STERLING — The streets of Victorian London will come alive with singing, dancing and a multitude of memorable, colorful characters when Sterling High School Theatre presents the classic musical Oliver! With a cast of 48 including 17 grade schoolers, three junior high and 28 high school students, the show will be presented on Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Nov. 14-16, at 7:30 p.m. in the school’s theater.
Charles Dickens’ beloved novel Oliver Twist springs to life in the musical that has become a worldwide beloved classic. With book, music and lyrics by Lionel Bart, the Tony and Olivier Award-winning show is one of the few musicals to win the Academy Award® for “Best Picture.” The musical score is filled with spirited, timeless songs like “As Long as He Needs Me,” “Food Glorious Food,” “Consider Yourself,” “Where is Love,” and the title song.
The musical follows the young orphan boy Oliver on a wild adventure through Victorian England as he encounters such colorful characters as the cruel undertaker Mr. Sowerberry, the charmingly clever street urchin known as the Artful Dodger, the conniving yet charismatic Fagin and his gang of child pickpockets, the sinister Bill Sikes and the warm-hearted Nancy. This bigger than life, action-packed, humorous and heart-warming tale of loyalty and love has been heralded as a theatrical masterpiece.
Leading the Sterling cast is sixth grader Caleb Giorgetti in the title role. Tucker Robson will be seen as Mr. Bumble, the head of the Workhouse/Orphanage along with Regan Olsen as Widow Corney. Undertaker Mr. Sowerberry will be portrayed by Lucas Gilmore with Natalie Schweizer as his wife and Noah Svaty as his employee Noah Claypool.
The band of pickpockets is led by Fagin, played by Bryson Brownlee with Caleb Brownlee as the chief thief known as the Artful Dodger. The kind bar maid Nancy will be played by Sophia Vessey while Luke Harding will play the hard-hearted Bill Sikes.
Jordan Mullins will be seen as Mr. Brownlow the kindly gentleman who takes in Oliver. Aubrey Anderson will be his maid Mrs. Bedwin. Other Sterling High School actors in the musical will be Alaina Madden, Ella Wellman, Maddy Chesney, Bella Brownlee, Claire Chesney, Hannah Bennett, Colton Sant, Tori Gonzales, Meah Gonzales, and Macy Brownlee.
Fagin’s band of pickpockets will include Josiah Watney, Peter Vessey, Zane Guerrero, Charlie Simpson-Eighmy, Karissa Wilson, Kelsey Webb, Micah Svaty, and Zoe Harding.
The Workhouse/Orphanage boys who open the show will be Sterling Grade School students Reagan Cannon, Shepherd Mattson-Levy, Cooper Pieplow, Katie Inwood, Lydia Webb, Emmie Madden, Mikaela Miller, Nolan Wellman, Cody Schweizer, Rylie Plett, Porter Anderson, Zack Dashielle, Leland Britton, Bryce Stinemetz, and Kenadee Schmidt. Directing Oliver! is Sterling High School Theatre instructor Betsy Dutton. Clark Comley is musical director along with elementary music teacher Cindy Anthony who is also accompanist. Bob Brownlee is designing the set and Piper Harding is choreographing.
Tickets for the show will be $10 for adults and $5 for students and will be available at the door before each performance.
