Claremont secondary musical theatre sets sail aboard the ocean liner SS American as 80 students stage Anything Goes.

With a cast of 50, an orchestra of 10, and 20 crew the theatre students in Grades 9 through 12 have worked since February to bring the Cole Porter classic Anything Goes to Ridge Playhouse.

B次元官网网址淓veryone should come see this show, because it is seriously entertaining. Everyone involved has put so much effort into making the show enjoyable, and I think we delivered. ThereB次元官网网址檚 even tap dancing,B次元官网网址� said Oliver Paxman, who plays Billy Crocker.

Anything Goes follows nightclub singer/evangelist Reno Sweeney en route from New York to England. Her pal Billy Crocker has stowed away to be near his love, Hope Harcourt, but the problem is Hope is engaged to the wealthy Lord Evelyn Oakleigh. Joining this love triangle on board the luxury liner are Public Enemy #13, Moonface Martin and his sidekick-in-crime Erma. With the help of some elaborate disguises, tap-dancing sailors and good old-fashioned blackmail, Reno and Martin join forces to help Billy in his quest to win HopeB次元官网网址檚 heart.

Abbie Mellings, who plays Hope, promises a fun show with great musical numbers and funny moments. Proud of her peers on stage, the hijinks of the production on stage are not to be missed.

The cast and crew are part of the musical theatre course at Claremont, but beyond that the show is a culmination of hundreds of hours of work over several months, said director Colin Plant, who marks 25 years teaching the course this year.

B次元官网网址淲hile we may not be Broadway performers yet, these young performers have the energy, enthusiasm and passion that is unmatched on any stage. For schools, musical theatre is about much more than simply preparing students for a career in the fine arts. It is about creating a well-rounded person,B次元官网网址� Plant said.

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ItB次元官网网址檚 a sentiment that resonates with the students. Mellings said musical theatre is a welcoming and safe environment.

B次元官网网址淚 can walk into the theatre and be myself and I know IB次元官网网址檒l get along with everyone. Musical theatre has always been the most fun class IB次元官网网址檝e taken and all the teachers really add to that. The experiences we get to learn from thanks to the teachers are really what makes musical theatre the class that it is,B次元官网网址� Mellings said.

That community stands out for Paxman as well.

B次元官网网址淧erforming is one of my favourite things in the world, and to be able to do that with friends that feel the same way, is truly amazing,B次元官网网址� he said.

It also affords an abundance of life skills, said Plant, who feels every student should be in a musical theatre at some point.

B次元官网网址淲e embrace diversity and are inclusive to all participants who wish to be in our program, and we support creative problem-solving every day,B次元官网网址� Plant said. B次元官网网址淭he lessons we take away from our program are those which transfer very well to the B次元官网网址榬eal worldB次元官网网址� where we need these future citizens and leaders to be able to adapt and work with others respectfully and effectively.B次元官网网址�

Anything Goes is on stage in Ridge Playhouse, 4980 Wesley Rd. May 23 to 25 and May 29 to June 1 nightly at 7 p.m. with additional 1 p.m. matinees on May 25 and June 1.

Get tickets online at .

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