Crazy for You at Avon High School Auditorium

Laugh and hum along as Avon High School presents the romantic comedy musical Crazy for You, featuring the music and lyrics of George and Ira Gershwin and a book by Ken Ludwig. This Tony Award-winning, all-ages show is filled with lively tap dancing and beloved musical numbers like “I Got Rhythm” and “Embraceable You.” Performances, which feature a cast, crew and pit orchestra composed of talented Avon High School students, run April 27-29 at the Avon High School (AHS) Auditorium. Show times are Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m.

Tickets, which are available at the door starting one hour prior to show time, are $15 for adults and $10 for students and seniors. Email avonhstheatre@gmail.com by midnight on April 25 to reserve tickets in advance for the discounted price of $12 for adults and $8 for students and seniors. Priority seating tickets are limited and available for $20.

Crazy for You, an adaptation of the Gershwins’ 1930 musical Girl Crazy, opened on Broadway in 1992. Avon High School's production is directed by Foster Evans Reese. Choreographer Melissa Feder has taught the entire cast to tap dance. AHS band teacher Kyle Culbertson conducts the orchestra; Ishaar Gupta serves as vocal director; Rob MacPherson leads the set, lighting and sound crew; Sarah Devlin provides the 1930s-era costumes. AHS theatre teacher Jill Paterson is producing the show.

Leading man Bobby Child is played by “triple threat” Andrew Lofredo, who can dance as proficiently as he can sing and act. Bela Zangler is played by the dashing AJ Sisson and Irene Roth by the elegant Tessa Panczner. Julia Shufro plays the pure and enchanting Polly Baker. Polly’s father is adeptly portrayed by Matthew Giarratana. Maggie Fowler takes on two contrasting roles as Bobby’s mother and a Nevada cowboy. Varsha Irvathraya also handles two roles: a cowboy and the businesslike Perkins. Nevada hotel proprietor Lank Hawkins is played brilliantly by Marcel Paige.

The tap dancing Follies Girls are HaeYoung Yi, Lara Beckius, Annika Mathias, Catherine Hyers, Caroline Mascoli, Sarah Obie, Lucy Schwartz and Allison Rinehart. In the role of jaunty cowboys, Sisson, Fowler and Irvathraya are joined by Rachel Allen, Asa Jackson, Izzy Vicente, Julianne Good, Mary Ehrbar, Isabella Carvalho, Minhyeok Chang and Christy Park.

Chang plays a second role as Eugene Fodor, across from the spunky and entertaining Christina Murphy as Patricia Fodor. Julianne Good also plays a second role as chauffeur. Tyler Hahn and Noah Hay lend their singing voices from the orchestra pit, which features musicians Sheridan Bernard, Jillian Bump, Morgan Hay, Marissa He, Nicole King, Angie Martinez, Benjamin Reyes, Amparo Saubidet, and Sophie Wei on woodwinds; Daniel Jobe, Jackson Jobe, Parker Jobe, Drew Laird, Zachary Rush, Nicole Sisson, William Valenti and Brandon Young on brass and Elliott Davis, Taemin Kim, Janis Ko, Haeun Lee, Hayoung Lee, Pauline Park, Nicholas Shieh and Sam Taubl on strings. The rhythm section is composed of Levin Cusatis, Hayoon Park, Rosemary Salchert, Daniel Shea and Pranav Tadepalli.

Stage Manager Harrison Smith coordinates details and helps everything run smoothly. Supporting him are Assistant Stage Managers Arianna Kehoe and Alyson Olesak. Assistant Technical Director Kate Bruder oversees set construction and painting. Construction Captain Ryan Virag has assembled the pieces.

During the show, Lighting Designer Jack Carroll and Assistant Lighting Designer Ruel Davis ensure the work on stage is illuminated effectively, along with lighting crew member Anaia Oquendo. Sound Designer Neel Srinath and crew members Spencer Lazarus and Joe Paige are responsible for making sure cast members are heard. Hair and makeup designs will be implemented by A’Shanti Granville, Cameron McCarty, Ksenyia Nosenko, Aarohi Patel and Miranda Sida. Helping with set preparations are Colleen Gaudiana, Emmaline Howe, Maya Krodel, Deven McCarthy, Ethan Na, Annabel Schwartz, Anisha Sharda, Emmy Shi, Grace Raines and Nabeeha Fatima.

Themed concessions will be available during intermission for cash-only donations. A team of dedicated parent volunteers is helping with preparations. For questions about the show, call 860-404-4745.

Authors

• George Gershwin
• Guy Bolton
• Ira Gershwin
• John McGowan (i)
• Ken Ludwig
• Mike Ockrent

Tony Awards and Nominations for Crazy for You