Orange County Arts Council presents High School Musical Theatre Showcase

SUGAR LOAF — The Orange County Arts Council is hosting the first High School Musical Theatre Showcase in the Lower Level Center Court at the Galleria at Crystal Run in Middletown on Saturday, March 1, from 3 to 6:30 p.m.

Seven high schools will be singing and dancing as they share a small sample of their upcoming high school musicals with each other and the general public.

“The county-wide student art show sponsored by the Arts Council was such a huge success last year that we decided we needed to add an event for the performing arts this year," said Dawn Ansbro, executive director for the Orange County Arts Council. "We sent out some inquiries to see if the schools were interested and were thrilled to get such an enthusiastic response. These students are so talented - I’m really looking forward to seeing so many of them performing in one place.”

Warwick Valley High School will be performing selections from the whodunit musical Curtains, book by Rupert Holmes, lyrics by Fred Ebb, and music by John Kander. The musical is a spoof of backstage murder mystery plots, set in 1959 Boston, and follows the fallout when the supremely untalented star of Robbin' Hood of the Old West is murdered during her opening night curtain call. The complete show can be seen at Warwick Valley High School on March 7 at 7:30 p.m. and March 8 at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.

John S. Burke Catholic High School will be performing selections from the musical Godspell, music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz and book by John-Michael Tebelak. The show is composed of various musical parables from The Gospel According to Matthew and uses contemporary music and dance to tell the story of Jesus Christ. The musical can be seen at Burke Catholic High School on April 11 and April 12 at 7:30 p.m. and April 13 at 2 p.m.

Other schools performing at the showcase include:

Middletown High School - In the Heights; Show at Middletown High School on April 4 at 2 p.m. and April 5 at 2 and 8 p.m.

Valley Central High School - Crazy For You; Full show at Valley Central High School on April 4 and April 5 at 7 p.m. and April 6 at 2 p.m.

Washingtonville High School - Bye Bye Birdie; Full show at Washingtonville High School on March 6, March 7 and March 8 at 7 p.m.

Newburgh Free Academy - West Side Story; Full show at Newburgh Free Academy on March 21 and March 22 at 7:30 p.m. and March 23 at 2:30 p.m.

Port Jervis High School - Footloose

For more information about the musical theatre showcase or to find out how to become more involved with the Arts Council, call 845-469-9168 or email dawn@ocartscouncil.org.

The Orange County Arts Council’s mission is to champion the arts, connect artists with audiences and foster the growth of the county’s creative resources.