Jude Magnotti ‘26
EE Staff Writer
In High School, there are all matters of different stereotypes. You have the jocks, the nerds, and of course the ever-present popular kids. However, if there is one stereotype that runs rampant in our community, it is the theater kid.
It is no secret that Theater (and the musicals in particular) have been a crown jewel at Trumbull High for years upon years. Musical director Ms. Jessica Spillane has only added on to that phenomenal culture during her tenure and put together fabulous shows that can, and have, competed with the top programs in Connecticut year after year.
Nevertheless, Theater at Trumbull High is not the only way kids are able to express their passion for the stage. Aside from the annual productions each year, Trumbull Youth Association puts together their own individual show each summer entirely separate from the programs at Trumbull High.
Last year, the performers at TYA put together a full-sized production of the musical Anastasia in just under a month and a half. With so little time over the summer, performers have to work twice as hard and rehearsals are twice as brutal. Even some of the most devoted of theater students are unable to handle the immense workload that the show puts under them.
Still, make no mistake that with immense work comes immense results. The production absolutely dazzles fans and performers alike and the magic of putting on a musical is an unforgettable summer experience.
The show this year? An absolute theater classic: Anything Goes!
If you are unaware of this show, it is well known and beloved as one of the most classic shows in all of musical theater. It features wall street broker Billy Crocker who stows away on a cruise ship in a desperate attempt to win the heart of the woman he loves. Events escalate and it all results in a fun, chaotic, and hilarious debacle of singing, dancing, and laughs.
However, before we can dive into the craziness and shenanigans of Anything Goes!, the directors must first go through the tedious process of making sure the show is cast to perfection. Anything Goes! involves a rambunctious cast of characters filled with life and energy. Performers must go above and beyond just to meet the basic requirements of a character. Not only that, but Anything Goes! is known as one of the biggest tap shows in musical theater.
While tap is certainly fun, its style is extremely difficult to master and with numbers requiring tens upon tens of tap dancers, teaching a whole group of people how to dance in synchronization can be a tall task for cast and teachers alike.
Despite these seemingly impossible standards to meet in such a short period of time, the performers have no doubt that they can rise to the challenge.
“TYA is never easy,” says long time TYA member Vincent Chistoni. “I see tons of people who can’t handle the time commitment. Still, the ones who do can work their butts off and we make something awesome.”
With the audition process done, auditionees wait in anticipation to see who will be call-backed for the leading roles. No matter who gets cast, I encourage you to come see the shows we put on August 1st–4th. If the hard work was not already enough to convince you, your friends who see the shows certainly will. Hop in everybody! Because this summer Anything Goes!