The Parents Association Supporting Theatre Arts recently elected new officers for the 2014-15 academic year. The group, founded in 2012, has also expanded its focus to support more students in the Hanover Public School District.
Kathi Martin is the new president and Stacey Zitto was elected vice president. Maureen Edelin is secretary and Idonia Klunk is treasurer.
PASTA was originally designed to raise funds to supplement drama staff positions not covered by the district budget. However, the school board and administration have returned those positions to the budget, giving PASTA more freedom to focus its efforts.
Beginning this fall, PASTA will also lend support to the district’s choral arts programs.
PASTA meets at 2 p.m. the third Sunday of each month in the Hanover High School choral room. For more information, email hanoverpasta@gmail.com.
Big Mama Smith will headline PASTA’s Piano Bar and Silent Auction on Saturday, March 29, from 6 to 10 p.m. Deb Smith will play all your sing-along favorites on the grand piano in the Conservatory of the Eichelberger Performing Arts Center, 195 Stock St., Hanover. Appetizers, desserts and punch will be served. The BYOB event is for ages 21 and over.
The Silent Auction will include goods and services from S.E. Hagarman Designs, Thirty-One Gifts, R/C Theatres, Hanover Little Theatre, Hanover Bowling Center, K-2 Water Works, York Revolution, Just Jewelry, Signature HomeStyles and many more. Proceeds will benefit the drama programs at the middle school and high school as well as the Instrumental Music Parents Club.
Tickets are $15 each. Seating in the Conservatory is limited and only 60 tickets will be sold. To reserve tickets contact Kathi Martin at 521-7348 or kathimartin32@gmail.com.
Hanover High School will present an up close and personal theatre experience for its fall play “Dracula,” scheduled for Oct. 26 and 27 and Nov. 2.
Thanks to an extension of the auditorium stage, the audience will sit on stage with the actors for a theatre-in-the-round style experience. Because of the special configuration, tickets will be limited for each of the three performances.
All seats are $7 and can be purchased at the Hanover High School office. Show times are 7 p.m. on Oct. 26 and Nov. 2 and 2 p.m. on Oct. 27. The play is intended for high school age students and up.
Hanover students will perform a Willian McNulty adaptation of the well-known tale where Professor Van Helsing (Finn Johnson) and his brave comrades must hunt down and destroy the profoundly evil Count Dracula (Garrett Reichart). But the Count is exceedingly resourceful, employing superhuman strength, psychic powers, and shape-changing to confound and frustrate his antagonists.
Culminating in a wild and shocking confrontation between the King of Vampires and those who would rid the world of him, this adaptation is an action-packed, macabre retelling of Bram Stoker’s classic tale of horror.
The show is sponsored by Kenworthy Funeral Home, Inc.
Students from all area schools are invited to the Take a Bow drama camp at Hanover Middle School. The camp, directed by Hanover music teacher Deb Smith, will run from June 10-14. The cost is $50 per camper.
There will be a session for students grades 1-4 from 9 to 11:30 a.m. and another for students in grades 5-7 from noon to 3 p.m. Students will learn acting techniques, participate in theatre games and get the chance to sing and dance. The final class will include a performance for family and friends.
The camp is open to students from any area school. All campers will receive a t-shirt and snacks. Proceeds from the camp will benefit the Parents Association Supporting Theatre Arts (PASTA) to fund drama productions at Hanover Middle and High schools.
Shelby Barnes (Christine) and Clay Reichart (Opera Ghost) will star in Hanover High School’s production of “Phantom of the Opera”
One of Broadway’s most famous musicals makes its way to Hanover April 12-14 as Hanover High School presents “The Phantom of the Opera.”Performances will take place at 7 p.m. on April 12 and 13 and 2 p.m. on April 14. Advance tickets are now available at the high school office. Adults tickets are $8 and student admission is $7 in advance. Tickets at the door will be $10 for adults and $9 for students.
On Saturday, April 13, Parents Association Supporting Theatre Arts (PASTA) will hold a Masquerade Pasta Feast prior to the show at the high school. Dinner tickets are $12 and feature a meal catered by La Cucina beginning at 5 p.m. A string quartet from the high school music program will provide dinner entertainment. Dinner tickets are also available at the high school and proceeds will go to benefit the theatre program at the middle and high schools.
Additionally, a lobby display will showcase costumes and architecture of the Paris Opera House as well as memorabilia from Hanover’s former Opera House located on West Chestnut Street.
Based on a novel by Gaston Leroux, “Phantom” tells the story of a deformed composer who haunts the Paris Opera House and falls madly in love with an innocent young soprano, Christine. The show recently celebrated its 25th anniversary on Broadway.
Shelby Barnes plays Christine, the chorus girl secretly trained vocally by the Opera Ghost, played by Clay Reichart. The phantom does everything he can to make Christine the star of the opera until he ultimately takes her to his lair for her to become his eternal bride. Rene Staub is director of the production.
The haunting theme “Phantom of the Opera” highlights the score along with favorites such as “Think Of Me,” “Angel Of Music,” “Music Of The Night,” “Prima Donna,” “All I Ask Of You,” “Masquerade” and “Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again.”
The lavish set will feature a locally-made chandelier sponsored by Diane and Sal Capolla. Other distinctive set pieces include a full-size elephant and handpainted drops made by the drama team, students and parents.
