Tag Archives: RFH Tower Players

Retro RFH Tower Players’ Fall Play Time

This was a rehearsal for Neil Simon's 'Plaza Suite' at Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School circa 1977. Photo/screen shot of RFH yearbook.
Rehearsal for Neil Simon’s ‘Plaza Suite’ at RFH circa 1977
Photo/screen shot of RFH yearbook.

As Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School (RFH) actors readied for their production of Neil Simon’s Plaza Suite in 1977, more of the same is happening at the high school right now.

The Tower Players are gearing up for their production of The Canterville Ghost opening on Friday and running through Sunday.

Continue reading Retro RFH Tower Players’ Fall Play Time

RFH Tower Players Set Stage for Haunting Production of ‘The Canterville Ghost’

RFH Tower Players rehearse The Canterville Ghost
Photo/RFH

Call it a spirited play time.

The Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School (RFH) Tower Players are staging their fall production of The Canterville Ghost, set for Nov. 18 to 20 on the RFH stage.

Continue reading RFH Tower Players Set Stage for Haunting Production of ‘The Canterville Ghost’

Old News: RFH Musical Show Times Bow

Well, it’s closing weekend of the RFH spring musical Mamma Mia! Curtain up and take a bow, Tower Players!

The spring musical has always been a celebrated rite of passage at the high school. RFH productions have been hailed with standing ovations and awards for decades.

Continue reading Old News: RFH Musical Show Times Bow

Retro RFH Tower Players’ Play Time

RFH Tower Players costumed and playing in 1977
Photo/RFH Yearbook

It’s that time of the RFH school year when all good show folk band together as Tower Players get to work on producing the spring musical. This year playing means the players are back on the RFH stage performing in Mama Mia! It’s opening on Friday. And there’s always the past … 

Continue reading Retro RFH Tower Players’ Play Time

Retro RFH ‘Pajama Game’ Show Biz

RFH cast of The Pajama Game rehearses around the record player circa 1963
Photo/Daily Register staff

Curtain up! It’s that time. Time for RFH Tower Players to gear up for the troupe’s spring musical. And with that wind-up to opening night comes a push for ticket sales and lots of getting the word out — promoting the big show. That’s show biz!

Nowadays, with social media pretty much a staple in getting the message out there, there is no reliance on good ol’ print newspapers to spread the word — and far in advance.

In fact, as of the time tonight that this Retro Pic of the Day went live, the social media word was well out on RFH’s spring musical Mama Mia! It’s out there. All over.

But, back in the day, like in the 60s, for instance, all high schools got a spot in the area newspapers, mostly the Daily Register and Asbury Park Press, with all the show info and a photo for which cast members had to meet and pose, trying to look candid. Oh, then there was the development of film in that dark room. No one knew what the final shot would look like until days later.

But, to say the least, there was some rich promo of RFH shows back in the day. They always had a spotlight, even several, in the newspaper. And they were even reviewed by professional critics, if you can fathom that. More on that later.

Back to this RFH spring musical of 1963. The players did The Pajama Game. This shot showed what was really a pretty typical rehearsal time spent around the ol’ record player. Yes, that would be a turntable, RFHers of the present.

Back in the day, and pretty much through at least the 80s, that was a pretty standard way for the cast to learn the score. Parents of those RFHers would tell you how they heard the score of that one spring musical over and over and over again. Wait, though. In the 80s, there was the 8-track version that skipped as it went to the next track — mid-song!

In this photo, by Register staff, RFH was one of several high school musical casts photographed and advertised for their respective shows. This photo features the leads in the musical: (left to right) Barry Nelson as Hines, Jamie Hughes as Gladys, John Edelmann as Sid and Perry Lyon as Babe.

Recognize those players? The RFH show was set for one weekend only — two days — April 5 and 6. This story was printed on Feb. 11. All area high schools’ musicals were previewed in a full-page spread titled “Broadway in Monmouth” with a subhead of “High Schools Tackle Big-Time Musicals.” Some of the other shows were classic oldies like Bye Bye Birdie, Girl Crazy and Music Man.

Here’s an interesting tidbit: The article elaborated on auditions, casting and show times. It said that 210 students auditioned for the show in a process that lasted a week and a half. For one of the leads alone, 32 auditioned. Fair Haven’s Jamie Hughes landed the role.

Competition back in the day, decades ago, was strong for the RFH spring musicals. And the casts were usually quite large. It also wasn’t just Tower Players in the show. The fall drama was one for which only Tower Players could audition. The musical was for all, school-wide.

Pajama Game was directed by Paul Grammer, who is very familiar to RFH students of the 60s, 70s and 80s. Grammer later became solely vocal musical director of the shows. Instrumental, as in orchestra, was directed by Ken Walter. Remember him? He was the marching band chief in the 70s and 80s. And, in a special cameo as choreographer was none other than Lois McDonald, the woman who became the lady in charge of The Barn Theatre down the street from the high school.

Now, that’s show biz! Your favorite show? Director? And how many auditioned in your era? Now, about that rehearsing by record player … What score did you wear out, show folk or not, on the ol’ turntable?

Now, let’s go on with the show!

Scene Around: After the ‘Sleepy Hollow’ Curtain Call

And that’s a masked wrap! That’s how those traditional moments went after the final curtain call of the Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School (RFH) Tower Players’ production of The Legend of Sleepy Hollow on Sunday.

It was the troupe’s first indoor show since COVID-19. Donning transparent, and some opaque, masks, mics and a “go on with the show” attitude, the Tower Players triumphed with its fall production.

By all accounts, a great time back on the stage again was had by all. And after taking that final bow, the cast mingled with the audience and one another to pose, smile and bond some more about their show time together.

Take a look at the photo gallery above for a glimpse into that time after the curtain call. (CLICK on one photo to enlarge and scroll. Enjoy!)

Until the next final curtain call in spring …

Bravo, RFH Tower Players!

**Thanks to RFH PAS parents and students for the pics of those after-show moments!**

RFH Tower Players Hit the Indoor Stage Again with ‘Legend of Sleepy Hollow’

After a year of virtual and outdoor productions, the Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School (RFH) Tower Players are making a comeback to the indoor stage with their fall production — Legend of Sleepy Hollow, adapted by Vera Morris.

Continue reading RFH Tower Players Hit the Indoor Stage Again with ‘Legend of Sleepy Hollow’

Retro RFH Show Time Curtain Up!

Entering stage right for RFH Freshman Follies 1974
Photos/George Day

Curtain up and enter stage right!

With the masked pandemic time RFH Tower Players’ debut on Friday of its first-time outdoor show, it’s only right to pay tribute to the RFH stage and show time entrances gone by.

Continue reading Retro RFH Show Time Curtain Up!

Taking RFH Tower Players’ Spring Show Outside

Small group virtual dance rehearsal takes place in March with choreographer Casey Stolowski and male cast members. Pictured are Casey Stolowski, Aidan Herman, Matt Reulbach, Evan Callas, Chris Stypa.
Photo/RFH

Of the mindset that in spite of the pandemic, the show must go on, the Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School (RFH) Tower Players are taking the spring musical off the auditorium stage and to the outdoors.

The musical they’re taking to the outdoor stage is Emma! A Pop Musical.

Continue reading Taking RFH Tower Players’ Spring Show Outside