Theater Students Play Board Game with Audience
John Kraus
Photo: Clue Rehearsal, Credit: Robert Mathewson
The college's performing arts students will be showing off some new skills while preparing to present this year's spring show, “Clue: The Musical.”
The musical, written by Peter DePietro with music by Galen Blum, Wayne Barker and Vinnie Martucci, and lyrics by Tom Chiodo is based on the popular Parker Brothers board game “Clue” which challenges players to solve the mystery of who killed Mr. Boddy.
The interactive show allows the actors to break the fourth wall and interact directly with audience members who will participate by filling out forms to try and solve the murder. There are 216 possible endings to the show.
“The actors will have to engage with the audience, and I think that is a very important skill for the actors to learn,” said Adjunct Professor Allison Ognibene, the show's director. “When I choose plays, there's reasons behind it.”
Liberal arts major, Jason Cahill, who plays the murder victim Mr. Boddy in the show, has been involved with all the shows here for the last two years.
“I have been doing shows here the whole time and it's been nothing but an amazing experience,” he said.
Antonella Ferrari, who is a double major in musical theater and psychology, plays Mrs. White in the show. She sees being in the cast as being part of a family.
“It's so fun to make connections and just be part of a cast that feels like a family,” she said. “I have so much fun with everyone.”
Theater and musical theater major, Nadia Cameron, who plays Mrs. Peacock, said she took a gap year after high school and started working a lot in New York before coming to SCCC.
“I'll be graduating in May and then the plan is to go right back into working,” she said. “So hopefully I
could book like a Broadway tour or something nice.”
Photo:Nadia Cameron, credit: Robert Mathewson
Not all the students are performers as is the case with theater arts major, Lydia Rivera, who is the assistant director of the show. She has been around theater since she was 5 years old.
“Mainly I'm backstage,” she said. “I like to do a lot of stage managing and directing.”
Rounding out the rest of the cast are Forest Winegar as Professor Plum, Nina Bennett as Miss Scarlett, Chris Fett as Mr. Green, Danielle DiBattista as the detective and Leo Watson as Colonel Mustard.
Besides director Ognibene, the production team includes: Music director Dr. Deb Gianuzzi; choreographer Adjunct Professor Madison Washer; costume designer Adjunct Professor Camille Fuller; Professor Jason Petecca, set construction; Adjunct Professor Gina Muth and her properties class; dramaturg Adjunct Professor Richard Lear; projections by Adjunct Professor Anthony Ur and his 3D class; sound designer Tim O'Connor; and stage manager Felicia Artrip.
The show was set to be performed at the college's performing arts center on Thursday, April 23 at 7 p.m., Friday, April 24 at 7 p.m. and Saturday, April 25 at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m.
Tickets are $20 for general admission, $15 for seniors, students and military, and $10 for SCCC students and alumni. Tickets are available at the door or online at https://sussex.simpletix.com
