'Beatlemania Now' hits High Point stage

By Viktoria-Leigh Wagner
WANTAGE — June 7 was a nostalgic day for Beatles fans at High Point Regional High School where the Wantage Township First Aid Squad hosted a “Beatlemania Now” concert to benefit the squad. The band opened with “She Loves You.” Joe Nocco, 47, who portrays Ringo, said, “It’s a thrill, a privilege and an honor to represent what I’d say is the greatest band of all time.”

A band for 25 years, Nocco says the group “met up when they started something called the ‘Beatlemania Bus Tour’ after Beatlemania closed on Broadway in 1982.” A drum player since the age of seven and a Beatles fan since he was two, Nocco said, “I was playing in bands since the age of 15, and everyone said, ‘You play just like Ringo!’”

Lucien Nocelli, 48, who is John Lennon on stage, says the experience is fun. “We’ve been doing it a long time, and it becomes a part of your life. Lennon was my idol, so it was easy for me to step into character.”

Nocco agreed; “Lucien was born to play Lennon. When we met, it was like a musical explosion on stage. It’s a passion. It’s important to us to keep the Beatles’ music alive. We study their mannerisms and we bring it to the stage.”

Self-taught guitarist Bob Halligan, Jr., 60, plays Paul McCartney. “It’s not something I never expected to do," said Halligan, Jr. "I have to really take good care of my voice. I’m a natural baritone, and Paul was a high tenor.”

Twenty-nine-year-old James Striffolinois plays George Harrison. Having joined the group five years ago, he said, “George is pretty natural to me. My personality is close to George’s." Striffolinois said everyone in the band fits their respective Beatle personality well. “It’s cool being able to put yourself in their shoes for two hours. I was listening to their records growing up. I think what’s amazing is the amount of material they put together in a short time.”

The Wantage First Aid Squad’s President, Stan Gardner, and Vice President, Robert Cintron, are Beatles fans themselves. “The concert was held to be able to provide 24/7 high-level support to a town of 10,000 residents across 70 square miles," said Cintron. "There is the financial need to fulfill state requirements for operations and training. We are service-oriented and see ourselves as mentors to the cadets we have.”

Gardner, who has served 16 years on the squad and three years as president, said the event was also held to show the squad’s support of the community.

“This is the time for the squad to pause and thank the community and sponsors we have here,” said Cintron. “It’s a way to recognize the EMS and come together to have a good time versus coming together in an emergency situation.”