dowd, Shea Dowd, Mike Easton, Daria Ferdine, Katie Flynn, Kaitlyn Gallaugher, Denise Galuzzo, Katie Glowacki, Jack Grosser, Melissa Harboy, Brooke Harrsch, Sean Higginson, Sarah Hoch, Andrew Kraus, Ashley Kraus, Rebecca Krieger, Blair Lanza, Amanda Losco, Meghan Maffetone, Molly Mantell, Emily McCambridge, Tamara McClosky, Victoria Meneses, Emily Moreno, Kayla Moran, Amanda Mudrick, Elena Nita, Brianna O’Loughlin, Christian Rohde, Emily Ross, Vicki Ross, Victoria Ruffo, Lauren Ruggiero, Nathaniel Schadegg, Brooke Stanton, Amanda Stillings, Randy Stormes, Kaylee Tancredi, Mariajesus Valdes, Luke Venskus, Madeline Venskus, Dylan VonderLinden, Kassidy Wagner, Viktoria-Leigh Wagner, Marissa Walker, Grace Walter-Cardinal, Nick Weiss, Devin Welch, Catherine Whitman, Morgan Ziegler, Paige Ziegler and Shaelyn Zimmerman. This musical production is the company’s annual Summer Youth Theatre Project. The show is directed by Heather Burns. Musical direction is by Faith Anderson and choreography is by Renee Ziegler. Noelle Krynicky is the company stage manager. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased at the door. For more information call 973-271-7853 or visit www.thehighlandstage.org.