ShowKids Invitational Theatre Stages ME & MY GIRL, Beginning Tonight

ShowKids Invitational Theatre (SKIT) follows up its spectacular SEUSSICAL with ME & MY GIRL, a delightful musical comedy with enough fun and frolic for the whole family! Rarely performed in the U.S., this British romp has charm and wit to spare, and Hunterdon County's award-winning ShowKids help us hop the pond to enjoy the musical mayhem - a great way to celebrate Mother's Day!

SKIT presents four performances tonight, May 7th at 7:30pm; Sunday, May 8th at 2:00pm; Saturday, May 14th at 7:30pm; and Sunday, May 15th at 2:00pm. All performances will take place at Voorhees High School, 256 Country Road 513, Glen Gardner, NJ 08826. Tickets are $20 or less, and can be purchased directly at www.showkids.org or by calling the SKIT ticket line at (908) 638-5959. Tickets are on sale now! A Hunterdon County tradition, a complimentary Senior Citizen Brunch is offered @ 12:30 pm on Sunday, May 8.

With music by Noel Gay, and its original book and lyrics by Douglas Furber and L. Arthur Rose, ME & MY GIRL had a successful original run in the West End in 1937, was turned into a film in 1939, revived in London in 1984 and came to Broadway in 1986, where it won three of its 11 Tony Award nominations.

"I don't understand why this musical is not performed more often," says Thomas Newman, who is directing SKIT's production. "ME & MY GIRL is extremely funny, the music is outstanding, and the incredible talent of the kids in this cast will leave you in stitches and have you singing along. This is truly one of the most entertaining shows SKIT has ever done - and that's saying something!"

The late Viscount Hareford had a youthful, unfortunate marriage - and kept discreetly out of sight was a son and heir. The Hareford Hall set are despondent when the family solicitor finds the legitimate heir in Lambeth. There is a cockney invasion - by Bill, his girlfriend and his mates - and the Lambeth Walk is danced by all.

The unapologetically unrefined cockney gentleman named Bill Snibson is performed by the uncompromisingly hilarious and talented Andrew Plinio, age 17, of Clinton Township. Plinio's other memorable SKIT performances have included his portrayal of Donkey in Shrek the Musical and Genie in Aladdin, and he recently performed with the Radio City Christmas Spectacular touring company. The role of Bill's sassy sweetheart Sally Smith is shared by two local favorites: Julianne Grillo, who recently had audiences hankering for more meat pies thanks to her powerhouse performance as Mrs. Lovett in North Hunterdon's production of Sweeney Todd; and Gianna Porfano, who earned standing ovations as "Sally" in North Hunterdon's production of Oliver, and was almost paradise as Ariel Moore in SKIT's production of Footloose last season. Both leading ladies are 17, of Clinton Township, and seniors at NHHS.

The role of Lady Jaqueline Carstone is shared by Paige Whitmore, 17, of Lebanon Twp. and Natalie Mehl, 15, also of Lebanon Twp. The Hon. Gerald Bolingbroke is played by Justin Lopez, 15, of Clinton Twp.; Herbert Parchester is Avery Stoker, 17, of Clinton, (who recently delighted audiences as The Cat in the Hat); and the role of Charles Hethersett is shared by Jonah Lione, 14, of Clinton, and Sam Hostler, 14, of Glen Gardner.

Several veteran SKIT players perform as aristocrats, including Joan Chavez as Maria, the Duchess of Dene and Tom Newman as Sir John Tremayne, both of High Bridge. Adults appearing as Ladies and Lords and other various roles are Dale Dabour, of Stewartsville; Sue Disko, of Lebanon Twp.; Jeff Mehl, of Lebanon Twp.; Earle Steeves, of Union Twp.; Lisa Postiglione, of Stewartsville; and Heidi Cimilucca, of Glen Gardner. Also appearing among the gentry are Ashley Gallagher, 17, of Stewartsville; Amanda Jackson, 15, of Asbury; George Kapetanakis, 15, of Bethlehem Twp.; and Courtney Voorhees, 17, of Clinton Twp. ­­­The Pearly Queen and King are Amy Schroeder, 15, of Bethlehem Twp. and Peter Zezas, 17 of Lebanon Twp.

Rounding out the incredible ensemble cast, as servants, guests, and cockneys are: Ryan Apgar, 14, of Clinton Twp.; Jonatha Berg, 14, of Clinton; Ben Black, 14, of Union Twp.; Evan Bravstein,13, of Chester; Samantha Brynildsen, 17, of Lebanon Twp.; Sabrina Bunca, 11, of Asbury; Sera Bunca, 14, of Asbury; Owen Butler, 12, of Asbury; Isabelle Cappel, 13, of Ringoes; Gianna Castaldo, 17, of Flemington; Allisa Conover, 14, of East Amwell Twp.; Tori Kramer, 12, of Holland Twp.; Ashley Liu, 13, of Union Twp.; Madison McGourty, 15, of Asbury; Marilena Parker, 15, of Clinton Twp.; Grace Postiglione, 16 of Stewartsville; Samantha Rooney, 12, of Bethlehem Twp.; Charlotte Ruffine, 12, of Tewksbury; Sierra Sainte-Rose, 13, of Lebanon Twp.; Prajeet Sarker, 15, of Clinton Twp.; Imani Smith, 13, of Phillipsburg; Owen Tabor, 12, of Lebanon Twp.; Gwen Van Doren, 13, of Clinton Twp.; Brooke Wachenheim, 15, of Clinton; Aubrey Whitmore, 7, and Josie Whitmore, 13, of Lebanon Twp.; and Hannah Willsey, 13, of Clinton Twp.

SKIT is a non-profit, family community theatre group. Founded in 1986 to offer the children of Hunterdon County an opportunity to experience the joys of theatre and give the community professional quality children's theatre productions, SKIT has since blossomed into an organization that also provides families the opportunity to share quality time while providing an unending amount of wonderful memories. SKIT director and producer Carolyn B. Newman was inducted into the New Jersey Association of Community Theater's (NJACT) Perry Award Hall of Fame earlier this year. SKIT won the Perry for "Outstanding Production of a Musical" in 2014 for Shrek, out of over 200 productions reviewed throughout New Jersey. ShowKids Invitational Theatre programs are made possible in part by the New Jersey State Council on the Arts/Department of State, a Partner Agency of the National Endowment for the Arts, through the funds administered by the Hunterdon County Cultural & Heritage Commission.

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