TYA Prepares to Set Sail with 'Anything Goes'

The Trumbull Youth Association (TYA) presents a show of romance, comedy and the high seas with their summer production of  Anything Goes, running July 28–31 at the  auditorium.

The classic musical, featuring music by Cole Porter, tells the tale of an unusual group of passengers on an ocean liner traveling from New York to London in the 1930s. With a nightclub singer, a gangster, a debutante, a businessman and a hidden stowaway all aboard, wild adventures and crazy mishaps arise at every turn.

Taking on the classic is an experienced cast and crew comprised of 80 local students, ages 13 to 21. The majority of these students are Trumbull residents, although a handful come from surrounding towns, such as Monroe, Shelton and Fairfield.

While most students will lend their talents to the stage, about 20 students have decided to dedicate their time off-stage, working in very important and challenging roles, such as stage management and lighting.

Leading these dedicated students, as the show’s Director, is Jessica Spillane, who has previously directed the past two TYA summer productions (Grease, Suessical the Musical). Spillane has also directed the spring musical for the past 14 years, where she works as the chair of the THS English department.

David Harris, a veteran of musical theater, who has worked on numerous local productions, as well as Off-Broadway, acts as the show’s Musical Director. Choreographing the show is local dance instructor and choreographer, Jennifer Dicocco, who has been teaching dance for over 12 years.

Auditions for “Anything Goes” were held in May, with rehearsals beginning after-school in June while the cast members finished up their final exams. The first regularly scheduled summer rehearsals, held Monday through Friday, from 6 to 10 p.m., began right away: the day after school let out, to be exact.

Yet, despite this quick jump into the rehearsal schedule, Spillane swears that she hasn’t seen any cases of summer-itis.

 “A lot of this kids are camp counselors, they’re working all day, they go home, they shower and they come here. But even the kids who are taking it easy during the day, they are so focused. They come and they are all just in the mode for four hours to move the show forward. When you start a rehearsal period and say, ‘okay, in four weeks, it’s opening night,’ it’s kind of a scary thing,” Spillane explains.

This short rehearsal time may be scary, but it also motivates the cast and crew to put their all into creating the best possible show.

“They work really hard. It’s a very different rehearsal schedule. It’s every kid, every night for four hours, so it’s really, really condensed. It’s a lot to take in, and keep in, and then remember moving forward,” explains Spillane.

One of the biggest difficulties during rehearsal has not been forgotten lines, but helping the young cast understand the 1930’s period piece. In the age of the iPhone 4 and Lady Gaga, many of the jokes initially fall flat with the actors.

“There are lots of jokes and references that the kids don’t get. They always say: ‘I don’t even know what that is!’ So I say: ‘Google it!’ We spend a lot of time just talking about the time period and what was going on at the time.” says Spillane.

Aside from getting in a history lesson here or there, the cast and crew of Anything Goes is taking part in a classic summer camp ritual: making friends.

“They are all coming from different places. There are some kids who don’t have time for shows during the year, while there are other kids who know friends from over the year. Over the course of four or five weeks, they build really strong bonds with kids they may never have known before, even though a lot of them are in the same high school.” says Spillane. 

Spillane promises that this summer’s production of “Anything Goes” will be unlike her past TYA summer musicals, for several reasons.

“It’s a very physical show. Even the comedy in the show is really physical – lots of quick entrances and exits and double-takes. They’re huffing and puffing!” says Spillane.

“It’s also a classic. Cole Porter – you don’t get any better classic musical theatre than that. It’s difficult music to sing, as well, and they’re really had to work at it,” she added.

Audience members may recognize beloved Cole Porter classics, such as “You’re the Top,” “I Get a Kick Out of You,” and “It’s De-Lovely,” which will all be accompanied by a live, multi-piece orchestra.

The Trumbull Youth Association’s mission is to “promote the social and cultural development of the youth of Trumbull by providing meaningful recreational and educational programs to foster a spirit of civic responsibility.”

As the 42nd summer production of the TYA, “Anything Goes,” and the four weeks of hard work and commitment dedicated to the show, has completed this mission, resulting in an extraordinary musical enjoyable for everyone.

“Anything Goes” will be presented in the Madison Middle School auditorium, located at 4630 Madison Avenue, on July 28, 29, and 30 at 8 p.m. and on July 31 at 2 p.m. Tickets are $16 and may be purchased in advance online, or at the door prior to the show. Advance purchase is recommended, since many of last year’s performances sold out. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit the TYA website, www.trumbullyouth.org. Information can also be obtained by calling the Youth Department at 203-452-5032. 

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