Showtime nears in St. Charles for high schools' spring musicals

ST. CHARLES – It's almost showtime in St. Charles.

Not just one but both of the city's high schools are presenting their spring musicals the weekend of April 23.

St. Charles East is featuring "The Pirates of Penzance" from April 22 to 24 while St. Charles North is performing "Annie" from April 21 to 24.

Students from both schools have spent weeks preparing for an audience, and the prep work hasn't just been on the stage.

Brooke Lynch and Maddi LeBlanc, both 16-year-old sophomores at East, were among cast members who spent a recent rehearsal in a dressing room trying on mustaches.

Made of wool, the fake facial hair is part of their role as police officers, they said, complaining that the adhesive they must apply above their lip smells like fish.

Both girls spoke enthusiastically about "Penzance," describing the show as lighthearted and silly with phenomenal music.

Elsewhere in the theater, 17-year-old senior and tech crew member Zoe Kowalczyk was focused on the "Penzance" sets, which she said she helped build and design. The goal, she said, is to make them "as big and elaborate as we can."

At North, a staircase set piece attracted students' attention as they walked into the auditorium for a rehearsal that focused on choreography.

As three cast members – seniors Emily Bettler (Annie), Macintosh Rivara (Warbucks) and Emi Kaliski (Grace Farrell) – waited for the session to begin, they described the time commitment involved.

"For us, it's every day, including some weekends," Rivara said.

For senior Bailey Ricketts, 18, her presence wasn't required because she's a cast member or part of tech crew. She attended rehearsals because her dog, Casey, portrays the dog Sandy in "Annie."

The canine got the role because she matches Sandy's description, Ricketts said, "and she's trained."

Here are the other "Annie" cast members: Amanda Vallejera, Dewey Bolz, Skylar Ratliff, Ally Warden, Gabrielle Nicastro, Grace Maloney, Grace Taylor, Olivia Zimmermann, Taryn Kolodziej, Jacob Rollins, Miranda Keigher, Tracy Suppes, Haley Springer, Tylar Stokes, Ellie Tate, Kristen Bennett, Paige Woeste, Katy Tate, Brent Sonin, Sam Nudd, Jake Bridges, Evan Cordt, Payton Mitchell, Ryan Bussert, Sam Aicher, Grace Lenaghan, Dara Adedara, Kaelyn Harvey, Callie Hazelgrove, Ashley Henness, Allisin McReynolds, Mandy Mileham, Colleen Molloy, Emily Moura, Kira Nutter, Allison Rieger, Taylor Stevens, Ashley Storinger, Meaghan Willard, Caeli Wu and Becky Zangora.

And here are the other "Penzance" cast members: Cody Hedera, Caroline Skoog, Hunter Fredrickson, Jack Wartman, Morgan Fanning, Gia Pappas, Mara Handler, Lauren Freas, Erin Newman, Brandon Pearson, Evan Okpisz, Mutaz Abdin, Kurt Bieberstein, Victor Brewer, Clark Cheatham, Seamus Doyle, Max Fredrickson, Noah Hansen, Dawson Hubbs, Justin Lichner, Alex Saviano, Adrian Shulman, Dylan Ward, Caitlin Concannon, Stella Childs, Chrissy Chlapecka, Annabelle Cuitino, Shannon Foran, Audrey Koval, Sydney Panfil, Erika Sieck, Grace Telfer, Brylee Wicker, Gabrielle Willaert, Mara Vavaroutsos, Mutaz Abdin, Margaret Bronec, Olivia Evans, Jody Holtz, Payton Johnson, Maddie Landahl, Katie Landahl, Jenny Leben, Jess Milner and Callan Ridgway.

If you go

What: "The Pirates of Penzance"

When: 7:30 p.m. April 22 and 23 and 2 p.m. April 24

Where: Norris Cultural Arts Center, 1040 Dunham Road, St. Charles

Cost: $5 for students, $7 for adults

What: "Annie"

When: 7:30 p.m. April 21 to 23 and 2 p.m. April 24

Where: St. Charles North High School, 255 Red Gate Road, St. Charles

Cost: $5 for students, $7 for adults and $3 for senior citizens. Visit http://north.d303.org to purchase tickets in advance.