'Show Will Go On' for the GHS Fall Play—Even If There's a Teachers Strike

"The show must go on!" so the saying goes. But up until today the question for Geneva High School actors and fans of the fall play had been: Will it?

With a teachers strike looming as soon as Nov. 9, the high school's fall play, Laughing Stock, is scheduled for presentation Nov. 9-11.

The initial District 304 strike plan, distributed to parents and the community Wednesday, said "most extracurricular activities will be cancelled" in case of a strike. But Geneva High School Principal Tom Rogers said the fall play is an exception.

"The show will go on," Rogers said at around 11:30 a.m. Friday. "Yes, we have determined that the play will be presented, even if there's a strike."

Laughing Stock, described as "an affectionate—and funny—love letter to the world of theater, is based on Charles Morey’s own decades of experiences with life on the boards. The setting is a New England summer theater, “The Playhouse,” where the season’s schedule includes Dracula, Hamlet and Charley’s Aunt.

Shows are at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 9 and Nov. 10, and 2:30 p.m. Nov. 11.

The cast has been rehearsing for several weeks under the direction of Carrie Schafer of Batavia, who also directed the 2011 fall play, All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten.

Nick Bianchina is Gordon Page, the overly ambition artistic director. Bridget Foley is the penny-pinching producing executive administrative director, Corey Conlin and Becca Grischow is the stage manager, Sarah McKay. Elise Watson portrays sweet (and eccentric) Daisy, a longtime company member; and Cole Downey is the self-absorbed leading man, Tyler Taylor.

Jeff Hersheway is the talented newcomer, Jack, while Mary Kate Stanfa is Mary, the new ingenue. Sydney Parado plays guest director Susanna, Cameron Graber portrays the forgetful Richfield Hawksey. while Rian Kormos plays jaded actor Vernon, and Meredith Dillon plays the overextended set, costume and lighting designer, Hedy.

Marc Belon, Margot Downey, Angelo Gulfuso, Megan Grant, Joey McCall, Anika Nims, Zane Shaw, Sara Temple and Katie Willadsen round out the cast. Robbie Brouilette is the GHS stage manager.

“Laughing Stock is a look at summer stock theater and all the characters that come with it,” said Schafer. “Come see a behind-the-scenes look at how actors cope when everything that can go wrong ... goes wrong.

“We are blessed with a great cast, with wonderful comic timing. Come see GHS theater at its best!”

Tickets are $5 for adults and $3 for students and will be available at the door. Geneva High School is at 416 McKinley Ave., Geneva.

Note: Much of the information for this article is from a Geneva School District 304 press release.

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