TOWNSHEND — The Leland & Gray Players celebrate their 20th season with “Hats Off 2016!” on June 10 and 11 in the Dutton Gymnasium on the Leland & Gray campus on Route 30 next to the Town Hall.
An eclectic parade of music, dance, and comedy, “Hats Off” offers Leland & Gray students in grades 7-12 an opportunity to select what they want to perform, to display their strengths, to hone new skills, and to discover different ways to contribute to the performance, according to a news release. Many students also direct, choreograph, and design for “Hats Off.”
This year's show includes classic comedic skits from Monty Python, Saturday Night Live, Abbott and Costello, and Second City, as well as sketches by Jonathan Rand, Samara Siskind, and more. Songs and dances will include musical numbers from “Oliver!,” “The Sound of Music,” “Hamilton,” “Aladdin,” and more - along with a few surprises.
Featuring several new faces as well as a host of veterans, the “Hats Off 2016!” company includes Adam Culver, Rebekah Winot, Susie Francy, Caroline Mehner, Tino Benson, Gabrel Vanni-Phillips, Nathan Claussen, Bradford Cutts, Nastia Stevens, Abbie Hazelton, Madison Chase, Christian Cannella, Luke Parker-Jennings, Gregory Holland, Emily Frost, Rebecca Williams, Kenny Cashman, Sam Thibault, Sam Harrison, Skyler Nupp, Maris Linder, Veronica Stevens, and Makaylee Cutts, according to the release.
To commemorate the Players' 20th season, alumni Jesse Cannella, Arik Clark, and others will join the performance.
Annie Landenberger will produce, and alumna Emily Thibault is assistant director. Nathaniel van Osdol heads the design/production crew.
The prop/running crew includes Skyler Nupp, Kaylah Jacobs, Anna-Cate Harrison, Fairen Stark, Erelyn Griffin, Jillian Carona, and Susie Francy. Dale Stevens is Tech Director. Nastia Stevens, Austin Morse, and Veronica Stevens are on lights, and Sage Hall and Grant Cullen handle sound. Anthony Carona designed the poster. Dan DeWalt is accompanist.