Holy Cross Student Theatre to Present THE ELEPHANT MAN

The Holy Cross Student Theatre (HCST) is proud to announce Bernard Pomerance's classic The Elephant Man as its fall production for the 2016-2017 school year.

Performances run at Holy Cross High School (HCHS) in Waterbury on November 4th & 5th at 7:00p.m. and November 6th at 2:00p.m. Tickets are $8.00 and can be purchased at the door or by calling HCHS at 203.757.9248. Seniors will be admitted free for the Sunday, November 6th matinee only.

The production is under the direction of long-time HCST director and teacher, Paul Whealon. HCHS English Teacher Lori Conetta is the Assistant Director.

"The students have recognized that the play is about the person inside and how people learn to find, understand and accept and celebrate that person," said Mr. Whealon. "John Merrick was an intelligent man trapped in an ugly body. The cast has to find him. It is an amazing process."

John Merrick (Michael Perkins '18 of Waterbury) is a man living with horrifying, rare skin and bone diseases. He is seen as a freak by society, but his life changes when young physician Frederick Treves (Jacob Gannon '18 of Waterbury) agrees to care for him. Merrick quickly becomes a favorite of the English aristocracy. This acceptance comes with a heavy price.

The Elephant Man made its' Broadway debut in 1979 and played for 916 regular performances. Prior to the Broadway production, it played at Hampstead Theatre and National Theatre in London. It ran off-Broadway in early 1979 at the York Theatre and St. Peter's. It was revived recently on Broadway in 2014 for a limited 13-week engagement and in London at the Theatre Royal Haymarket in 2015.

"My overall goal in any theater production is a learning experience," said Mr. Whealon. "We vary. We did Shakespeare last year and comedies in other seasons. I try to find a piece that is a stretch so that the students on stage, back stage and in the audience will learn."

The HCST Cast of The Elephant Man includes: Michael Perkins '18, Jacob Gannon '18, Bill D'Avino '20, Jenn Carroll '17, Christina Finkenzeller '18, Adrianna Perugini '18, Sabrina Santropietro '20 (all from Waterbury), Nick Pietrorazio '19, John Vito '18, (both from Watertown), Ben Bowler '19, Emily Bowler '17 (both from Middlebury), Jack Boushie '20, Gillian Russo '17 (both from Woodbury), Meghan Booth '18 (Oakville), Galvin Brayton '19 (Bethlehem), Marina Setaro '18, Mira Chartier '17 (Wolcott), LeAnne Raymond '17 (Plantsville) and Casuarina Arute '20 (Cheshire). Will Guglielmo '18 (Middlebury) , Caitlyn Dreher '18 (Prospect) and Omofolade Olusanya '20 (Waterbury) are the stage managers.

Holy Cross High School (HCHS) is a Catholic secondary school founded in Waterbury, CT in 1968 by the Congregation of Holy Cross. At 37 acres, it is the largest Catholic secondary school in CT. HCHS has a total enrollment of approximately 500 students. Originally an all-boys institution, it became co-educational in 1975 when it merged with the all-girls school, Waterbury Catholic High School. The Mission of Holy Cross High School is to assist in the total Christian education of young men and women. To accomplish this, Holy Cross High School, in cooperation with parents, provides a framework, which fosters integration of the spiritual, intellectual, emotional, physical and social growth of each individual.

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