High Point to present 'My Favorite Year'

SUSSEX BOROUGH — People know the 1982 movie starring Peter O'Toole, but "My Favorite Year" was turned into a Broadway musical in the early 1990s.

This weekend, a cast of 46 student performers from High Point Regional High School will unveil their rendition.

"I’m going to guess that most people that come to see this show will be unfamiliar with it. As much as I appreciate the classics, it’s nice to tell audiences a story they haven’t heard of before," director Theresa Ricciardi said.

With music by Stephen Flaherty and the story by Joseph Dougherty, the show stands as a “tribute to live television during the 1950s when there was some of the best live comedy broadcasted through a medium, television, that was so young,” Riccardi said.

The show features sketch writer Benjamin “Benjy” Stone, played by Senior Samuel Morisson, of Sussex Borough, who narrates the play. He tells the story of why 1954, though not his best year, has been his "favorite year" by far because it’s the year he goes from lowly assistant to freshman writer on television’s hottest show, the King Kaiser Comedy Cavalcade, and meets his idol, actor Alan Swann, portrayed by senior Matthew Peters of Lafayette.

“I picked this particular show,” Riccardi said, “because it has 13 larger-than-life featured roles in addition to a strong ensemble that colors the 1950s. The King Kaiser Comedy Cavalcade is modeled after NBC’s Show of Shows featuring Sid Caesar and Imogene Coca. It’s a contemporary musical designed in a traditional way.”

Peters, who plays Alan Swann, said that his character is a washed-up, alcoholic, womanizing British actor.

“He was at the top of film before his personal life crumbled, and so he’s now trying to make a come-back as the guest star on the King Kaiser Comedy Cavalcade,” Peters said. Benjy Stone, who looks up to Swann as his hero, assumes the responsibility of keeping Swann celibate and sober until airtime.

Senior Riley Whelan of Sussex plays K.C. Downing, Benjy’s love interest.

“Benjy is a jokester, and K.C. is intimidated by him,” she said. “In the beginning, the two bicker a lot before realizing they’re in love. Every girl probably has someone they’re in love with that they don’t want to admit to liking. Sometimes they do admit to it, but face all kinds of personal struggles like, ‘I’m not good enough to be with him,’ or ‘He won’t like me because of this reason.’ Audiences can relate to K.C. on that level.”

Branchville resident senior Brooke Sutton is Benjy’s mother, Belle May Steinberg Carroca.

“I’m trying to be big and dramatic with this role," she said of her final role at High Point. "Belle is a Jewish woman from Brooklyn who loves her son and does everything in his best interest. She’s very nosy and involved, loud and crazy.”

This is also the final show for senior Matthew Epperly of Sussex. Where he says he usually delves into “more stoic, dramatic characters,” this time around he has the opportunity to be funny.

“My character, Rookie Carroca, is Benjy’s stepdad," Epperly said. "Rookie and Belle are head-over-heels in love with each other. Rookie is a jovial guy, despite the strained relationship with his stepson. This is my last shebang, and I’m enjoying it.”

The set for the show was designed by Rose Riccardi. Conductor Harold Woods and Musical Director John Zatorski lead the orchestral/vocal end of the show, while senior Nicole Helewa stage manages.

All musical numbers were choreographed by Lisa Simko Schumann, owner of Dance Expression in Hamburg.