Grand Island High School's

Guys And Dolls - Behind The Scenes - 2004

Grand Island Senior High School students are busy behind the scenes to prepare for the opening of Guys and Dolls for three evening performances-Thursday, February 5, Friday, February 6, and Saturday, February 7 at 7:30 in the High School Auditorium.  Tickets are $7 General Admission and are now available from all cast members.  Tickets may be held on reserve by calling the High School Music Department at 773-8868.  

With opening night one week away, a dedicated set painting crew under the watchful eye of Mr. Mark Tollner has been working to create the feeling of old Broadway on the high school stage.  The set artists include:  Heather Burkman, Emily Pici, Ashleah Shelton, Garrett Fallin, Catherine Cline, Stephanie Hopkins, Twila Swope and Mary Beth Lacki.  

Stage Manager, Lexie Sutherland, has assembled a stage crew to handle the quick changes between scenes.  They include: Mary Kate Duff, Jessica O’Brien, Kelly Frantz, Aaron Wilson, Josh Billica, and Mandi Thompson.   

Our cast is indebted to the dedication and hard work of the Pit Orchestra under the direction of Mr. Martin Allen.  This ensemble composed entirely of students is a reflection of the high caliber of talent among the student body.   Members of the orchestra include:  Kate Bonaquist on piccolo; Heather Burkman on flute; Kari Johnson on oboe and English horn; clarinetists, Rebecka Schaber, Emily Pifer, Shayna DiMatteo, Nicole Roach; Chelsea DeGlopper on bass clarinet; Margaret Kiehl and Erin Bonaquist playing alto sax, Meagan Bognar and Marcellus Hogan on tenor sax and Wesley Burkman on baritone sax.  Trumpeters  Kevin Laurendi, Joe Orsolits, Michael Schimley; French horn players, Lauren Campbell and Laura Remmes, and trombonist Greg Lazelle  complete the brass section.  Accompanying on strings are violinists, Lindsay Henderson, Stephanie Cartwright, Stacey Monaco, and Nick Hahn; cellists, Alex Angelo and bassists, Matt Fields and Ellen Cameron.  Percussionists include Doug Ingraham and Jill Endres.  

Students fill the many jobs necessary to make a musical come to life each year.  The poster and program was designed by Emily Pici.  The feature dancers,  Lindsay Fetzer, Amanda George , Allie  McLean, Shannon O’Brien and Yasmin Raza,  spend many hours choreographing dance selections.  This year’s Caribbean Cuties: Melissa Affuso, Carissa Bailey, Amy Boutet Colleen George, Erin Hanel, Nicole Koerntgen, Chantelle LeFevre, Friederike Leitlein, Julie Pangborn, Noelle Pietras, Tracey Schmidt, Kari Tondera, Devon Toth and Cassie Ungaro have all worked to design the dance number called Havana.  Students are still signing up to serve as ushers and make-ups assistants.  

With a cast of 75 students and  over 50 students working behinds the scenes, Guys and Dolls is truly a home grown production.