Stagemasters to Present 'Copacabana'

The Stagemasters drama club brings the flash and dazzle of “Copacabana” to the Barrington High School stage this week.

Shows will be performed on Thursday, Friday and Saturday (Nov. 17-19). Showtimes are 7 pm.

Based on singer and songwriter Barry Manilow's renowned song, “Copacabana” is brought to life in the musical by the same name, said director Stephanie Spaziano.

“All the familiar faces are present: Lola, Tony and, of course, the evil Rico,” she said. “This musical is a lot of fun, sequins and feathers.”

Indeed, the student performers showed an exuberance at the first dress rehearsal Tuesday evening that promises plenty of smiles and applause from the audience even if one dance number still needs a little work. The dancers were working out some kinks before the curtain went up on the dress rehearsal.

"We'll get it worked out by Thursday," said Spaziano.

Tickets for each show are $5 for students and $7 for adults.

Raffle tickets also will be sold nightly to raise money for the drama program. Proceeds will pay for field trips, scholarships and other theatre-related activities, said Spaziano.

Prizes awarded each night include rounds of golf, jewelry and hand-blown glass, food baskets and other goods, and tickets to the Stagemasters’ spring production.

There will be grand prize drawing on Saturday: two tickets to see the Transiberian Orchestra at the Dunkin’ Donuts Center on Nov. 25 with a gift certification to a local restaurant.

The first prize is two ticket vouchers to any Trinity Repertory Theatre show this season except “A Christmas Carol.”  Second prize is two rounds of golf with a cart at Pequot Golf Course in Stonington, Conn., near the Foxwoods casino and resort. Third prize is two ticket vouchers to a production of the Gamm Theatre in Pawtucket.

Winners do not need to be present to win. Raffle tickets are $5 each or $10 for three.

Here is the cast: Michael Caizzi as Sam Silver; Luke Lasorsa as Stephen; Rachel Parola as a showgirl; Greg Fain as the mainre d’; Emily Meredith as Lola (Thursday and Saturday shows); Shir Kantor as Conchita (Thursday); Stephanie Cohn as Conchita (Friday and Saturday); Liz Hertzler as Veronika Lake, a showgirl and in the chorus;  Hugh Tucker as gangster #1 and in the chorus; Sam Leon as gangster #2 and in the chorus; Elena Heitke as the coat-check girl; Karl Aspelund as Rico; Maddack Naimh as Gladys (Friday); Sidney Remson as Lola (Friday); Bobby Robertson as Tony; Molly Millard as Gladys; Ana Proulx as a waitress; Lars Riech as cop #1 and in the chorus; Michael Greene as cop #2 and in the chorus; Gus Roth as Skip the choreographer and in the chorus; Nick Holmes as the burly Tropicana dancer; and Emily Turtle, Megan O’Cain, Madison Emand, Allison Hands, and Emma Zingg in the chorus.

Joining Spaziano on the production team are Celeste LaBonte as musical director, Meaghan Corr as choreographer, Peter Ansel as technical director and master carpenter, Barbara Hughes as conductor, Katie Ryan as set designer and stage manager, Elsa Cousins as scenic designer and assistant stage manaer, Jenna Cousins as scenic painter, and Renee Martel and Hannah Lennon as dance captains.