Tenafly High School Presents Broadway Level Production

Tenafly High School's Award-Winning Performing Arts Department presents

Legally Blonde

WHEN: Thursday, Friday and Saturday, April, 26, 27, 28, 7:30 PM
WHERE: The Collins-Tall Auditorium, 19 Columbus Drive, Tenafly, NJ
TICKETS: $20 premium; $10 for seniors and students reserved; $10 for general admission.
To purchase tickets visit www.tenaflytheatre.com or buy at the door. For more information or to request an interview, email sahncooper@tenafly.k12.nj.us.

The Tenafly High School is proud to present Legally Blonde as this year’s spring musical—based on the popular novel by Amanda Brown and the hit-movie of the same name—which chronicles the highly- entertaining story of a vivacious sorority girl who enrolls at Harvard Law School to win back her ex-boyfriend. The show has been cast and directed by Tenafly High School Theater/Speech Director Samuel Ahn-Cooper and Music Director Jim Millar and features music and lyrics by Laurence O'Keefe and Nell Benjamin and book by Heather Hach.

Legally Blonde tells the story of Elle Woods, a fashion savvy, UCLA sorority girl who finds her life turned upside down when she is dumped by her boyfriend Warren. In an effort to prove she is more than a ditsy blonde, she follows him to Harvard Law, where she struggles to fit; but in the end, she defies expectations, learns enough about law to successfully defend a murder trial, and manages to stay true to her smart, delightful self, despite the fact that no one shows much faith in her.

“There are many reasons I wanted to direct this show,” says Samuel Ahn-Cooper. “The script is funny, the music catchy and the characters are real. But, the main reason is that Elle Woods is an incredible feminine role model. While others put down her abilities and intelligence, Elle hardly ever doubts herself for a second. She is accepted to Harvard Law School, wins an important internship and is successful in her first court case. She decides on a goal and knows with 100% certainty that she can attain it, even as others only respond with incredulity or mockery. Amazingly, Elle never sees herself as stupid, despite the fact so many other people believe this so strongly about her. She smashes through all the stereotypes. In today’s climate, Elle Woods is the woman we need.”

The show has been cast, directed and choreographed by the following Tenafly High School professional staff: Samuel Ahn-Cooper, Director/Choreographer; Jim Millar, Music Director; Steve Moger, Technical Director; and Gina Ventura, Choreographer. The cast features: Elle – Ariel Fromm; Margot – Naomi Friedman; Serena – Lizzy Palo; Pillar – Dene Chung; Kate – Marina Hoffmann; Warner – Jack Goldsmith; Emmett – Andy Chang; Callahan – James Park; Paulette – Sam Kurtz; Vivienne – Alika Saxena; Brooke – Alize Abdelhak; Dewey/Kyle /Lowell–Anthony Parmelee; Nikos/Frat Boys – Guy Maslaton; Carlos/Frat Boys – Brad Moyer; Enid – Gili Zaifman; Padamadan – Arjesh Gupta; Aaron – David Zhitkov; Elle’s Mom/Delta Nu/Judge–Amanda Pyun; Elle’s Dad/Winthrop – Omer Raz and other talented actors.

Tenafly High School's Award-Winning Performing Arts Department Presents “Our Town”

Our Town

WHEN: Thursday, Friday and Saturday, November 16, 17, 18 at 7:30 PM
WHERE: The Collins-Tall Auditorium, 19 Columbus Drive, Tenafly, NJ
TICKETS: $12 for adults, $10 for students/ seniors. To purchase tickets visit: www.tenaflytheatre.com or buy at the door. For more information or to request an interview, email: sahncooper@tenafly.k12.nj.us

As its annual fall play, Tenafly High School is proud to present Our Town—Thornton Wilder’s Pulitzer Prize-winning drama about the fictional small town of Grover's Corners, New Hampshire, at the turn of the century. It has been cast and directed by Tenafly High School Theater Director Samuel Ahn-Cooper, who has added many contemporary touches, including musical numbers, costumes, untraditional casting and increased audience interaction. (Image: The Stage Manager, played by Lizzy Palo)

Set over the years between 1901 and 1913, the 3-act play explores the everyday, ordinary lives of the people of Grover’s Corners, told through the voice of a central, omnipotent narrator/stage manager, who frequently interrupts the play to recite monologues and speak directly to the audience as she reflects on the comedies and tragedies of life, as well as metaphysical questions about life, death and eternity.

The first act introduces the audience to the daily life of the people of Grover’s Corners. The second, three years later, centers on the wedding of two of the main characters, George and Emily, who are conflicted about their decision as they feel a bit unprepared for the future that awaits them; and the third act, nine years later, focuses on how much life has changed in this small town. Many of the people have died, including Emily, who returns to Earth for one day to relive her 12^th birthday, only to reach the painful conclusion that people really don’t realize the beauty of life while they are living it.

