Photo by Kelly LeVea.
By Janel Sullivan/Staff writer
This weekend Quirk’s Players of G. Ray Bodley High School in Fulton pulled off another amazing show with their presentation of Hello, Dolly!
This has been a big year for Quirk’s Players. After being only the second high school to perform the emotional play The Laramie Project in the fall, they kept up the repertoire of challenging their actors with Hello, Dolly!
Assistant Director, Rob Lescarbeau noted how difficult the show was. “Their efforts were what we needed,” said Lescarbeau. “The dances are difficult and the roles are certainly adult so it was a lot to learn.”
Hello, Dolly! is certainly a lesser known musical than the last few shows Quirk’s Players have put on, such as Damn Yankees, Beauty and the Beast, and The Sound of Music but as they did with Laramie, Quirk’s Players rose to the challenge.
“It was just awesome,” said Mikaela Houck, a senior who appeared in the ensemble of Damn Yankees and portrayed several characters in The Laramie Project was thrilled to take on the role of Minnie Fay and have her first speaking and singing part. “I liked it because I didn’t go into with any set idea of how I should portray my role. It was completely up to me.”
Alexis Pawlewicz, also a senior who played the title character, enjoyed the experience of being in a play she previously didn’t know anything about. “It was interesting, and it made me nervous when we did the first read through when I saw everything I had to do and how involved it was. But that’s probably why I spent so much time working on it.”
“We’re proud of them,” said Lescarbeau. “They worked as a team for sure. That’s the only way these shows can go on.”
The cast began rehearsals at three hours after school every day, and progressed to five hour rehearsals two weeks ago. The long hours and efforts of the students didn’t go unnoticed as the cast received a standing ovation at the end of closing night. The final curtain and senior night presentation brought practically the entire cast to tears. “Next year, we can’t forget tissues,” joked longtime Quirk’s Players director Tom Briggs.
Joking aside, no one in the audience could deny how hard these students worked to put this show together. “It was scary but it was really exciting because it showed me what I was capable of,” said Houck.
Both Houck and Pawlewicz have encouraging words for anyone who is considering trying out for a role in one of Quirk’s Players shows. “Don’t wait! I waited until I was a junior and I wish I didn’t,” Houck said.
“Don’t let any opportunity pass you by,” said Pawlewicz. “You’ll meet some of the best friends here and you’ll have the greatest time.”
Pawlewicz, along with male lead Mitchell Lalik were also honored during intermission on Saturday when they both received the Jacqueline Stewart Award for their dedication and achievements within Quirk’s Players. Stewart was the Principal at the high school until her early retirement in 2004, because of breast cancer. She died in December of that year.
“Mrs. Stewart would be very proud of both of them,” said Briggs. The award was presented by Stewart’s son, Glenn.
As Quirk’s Players of G. Ray Bodley High School present their 2013 annual school musical, Hello, Dolly!, special recognition will be bestowed upon the senior members of the group who will be graduating this June. Some seniors have joined Quirk’s Players for the first time this year while others have been involved since they were in elementary school. Directors Tom Briggs, Thomas Nami, Rob Lescarbeau and Doreen Forbes thank the members of the class of 2013 for their hard work and dedication to this year’s musical and to the theatre program at GRB. Pictured here are members of the GRB Class of 2013 who are a part of Hello, Dolly! Row 1 (l to r): Maranda Mattiaccio, Maureen LaGrou, Mikaela Houck, Krista Vann, Devyn Viscome; Row 2 (l to r): Lille Cooper, Joe McDermott, Amanda Trombly, Dannielle Kline, Laura Perwitz; Row 3 (l to r): Christina Teetsel, Yann Taddei, Alexis Pawlewicz, Mitch Lalik, Katelyn Caza, Steven McDougall and Robbie Lagowski.
Photo by Ken McCann
Horace Vandergelder threatens his employees Barnaby Tucker and Cornelius Hackl and forces them to get back to work at his hay and feed store in Yonkers, NY. Hackl and Tucker long for adventure, excitement and at least one night off from work a week. Unbeknownst to Vandergelder, the two plan to close the shop early and head to New York City. Pictured here are (l to r) Mitch Lalik as Horace Vandergelder, Logan Carvey as Barnaby Tucker and Brad Crofoot as Cornelius Hackl. The scene is from Jerry Herman and Michael Stewart’s classic Broadway musical, Hello, Dolly! The production will be staged by Quirk’s Players this Thursday, Friday and Saturday.
Photo by Kelly LeVea
Can a lovely, strong willed woman find a place in the heart of a cold, grumpy widower? Find out as Quirk’s Players of G. Ray Bodley HIgh School present the classic Broadway musical Hello, Dolly! this week. Shown here are GRB Seniors Alexis Pawlewicz (who portrays Dolly Gallagher Levi) and Mitch Lalik (who plays Horace Vandergelder) rehearsing a scene from this year’s annual GRB musical. The production is under the direction of Fulton Teachers Tom Briggs and Thomas Nami.
Photo by Kelly LeVea
Dolly Gallagher Levi (portrayed by Alexis Pawlewicz) shares advice and offers assistance to those in need. Mrs. Levi provides matchmaking services to her clients but also assists in many other ways. Here she presents her calling card to a group of interested New Yorkers in Times Square. The scene is from the opening number in the classic Broadway musical, Hello, Dolly! Over 65 students are featured in the cast, crew and orchestra of this year’s annual musical at GRB. For more information about Hello, Dolly! and Quirk’s Players, visit their website: www.quirksplayers.com.
Photo by Kelly LeVea.
It Takes A Woman
Ernestina Money (played by Katelyn Caza) makes Horace Vandergelder (portrayed by Mitch Lalik) most uncomfortable in the Harmonia Gardens Restaurant. The young lady was sent to have dinner with Mr. Vandergelder by Dolly Levi, the well-known matchmaker who is determined to find the grumpy widower a new wife. The scene is from Quirk’s Players’ upcoming production of Hello, Dolly! which will be performed March 7-8-9 at G. Ray Bodley High School.
Cornelius Hackl and Barnaby Tucker sneak out of work and travel to New York City for the day where they meet two lovely ladies and set out for an adventure of their lives. Shown here on their way to the Harmonia Gardens Restaurant are Minnie Fay (played by Mikaela Houck), Barnaby Tucker (played by Logan Carvey), Irene Molloy (played by Amanda Trombly) and Cornelius Hackl (played by Brad Crofoot). Their story is featured in Quirk’s Players’ upcoming production of Hello, Dolly! The production features dances staged by Doreen Forbes.
Photo by Kelly LeVea
Ambrose Kemper (played by GRB Junior Mark Parry) begs for help from matchmaker Dolly Gallagher Levi (played by GRB Senior Alexis Pawlewicz). Ambrose is in love with Ermengarde Vandergelder, niece of the grumpy, cantankerous businessman Horace Vandergelder, who has forbid any relationship between the two. Dolly assures that all will be handled properly in a scene from Hello, Dolly! which opens this week at Fulton’s G. Ray Bodley High School. The classic Broadway musical by Jerry Herman and MIchael Stewart will be presented March 7-8-9 in the Bodley HS Auditorium.
Photo by Kelly LeVea
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Much success to everyone involved. Next year will mark the 50th anniversary of Hello, Dolly opening on Broadway! I am working on a project to celebrate it’s rich history and legacy. Please check out CallonDolly.com IF you like what you see, please pay it forward through Facebook and Twitter. Also, please LIKE the page and follow me on Twitter
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