Advertisement The cast of the classic Rodgers and Hart musical, “Babes in Arms,” boasts 56 cast members and three crew members, including 22 students who came directly from the middle school.
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Erich Berg, left, and Robin Earleywine are part of a large cast of Onalaska High School actors in "Babes in Arms." The play hits the stage at 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday at OHS. Check out our ONLINE GALLERY for more pictures.
Photo by Randy Erickson |
Also coming from the middle school are music director D.J. Ehrike and orchestra director Sandy Kauphusman, who has been conducting for the summer musicals since they started in 1992 with ... “Babes in Arms.”
Kauphusman doesn’t mind doing ‘Babes’ again, though. “For me, the fact that this show is the original ‘High School Musical’ makes it really fun,” said Kauphusman, who leads a 15-member orchestra for the production.
“They’re just Onalaska’s finest musicians,” Kauphus-man said. “Most high school musicals would hire out professional musicians to accompany in the pit. We’re just so fortunate to have such a good band program and orchestra program.”
Originally produced in 1937, “Babes in Arms” was a rarity because its cast was so young — the leads were 16. It tells the story of a group of youngsters struggling to put on a show.
“It’s really a timeless tale, with really timeless songs,” Lisa Reimler said. “It’s really hard to leave this show without humming some songs.”
Composer Richard Rodgers and troubled but brilliant lyricist Lorenz Hart created a number of songs for the show that have become standards, including “The Lady is a Tramp,” “Where or When” and “My Funny Valentine,” a song that actually is sung to a character named Valentine.
It’s a rare high school show where most of the cast gets to play characters their own age. Couple that with a fun and wholesome story, classic songs and challenging dance numbers by choreographer Nikki Balsamo and you’ve got a recipe for theatrical success.
“This is the kind of show families will want to see,” Reimler said.
AT A GLANCE
CAST AND CREW
Courtney Reagles
