MANVILLE: Seniors revel in final musical

By Mary Ellen Zangara, Special Writer
   Find those flared trousers or those platform shoes and your favorite outfit from the 70’s and get ready to sing all those great songs. Head over to Manville High School this weekend and enjoy the sounds of the 70’s as the MHS Drama club puts on this year’s production, “Disco Inferno.”
   The play will be held Friday and Saturday nights at 7 p.m. and at 2 p.m. on Sunday in the Manville High School auditorium.
   Over 50 MHS students in the cast, crew and band are participating in the production. Stephen Sallach, Ashley Wollesen and Ken Zampella have been working with the performers for about three months.
   ”Ashley and I chose this play because it had a good story and incredible music from the 70’s. This play is different from the rest because of the story behind the music,” Mr. Sallach said.
   ”The musical is based on the story of Faust. Faust is the protaganist of a classic German legend. Though a highly successful scholar, Faust is dissatisfied, and makes a deal with the devil. He desires unlimited knowledge and worldly pleasures and the devil gives him these things in exchanging for his soul. The result of this deal with the devil does not bode ell for Faust and, well,I am not going to give away the ending,” said Mr. Sallach.
   According to Mr. Sallach, in “Disco Inferno” “The story of Faust is brought to life in an explosion of hit songs, high-energy dance routines and glitter-ball spinning action. ‘Disco Inferno’ is packed with over 20 classic 70’s floor fillers and is a musical celebration of the perpetual spirit of the decade that brought us flared trousers, platform shoes and more glitter than can be found in Liberace’s wardrobe.
   ”A hilarious script, fantastic characters and an electrifying score, combine to create a high-energy musical guaranteed to warm hearts, get feet tapping and audiences leaving the auditorium with a daft grin of pleasure and the fondest memories of a sensational era. A show for all the family and whether it’s your first experience of the life and music of the 1970’s or whether you were there when it all began.”
   This performance will be the final curtain call for many of the seniors. Some have been in all four of their high school years’ productions and will end their acting career at MHS with this show.
   Sunny Piscadlo is one of those seniors.
   ”It being our last performance of our senior year it is kind of like we grew, especially with Mr. Sallach and Ms. Wollesen. For the past four years, they have kind of been our mentors. It is kind of sad that we are leaving as this is our last one but it is exciting.” Sunny plays a fashionista named Nikki Diablo.
   Also a senior, Alyssa Silcox (Kathy) said, “I am excited that the show night is coming soon but sad because it has been four years and I grew a lot of memories, especially here. I opened up a lot being on stage as I was kind of shy where now I’m singing on stage. It is really exciting but at the same time I probably won’t be doing this in college so it is like a last farewell.”
   Nick Kita (Heathcliff) participated in all four productions but says “Disco Inferno” is the best in his MHS acting career.
   ”I think this play has been a lot more fun but also a little bit more stressful at the same time. I have been trying to balance working with a whole bunch of school activities. The dance numbers are awesome, the music is awesome. It incorporates great musical numbers as well as a great story line. It is going to be a great for the audience as well as a lot of fun for the actors,” he said.
   Tickets are $5 for students/senior and $7 for adults and can purchased each day at the performance.
   Mr. Sallach is excited about the production and invites everyone to attend.
   ”We have been working very hard on this show through sleet, snow, and rain since January,” he said. “The dance moves are intense and the students have risen to the occasion. It is going to be a fantastic show that will keep you at the edge of your seat.”