“The beauty of Our Town is that many of the plays themes are still relatable,” says Samuel Ahn-Cooper. “We are so wrapped up in the haste of our daily lives that we never stop to look at things and each other. We take life for granted and then it is gone. As wonderful as the play is, it is very dated and I feel that it works better with a more diverse cast, some contemporary updating and having some of the roles traditionally played by men being played by women. We are enjoying the process of taking a well-known play and really making it our own. It is great to work with such an open, beautiful cast that is willing to take the journey towards one common goal.”

The show has been cast and directed by the following Tenafly High School professional staff: Samuel Ahn-Cooper; Director, Jim Millar, Music Director; Steve Moger, Technical Director. The cast, in order of their appearance, features: Lizzy Palo, Omer Raz, Reilly Wilmit, Jack Goldsmith, Dene Chung, Anya Kashubai, Gili Zaifman, Andy Chang, Naomi Friedman, Ariel Fromm, Guy Maslaton, Alika Saxena, Alessandra Bontia, Katherine Leschner, Amanda Pyun, Abigail Pomeranz, Sydney Lerner, Bradley Moyer, Marina Hoffmann, Anthony Parmelee and Alize Abdelhak.

TENAFLY HS PERFORMING ARTS DEPT. PRESENTS “CINDERELLA” NEXT WEEKEND

Tenafly High School's Award-Winning Performing Arts Department Presents

Rodgers & Hammerstein’s CINDERELLA

WHEN: Thursday, Friday and Saturday, March 16, 17, 18, 7:30 PM
WHERE: The Collins-Tall Auditorium, 19 Columbus Drive, Tenafly, NJ TICKETS: $20 premium; $10 for seniors and students reserved; $10 for general admission.
To purchase tickets visit: www.tenaflytheatre.com or buy at the door.

The Tenafly High School is proud to present Cinderella as this year’s spring musical – the enduring Rodgers & Hammerstein hit that continues to lure and entertain audiences with its fairytale love story and enchanting music. The show has been cast and directed by Tenafly High School Theater/Speech Director Samuel Ahn-Cooper and Music Director Jim Millar, who are eager to showcase this new book version by Douglas Cater Beane, which successfully premiered on Broadway in recent years, putting a new modern spin on this popular classic.

Cinderella was originally conceived as a made-for-television musical in 1957 starring Julie Andrews, and was followed by a 1965 version with Lesley Ann Warren and a 1997 one with Whitney Houston, Brandy and Bernadette Peters and Whoopi Goldberg. The new Beane version, which had a recent run on Broadway, retains much of the original music, but has edited the storyline to give it more political substance and to make Cinderella and cast more multi-dimensional.

“This is a large scale production with traditionally beautiful music, great sets, and the chance to bring audiences the magic of this timeless fairytale combined with the unforgettable music of Rogers and Hammerstein,” says Samuel Ahn-Cooper. “ We are particularly proud to present the new Bearn book, as it retains all the sentiment and charm of the original, but with some important refreshing updates that this story deserves. It’s something audiences of all ages will love!”

The show has been cast, directed and choreographed by the following Tenafly High School professional staff: Samuel Ahn-Cooper, Director/Choreographer; Jim Millar, Music Director; Steve Moger, Technical Director; and Jonathan Lee, Choreographer. The cast features: Alika Saxena as Cinderella, Gavin Caine as the Prince, Patrick McCann as Lord Pinkleton, Ariel Fromm and Caroline Wolinsky, as the stepsisters; Demi Yona as Madame and Natalia Rodriguez as Marie.

IMAGE: Gavin Caine (Prince) and Alika Saxena (Cinderella) rehearsing with full cast.

FREE WINTER MUSIC CONCERT @ TENAFLY HIGH SCHOOL

Tenafly High School Winter Music Concert

WHEN: Thursday, January 19, at 7 PM
WHERE: Tenafly High School, Collins-Tall Auditorium, 19 Columbus Dr, Tenafly
ADMISSION: free and open to the community

The Music Department at Tenafly High School is proud to present its free annual Winter Concert where the school choirs and Philharmonic Orchestra will join together to perform the New Jersey premiere of Launch, an original composition by Adam Glaser, Chair of the Conducting Department at the Juilliard pre-college division and Director of Orchestras at Hofstra University. Mr. Glaser will also coach the group at a rehearsal prior to the concert.

Additional works to be performed that night include Mozart's Overture to Don Giovanni, Verdi's Overture to La Forza del Destino, The Dance of the Comedians from The Bartered Bride by Smetana and more.

The concert, which will be held in the high school’s Collins-Tall Auditorium, will run approximately two hours. A reception, hosted by the Performing Arts Support Organization, will follow. All are welcome.

