The Perry High School spring musical, “Anything Goes,” will be staged Friday, April 1 at 7 p.m. and Saturday, April 2 at 1 p.m. and again at 7 p.m.
Among the show’s delights is the return of the pit orchestra, not heard since the PHS musical production of “Peter Pan” in 2017. The group of 17 community musicians bring the libretto to life with such American classics as “I Get a Kick Out of You” and the title song, “Anything Goes,” with PHS Instrumental Music Director Blaine Schmidt conducting.
“Anything Goes” is a Cole Porter classic that debuted on Broadway in 1934. The rollicking musical rom-com features elaborate disguises, tap-dancing sailors, good old-fashioned blackmail and Bible-thumping religiosity — and, of course, a love triangle.
Perry High School senior Sebastian Hernandez, who plays the role of Billy Crocker, said the humor in the play is spicy and will “tickle the fancy of the adults in the audience.”
Senior Molly Moorhead, like Hernandez a veteran of PHS dramas, said “Anything Goes” is as funny as the fall production of “Radium Girls” was somber.
The high school production also features the first appearance of actors from the Perry Middle School, eighth graders Ally Mills and Levy Thoren. PHS Theater Director Randy Peterson, who also directs the PMS productions, said he hopes to make the younger players a regular part of the secondary-school plays.
Tickets will be $8 for adults and $5 for students and may be purchased online or at the door before the performances.
The cast of “Anything Goes” includes:
Reno Sweeney, played by Bryce Eastman
Billy Crocker, played by Sebastian Hernandez
Hope Harcourt, played by Molly Moorhead
Lord Evelyn Oakleigh, played by Riley Sergent
Moonface Martin, played by Tony Roe
Eli Whitney, played by Orlando Gonzalez
Erma, played by Kyla McKenzie
Evangeline Harcourt, played by Cassidy Hibbert
Luke, played by Evan Knowles
John, played by Maddy Hollingsworth
Ship’s Captain, played by Jefry Gonzalez
Ship’s Purser, played by Jesus Gonzalez
Rev. Henry Dobson, played by Adam Atkins
Purity, played by Candace Hoisington
Chastity, played by Kaylee Hay
Charity, played by Alexa Nelson
Virtue, played by Olivia Christensen
Reporter, played by Ethan Jackson
Photographer, played by Andres Zarate
FBI Agent, played by Dominic Rinner
FBI Agent, played by Hunter Ayers
Ensemble players include Yajaira Hernandez, Cloe Nance, Kenneth Martinez, Jasmine Agreda, Andres Viveros and Jose Chavez.
