 | | | Nathaniel Pergamit (Benny South Street), Andy Grubbs (Nathan Detroit), Matt Patera (Nicely Nicely),
Benjamin Thomas (Sky Masterson) Photo Cathy Dausman
| | | | | | The Lamorinda hills will soon be alive with the sound of music as three local high schools present their spring musical theater performances. This year's offerings are Once Upon a Mattress, at Acalanes High School, Guys & Dolls at Campolindo High School and Once Upon a Mattress at Miramonte High School. Both musicals are lighthearted works designed for a large cast, making them great opportunities to showcase talented high school singers, dancers and comic actors. Costumes and sets are pure eye candy.
Once Upon a Mattress is a twist on the Hans Christian Anderson fairy tale The Princess and the Pea. In a small medieval kingdom, Prince Dauntless searches for a suitable bride. A pea placed under twenty mattresses is designed to test suitable candidates, but with a cunning queen on the throne, it's not easy.
The show made its Broadway stage appearance in 1959, with Carole Burnett in the starring role; she reprised the role on television. The Acalanes version is a production of the school's Concert Choir, and is largely student-run, from costumes to makeup to choreography. Miramonte's version takes the Princess Winifred challenge seriously, layering mattress upon mattress on stage to make a bed high enough for nosebleeds.
Guys & Dolls is set in New York City circa 1950. The Frank Loesser (he wrote the lyrics) website calls it "a fable about what happens to gambling men and the women who long to tame them." It says "Guys & Dolls is populated with gangsters and gamblers, [Salvation Army-type] ministers and showgirls."
Campolindo's musical features two full casts rotating through eight performances.
But don't choose just one show, or two; there are enough performances to enjoy all three!
Here are details:
At Acalanes High School: Once Upon a Mattress
Venue: Performing Arts Center
Show dates: February 29, March 1-3
Show times: 7:30 p.m.
Tickets: adults, $16; students and seniors (60+) $14
Buy them online at www.acalaneschoral.org
At Campolindo High School: Guys & Dolls
Venue: Performing Arts Center
Show dates: March 15, 16, 17 and March 22, 23, 24
Show times: 7:30 p.m.; matinees March 17 and 24 at 2 p.m.
Tickets: $18 and $13, depending on show
Buy them: online at www.campochoir.com
or deliver form and payment to CHS choir room.
Unsold tickets sell at box office before the show.
At Miramonte High School: Once Upon a Mattress
Venue: Miramonte Theater
Show dates: March 15, 16, 22, 23; matinees March 17, 18 at 4 p.m.
Show times: 7:30 p.m.
Tickets: $10-20; opening night special: $5 for OIS and MHS students with ID.
Buy them online at www.showtix4u.com , or at the door before the show.
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Lamorinda Weekly, Moraga CA