Spring musical will transport the audience to the '80s

Audiences for this year’s Nelson County High School’s spring musical will be transported back to 1985, a time when Michael Jackson ruled the charts with a glittery glove, shoulder pads were the hottest style in fashion and Ronald Regan was president.

It was also a time when none of the performers in the musical were even born.

The high school’s drama department will be presenting “The Wedding Singer” this weekend, a hit movie turned Broadway musical that is about Robbie Hart, a New Jersey wedding singer with dreams of being a rock star who was left at the altar by his own fiancée and then makes every wedding he plays as disastrous as his own.

Hart is played by sophomore Daniel Dennis, 16, of Roseland, who was the second male lead selected by Diana Driver, the director and the theater teacher at the high school.

Dennis had had to cut his long locks for the part.

“I guess this role is only going to come around once and I can always grow my hair back out,” Dennis said.

Dennis tried out for the lead role but said he didn’t necessarily expect to get it since he was only a sophomore, but he wasn’t the only young star in the cast.

Driver chose freshman Annie Saunders, 15, of Piney River, for the role of Julia, a waitress who becomes the object of Robby’s affection.

“I’m excited, but at the same time I’m really apprehensive,” Saunders said. “I’ve never been on stage before. But it’s going to be fun.”

This is the second musical based in the 1980s that Driver has staged in two years, a reason it made her apprehensive to choose this play. But the music won the heart of Scott Belcher, the high school’s band director.

“This year, I ordered probably 12 scripts to read and listen to the music and once I let Mr. Belcher listen to this soundtrack, he said ‘I don’t want to hear anymore,’” Driver said. “This was the one.”

While Dennis’ comedic timing will keep the audiences laughing, it’s senior Puja Tolton’s portrayal of Rosie, Hart’s 80-year-old grandmother, who will steal the show.

“I generally play really, really outrageous parts,” Tolton said. “I’m not afraid to make a fool out of myself.”

The costumes will also bring back memories of side ponytails and white-washed jeans.

Junior Katherine James, 16, had a hand in picking out and making costumes for each of the stereotypical characters. She said she researched ideas by going online to look at pictures from the “Miami Vice” TV series and Madonna.

Driver said the toughest part about the musical for the cast this year has been learning the choreography, but that the singing will be something to listen to.

“There are years when we cast actors over singers and some years we cast singers over actors,” Driver said. “This year, is a nice mix, but I would certainly say that when people start singing, be prepared.”

“The Wedding Singer” will be staged at the Nelson County High School’s auditorium at 7:30 p.m. on March 13 and 14 and 2 p.m. on March 15. Tickets are $6 in advance and $7 at the door.