Welcome to our MHS Music Department production of Singin' In The Rain!
This iconic movie musical is still regarded as "THE" movie musical of the 20th century (and all time) and after dissecting every part of it and studying it step-by-step, note-by-note with these incredible teachers and students, I am reminded as to why.....
My Grandmother introduced this musical to me at a very early age. Bobbie loved musicals but she LOVED "Singin' In the Rain!." I remember immediately falling in love with every dance number and every costume, needing to rewind or fast forward to the parts I loved (this was on VHS and before Dvds, children). No matter that I was the only 5-year old I knew that wanted to be Cyd Charisse. It's fine! What I've always known is that this show always makes people happy as only the great musicals can.
Singin' In The Rain! captures the essence of what classic musicals represent; music, dance, joy, love and humor. Along with 100 students and our magnificent team of teachers, we were immersed in the glitz and glamour of the 1920's through this hilarious book and memorable score of American standards.
With our cast and pit, the music and dance styles were our first focus. All of the music in Singin' In The Rain was strung together from existing jazz and swing charts or songs that Betty Comden and Adolph Green thought would epitomize this era; they were right! "All I Do Is Dream Of You" and even "Singin' In The Rain" were featured in other early movie musicals, but became more famous in the 1954 film, Singin' In the Rain. It was truly a joy explaining these early songs and how they influenced modern-day music. And of course, this woud not have been possible without the magic and genius of Gene Kelly.
Having Gene Kelly, Donald O'Connor, Debbie Reynolds and Cyd Charisse as references for this show was a lesson in itself. We learned from masters and were reminded each day how brilliant this movie is and what incredible performers existed in the Golden Age of Holloywood. These were the pioneers of musical theater and movie entertainment, and it was a thrill and honor to explore this book and score with our 2020 cast, pit and crew. And of course, as we strive to excite and challenge our students with new genres of musical theater each year, this year was NO exception. That being said: ALL OF OUR CAST LEARNED TO TAP DANCE FOR THIS PRODUCTION. This was a new and daring, pardon my pun, feat.
Another new component to our production was the research, execution and filming of actual silent films! We are the luckiest to have Ms. Emily Dombroff as an expert advisor to all things film but especially Ms. Lulu Tantillo, junior, cellist in the pit AND our student videographer for all of the films you see this evening. Thank you so much to Lulu, Bryan, Amelia and Sascha for all of your hard work!
Singin' In The Rain! has, once again, brought out the best in our student performers and crew teams. They have worked tirelessly to bring you back to 1927 and continue to surprise and impress us all with their dedication and drive. Surely the show will speak for itself, but you must know that this was truly a team effort and without the hours, expertise and months of preparation from Mary Orfanos, Allison Parsley, Jonathan Pereira, Erica Zimmerman, Tim Hooker, Scott Borowka, Jeremy Franze, Dina Madden, Craig Romanek, Emma Sullivan (brilliant student choreographer and dance captain), Louisa Tantillo and our beautiful, hard-working, tap-dancing, phenomenal cast, pit and crew of students....none of this would ever be possible. My sincerest thanks and love to you all, always!
Finally, Singin' In The Rain! is a celebration of my two favorite things; music and film. It's hard to imagine one without the other. Tonight we strive to make this show a part of your own love for musical theater and the movies. We celebrate the cinema and how influential music and sound were during that pivotol transition in 1927, but also hope to re-introduce you to a classic.
With much love, admiration and respect,
Elyse Gellert, director
