Tag Archives: RFH Tower Players

Local Life

Retro RFH Tower Players Show Time

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This was a rehearsal for Neil Simon’s ‘Plaza Suite’ at Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School circa 1976. Photo/screen shot of RFH yearbook.

Oh, it’s show time at RFH on Friday with the opening of the Tower Players’ fall production of Sherlock Holmes.

One thing that’s elementary, as Sherlock says, is that going on with the show is a time honored tradition at RFH. Remember?

So, these Retro Pics of the Day offer a glimpse back to rehearsals for the Tower Players’ production of Plaza Suite circa 1976.

Yours truly was in the cast . And it was a “memorable” experience considering that my co-star — a very nice guy who at an RFH reunion told me he was unwittingly duped into doing the show and had no desire massive stage fright — dropped five pages worth of lines and left me circling the stage with a dessert cart rambling like Edith Bunker on an especially menopausal day. Not a cue to be picked up. Ten minutes later, which is eternity for a floundering actor on stage, he picked up a line or two, just in time to end the scene.

Rehearsal for Plaza Suite circa 1976.
Photo/RFH yearbook

Thanks to Dan Olshansky for dropping those lines. It was the start of some hardcore actor improv training and a not-so-glamorous, but nonetheless professional and loads of fun, longtime career in the field. So, it’s not the lines that count, it’s the character — or something like that.

Now, two more nights left for “Line please!”

Cheers to the cast of Sherlock Holmes! And cast, please don’t really break any legs.

Arts & Entertainment, Schools Scene

Getting Set for RFH’s ‘Faerie King’s Daughter’ Showtime

Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School’s (RFH) production of The Faerie King’s Daughter has taken flight and will soon be making its onstage landfall Nov. 20 to 22.

The Faerie King’s Daughter is about what happens when four groups of residents — fairies, trolls, humans, and elves — interact in an unexpected way that changes life in the Fairy Glen forever.

Continue reading Getting Set for RFH’s ‘Faerie King’s Daughter’ Showtime →

News

The R-FH Area Weekend: RFH ‘Young Frankenstein,’ ‘Godspell’ & a Wedding Walk

 

This weekend in the Rumson-Fair Haven area is all about theater and brides.

Friday

For tonight, Friday, take note that Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School (RFH) Tower Players’ production of Young Frankenstein has been postponed to Sunday night at 7 p.m.

• Curtain time for the Monmouth Players’ production of Godspell is 8:15 p.m.

Continue reading The R-FH Area Weekend: RFH ‘Young Frankenstein,’ ‘Godspell’ & a Wedding Walk →

Arts & Entertainment, Schools Scene

‘Young Frankenstein’ Coming to RFH

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The following is an edited press release from Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School:

Young Frankenstein is coming to the Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School (RFH) stage.

The Tower Players will present the what was officially known as The New Mel Brooks Musical Young Frankenstein on March 20, 21, and 22. Based on the classic 1974 comedy film, the stage version features music and lyrics by Mel Brooks and Thomas Meehan.

Young Frankenstein tells the story of Dr. Frederick Frankenstein (played by Laurence Morales), a professor at a medical school who leaves behind his fiancée Elizabeth (Eli Rallo) and travels to Transylvania to claim the estate of his grandfather – the creator of the famous Frankenstein monster.

After years spent rejecting his family name, Dr. Frederick Frankenstein is visited by the ghosts of his ancestors who convince him to stay and repeat his grandfather’s experiments.

The castle’s current residents — Frau Blucher (Julia Mosby), Igor (Bailie Stypa), and Inga (Jen Andreacchi) — do their best to help Frederick bring his own monster (Michael Shaw) to life. Then the comedy ensues.

The RFH production features a cast of 42 students in singing, dancing and acting roles.

It is directed by RFH English teacher Suzanne Sweeney, who tailored the script for the high school-age actors and audience. Kasi Ann Sweeney is assistant director, and RFH Tower Players alum Patricia McCarron is the production’s choreographer along with Valerie Herman of Forrestdale School.

Costumes and props are under the direction of Carole Malik. RFH Social Studies teacher Matthew Leddin is overseeing the tech crew of 40 students. The set construction is being supplemented with contributions from the students in RFH Industrial Technology teacher Dino Pagano’s Stagecraft class.

The pit orchestra, comprised of RFH students as well as professional musicians, will be conducted by Music Director Vincent Mottern who is acting as coach for vocal performances as well.

Snacks and drinks will be available for purchase at the café in the RFH gymnasium during intermissions and after each performance. Also offered for sale in the café will be CDs featuring music performed by RFH student-musicians.

Tickets are $10 for general admission, and $6 for students and seniors. Admission is free for RFH students with SGA cards.

To purchase tickets online, visit www.rumsonfairhaven.org and click on Young Frankenstein under Featured News.

For more information about purchasing tickets, please contact Play Production Coordinator Stefania Flecca at [email protected].

The box office will be open for ticket purchases an hour before each performance. Friday and Saturday evening performances will begin at 7:30 p.m., and the Sunday matinee will be at 1:00 p.m., in the RFH Auditorium.