ANNUAL WINTER CONCERT @ TENAFLY HIGH SCHOOL

ANNUAL WINTER CONCERT
Music Department Tenafly High School

WHEN: Thursday, January 21, at 7 PM
WHERE: Collins-Tall Auditorium, Tenafly High School, 19 Columbus Drive, Tenafly
ADMISSION: The concert is free and open to the community

Band Director Ross Chu and Choir and Orchestra Director Jim Millar will lead the highly-talented bands, choirs and orchestras in an inspirational concert, featuring Noel Kim performing

• the second movement of the Barber Violin Concerto with the Philharmonic Orchestra
• a Percussion and Wind Symphony Tribute to Gershwin
• the British Coronation Anthem, Zadok the Priest, with the combined choirs and orchestra
• the third and fourth movements of Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony, performed by the Philharmonic Orchestra.

ANNUAL WINTER CONCERT @ TENAFLY HIGH SCHOOL

ANNUAL WINTER CONCERT
Music Department Tenafly High School

WHEN: Thursday, January 21, at 7 PM
WHERE: Collins-Tall Auditorium, Tenafly High School
ADMISSION: The concert is free and open to the community

Band Director Ross Chu and Choir and Orchestra Director Jim Millar will lead the highly-talented bands, choirs and orchestras in an inspirational concert, featuring Noel Kim performing

• the second movement of the Barber Violin Concerto with the Philharmonic Orchestra
• a Percussion and Wind Symphony Tribute to Gershwin
• the British Coronation Anthem, Zadok the Priest, with the combined choirs and orchestra
• the third and fourth movements of Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony, performed by the Philharmonic Orchestra.

TENAFLY H.S. PERFORMING ARTS DEPARTMENT PRESENTS UPDATED “ROMEO & JULIET”

Romeo and Juliet

WHEN: Thursday, Friday and Saturday, November 19, 20 and 21, 7:30 PM
WHERE: Collins-Tall Auditorium, Tenafly High School, 19 Columbus Drive, Tenafly
TICKETS: $10 students; $12 senior citizens adults.
To purchase tickets visit www.tenaflytheatre.com or buy at the door.

The Tenafly High School is proud to present Romeo and Juliet as its fall theater production. It has been cast and directed as a contemporary, urban, hip-hop take on the famous Shakespeare tragedy about “star-crossed” young lovers from feuding families, who choose to die for their love. Set in the late 90’s, this never-before-seen and newly abridged version of this timeless tale is directed by Tenafly High School Theater/Speech Director Samuel Ahn-Cooper, who was inspired by Lin-Manuel Miranda’s visionary musical and Hamilton and Baz Luhrmann’s movie of the same title. (Above: Natalia Rodriguez, Patrick McCann)

This fresh, in-your-face production plays out in a stark, industrial, urban city designed and created by Steve Moger, the show’s technical director, where 90’s hip hop music flows seamlessly throughout many of the scenes. Some of the monologues are rapped and the party scene breaks out into a group hip-hop dance. Juliet performs two beautiful ballet pieces and it is her stunning solo that catches Romeo’s eye. The Montagues and Capulets wear modern costumes with a twist; daggers replace swords, bracelets, wristbands, sneakers and ball caps replace traditional costumes and Mercutio and Tybalt, historically cast as men, are played by girls. Mercutio’s death scene beautifully unveils the character’s true identity and the fact that Romeo believed Mercutio to be a boy the entire time starts him on a path towards self-destruction. After both Mercutio and Tybalt’s death the story unfolds in a moving, violent and romantic tragedy. (Above: Back Row: Brad Moyer, Maya Amitai,, Patrick McCann, Nick Evereat, Reilly Wilmit. Front Row: Lizzy Palo Johnathan Tamir)

“To direct a show of this magnitude is a challenge and an inspiration,” says Samuel Ahn-Cooper. “Though many people recognize Shakespeare as one of the greatest voices in theater, many people find him unapproachable or intimidating or are afraid they won’t understand or connect with the ‘Old English’ the characters speak. That is what makes our take on this famous play so exciting. I see it as an opportunity to make Shakespeare fun and edgy with present-day relevance. In a world of real-life gang warfare, the fate of Romeo and Juliet takes on new meaning. And that’s the magic of theater. It can be a powerful tool for educating others, and when the curtain goes down, I believe our production of Romeo and Juliet will spark a new appreciation of Shakespeare and the timeless messages he still manages to communicate across nearly 500 years of time.

The show has been cast, directed and choreographed by the following Tenafly High School professional staff: Theater/Speech Director Samuel Ahn-Cooper, Technical Director Steve Moger and Production Coordinator Jim Millar. The cast features: Sampson – Ariel Fromm, Gregory – Alika Saxena, Tybalt – Maya Golan, Mercutio – Lizzy Palo; Lady Capulet – Demi Yona; Lady Montague – Reilly Wilmit; Nurse – Sam Camizzi, Juliet – Natalia Rodriguez, Benvolio – Jonathan Tamir, Abraham – Maya Amiti, Balthazar – Nick Everaert, Capulet – Nate Lee, Montague – Bradley Moyer, Friar – Colin Colchamiro, Romeo – Patrick Mccann, Prince – Mr. Stanley Flood, Paris / Friar John – James Park, Servant – Haruyo Koeda.

Tickets are  For more information or to request an interview, email: sahncooper@tenafly.k12.nj.us