MANSFIELD, OHIO. The comedic musical “Singin’ in the Rain” will be presented at Founder’s Auditorium at the Ohio State University at Mansfield on October 16, 17, 23, 24, and 25, 2015. Mansfield Youth Theatre is a collaborative partnership between the Renaissance Performing Arts Association and the Ohio State University-Mansfield Theatre Department.
Presented by Mansfield Youth Theatre under the direction of Dauphne Maloney, “Singin’ in the Rain” features talented local students between the ages of 9 and 18 from the following schools: Clear Fork High School, Highland High School, Crestline High School, Ontario High School, Pioneer Performing Arts, Lexington High School, Lexington Central Elementary, Alum Creek Elementary, Mansfield Christian School, St. Peter’s High School, Mansfield High School, Ontario Stingel Elementary, Mansfield St. Mary’s, and Ashland High School.
“Singin’ in the Rain” takes audiences back to Hollywood in the 1920s, as the film industry was moving from silent films to movies with sound. Silent film actors Don Lockwood, portrayed by Tucker Boggs and Lina Lamont, portrayed by Mia Sgambellone, are beginning their first “talkie,” but there is one problem: Lina has an awful voice! However, Don meets Kathy Selden, an aspiring actress portrayed by Jessica Miller, who has agreed to be Lina’s “voice” for the film, unbeknownst to Lina. Mansfield Youth Theatre’s adaptation of this classic story include entertaining comedy routines, dance numbers, and love ballads in this spoof of frantic Hollywood.
The musical is based on the 1952 movie created by MGM Studios featuring Gene Kelley, Donald O’Connor and Debbie Reynolds. The Broadway production of “Singin’ in the Rain” debuted in 1985 and was nominated for two 1986 Tony Awards: Best Book of a Musical and Best Actor in a Musical (Don Correia as Don Lockwood).
The student cast includes Hope Abel, Gabriella Allen, Evan Bartholomew, Lauren Bartholomew, Alexa Blakley, Tucker Boggs, Cody Caudell, Trevor Cochran, Molly Delaney, Danny Fain, Sydney Genter, Addie Goodwin, Gage Goodwin, Samuel Heininger, Desi Hunt, Kristin Kaufman, Louie Kurtzman, Sadie Kurtzman, Alli Lange, Howard Leuthold, Jessica Miller, Kathryn Moir, Anna Perkins, Julia Picking, Grace Riegel, Anna Scheurer, Mia Sgambellone, Christian Shepherd, Elyssa Stadler, Alexandria Switaj, Alex Tate, Caleb Tate, Thomas Tate, and Alex Wettrich.
“Singin’ in the Rain” will be performed in Founders Auditorium at the Ohio State University-Mansfield campus. The showings are on Oct. 16, 17, 23 and 24 at 7 p.m. and Oct. 25 at 2:30 p.m. Tickets are $15 and can be purchased at the Renaissance Box Office, by phone at (419) 522-2726 or online at MansfieldTickets.com. “Singin’ in the Rain” is a part of the Mechanics Bank Education Series. “Singin’ in the Rain” is generously sponsored by Emerson and Therm-o-disc.
