A magical tale

Last Updated on Tuesday, January 15, 2013 12:51 pm Written by SHAUN SMITH Wednesday, January 16, 2013 01:00 am

Tighe school presents Aladdin Jr. Jan. 17-20

More than 75 middle school students at the Eugene A. Tighe School make up the cast of “Aladdin Jr.”

MARGATE – Students at the Eugene A. Tighe School here invite you to join them on a journey to Agrabah for the production of “Aladdin Jr.” Jan. 17-20.

Enchanting costumes, a story that follows the Disney movie “Aladdin,” and 77 middle school students will come together and tell the magical story for four shows at the Margate Performing Arts Center.

The story follows the tale of Princess Jasmine, played by Michaela Sless and Fiona Breslin, choosing a husband at the choosing of her father, the Sultan, played by Jacob Rosen and Justin Romolini.

Along the way, Jasmine meets a thief, Aladdin, played by Sam Gluck and Liam Bradley and his monkey Abu, played by Sean Drew and Sophia Gresham in a bustling marketplace and the two become attracted, nearly at first glance. Aladdin is captured by Razoul, played by Giuliana Leotta and Kate Dulac and taken to a cave on the outskirts of the city.

The Sultan’s top guard, Jafar, played by Will Schmidt and Chris Robertson and his parrot sidekick lago, played by Steven N. Schneider and Nalu Tripician, attempt to rewrite the kingdom’s laws so Jafar is in line for marrying the princess.

Aladdin find’s a genie’s lamp and the Genie, played by Gavrielle Jacobson and Maggie Gibbons, and helps his new master escape jail for stealing a loaf of bread.

The cast is divided into two for the four performances. The blue cast is comprised of Gluck, Sless, Jacobson, Schmidt, Schneider, Rosen, Leotta and Drew as well as narrators Maddie Armstrong, Katherine Coffey, Alyson Doyle, Victoria Robertson and Devon Parto. Blue cast guards are Sofia Graziano, Patty Pullini and Tai Lei Richards. Joey D’Amico plays the baker, Zach Drexler the Magic Carpet and Sophia Weiner is the shop owner.

Bradley, Breslin, Gibbons, Robertson, Tripician, Romolini and Dulac are in the gold cast. They are joined by narrators Chloe Dulac, Rachel Olivo, Alana Sanchez, Amanda Crisham and Emily Talvacchia. Guards are played by Allyssa Borrelli, Abby Citta and Izzy Turner. The Baker is Michael Gregory, Zach Drexler plays the Magic Carpet and Sophia Weiner is the Shop Owner.

The ensemble is comprised of: Julianne Affanato, Hannah Ahlstrom, Michelle Ardiles, Mara Beck, Hannah Bychick, Alainia Cain, Sara Canales, Martina Citera, Megan Crawford, Starr Daleandro, Zach Drexler, Ashley Devlin, Alex Fader, Jillian Falvo, Rhiannon Faustino, Shane Ferry, Elizabeth Gitto, Megan Hankinson, Skyla Israel, Liana Kuperman, Victoria McHugh, Livia McManus, Carla O’Brien, Frankie Parra, Luisa Pimienta, Morgan Pizagno, Kyla-Jade Puher, Molly Reardon, Julie Reeves, Sophia Richmond, Ava Ritzel, Sofia Ruzzo, Emma Sacco, Claudia Scherbin, Melissa Schlect, Britney Sciarillo, Mackenzie Smith and Kai Tripician.

Debbie Roland is directing the production for the seventh year in the district. Jefferson Heller is choreographer, Wayne Netherby is sound and light design, Mark Wille is light design, Lisa and Josh Drexler are light and audio technicians. Chris Andersen and Lisa Drexler are artistic designer, Chris Andersen and Patty Holland are special assistants. Graphics are done by Ashlei Wyant of Studio Ringo and Jim Daly, Debbie Roland and Jack Zoltek are the band. 

Eugene A. Tighe School presents
“Aladdin Jr.”
9:30 a.m. and 7 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 17
7 p.m. Friday, Jan. 18
1 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 19
At the Dr. Dominick A. Potena Performing Arts Center
Eugene A. Tighe School
7804 Amherst Ave.
(609)487-7783
Tickets $8 for adults, $5 for seniors and students

Photos by Shaun Smith