Flashes of glitzy sea-creature costumes and artwork intermingled with melodies from Disney’s The Little Mermaid in the auditorium of All Saints Regional Catholic School, located in Manahawkin, on Saturday, May 4. With help from parents and a technical crew, a group of fifth- through eighth-graders dabbed on makeup and rehearsed lines during their first dress rehearsal for their spring performance, which will be presented this weekend.
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| Photo by Ryan Morrill ASRCS students perform a dress rehearsal for their spring show, The Little Mermaid, Jr. |
All Saints, which serves children from preschool through eighth grade who are associated with the five area Catholic churches, is known throughout the broader community for its spectacular performances offered year after year. This year’s spring performance is, of course,The Little Mermaid, Jr.
“We decided to do The Little Mermaid because of the hurricane (Superstorm Sandy); we wanted to tie it in with the rebuilding of the Jersey Shore,” said Evelyn Bisignano, who has been directing the school’s performances for the past nine years. “This is a very big shore area, and a lot of these children live down on the Island. So we wanted to show our love for the Jersey Shore by putting this show on and combining the two together. These are all beach kids, and they love the shore. We’re all beach people,” she added.
This year’s spring show includes 133 schoolchildren from third through eighth grade. Students in grades five through eight were eligible to audition for the show’s lead roles. More than 60 students tried out. Some of the main characters, including Ariel, Ursula, Sebastian and Flounder, have been split among the actors due to the overwhelming number of talented children who auditioned, said Bisignano.
“I love these children. I love to see their talent come out,” she added. “We send them on to high school, and the high school teachers are, like, ‘Wow.’ So it’s a great feeling to know that they learn an awful lot here. They’re very talented.”
Julia Kelly, 13, of Lacey Township, who sported black eyeliner, pink rouge and dyed red hair during the dress rehearsal, will perform as Ariel during half of the show’s performances. She said she has been acting in every show the school has offered since she was in second grade. She performed as Alice’s understudy during last year’s performance of Alice in Wonderland.
“I’m really happy to have the lead role this year,” said Kelly, who will be hoisted up on a harness during the play. “It’s fun because I can participate, and I love the songs, and I love to sing. The second half (of the show) is really fun because it’s pure acting; there’s no singing. I like playing a whole new character and wearing pretty dresses. It’s cool to create a whole new person,” she added.
Joseph Exel, 13, of Manahawkin, who wore a button-down, white linen jacket with gold fringe, will perform as the show’s only Prince. Having performed in some of the school’s other shows, he said he has enjoyed the challenge of memorizing more lines this time.
“Being the lead is fun. It’s more acting, dancing and singing, but it’s fun,” said Exel. “All the people are nice here, and I like acting,” he added.
Exel said he does not mind wearing makeup for the show and said the costume is comfortable, which is a “big deal.”
The group has been practicing for the show for nearly 10 weeks. Staff members Katie Decataldo and LouAnn Ruyak helped choreograph the dance numbers, while Jonathan McElroy, one of the school’s music teachers, helped mix the sights and sounds of the show. Beth McIlmail, the school’s art teacher, directed the artistic efforts of the performance. Dedicated parents such as Vikki Hay, Maureeen Murphy and Rose Knox designed the costumes, while set builders Bruce Hay and Greg Knox transformed an ordinary stage into an extraordinary scene of land and sea.
The Little Mermaid, Jr. will be held at All Saints at 400 Doc Cramer Blvd. in Manahawkin at 7 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, May 17 and 18, and again at 2 p.m. on Sunday, May 19. Tickets cost $12 for adults and $8 for seniors and children younger than 15.
T-shirts and beach towels sporting “The Jersey Shore is ‘Part of Your World’ Help Rebuild!” slogan will be available for purchase at the show. Shirts cost $15; towels cost $20. Orders can also be placed online via http://www.asrcs.org/asrcs/Forms/Little%20Mermaid%20T-shirt%20and%20beach%20towel%20order%20form.pdf.
“We’re hoping to see them all over the shore this summer,” said Bisignano.
For more information, call 609-597-3800 or visit www.asrcs.org.
— Kelley Anne Essinger
This article was published in The SandPaper.
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