By Amy Batista, Special Writer
HIGHTSTOWN — Gamblers, sinners and Save-a-Soul Mission dolls invaded Hightstown High School this past weekend as students presented their rendition of Damon Runyon’s “Guys and Dolls.”
It starred Vincent Stevens who played Nathan Detroit and Miranda Contreras-Peterson who played Adelaide.
Nathan Detroit runs an illegal floating crap game, but due to a run-in with local police, he has to find another location for the game. He finds a spot at the Biltmore Hotel garage, but needs a $1,000 security deposit, and he is broke.
Nathan bets Sky Masterson, played by Shlok Shah, a gambler who is willing to almost bet on anything, that he must take a doll (a woman) of Nathan’s choice to dinner in Havana, Cuba.
He agrees, and Nathan chooses Sarah Brown, played by Ellen Rothfuss, a Save-a-Soul Mission, while he is trying to avoid marrying his longtime fiancé of 14 years, Adelaide.
Throughout the play, which takes place in New York City in the late 1940s, audience members watch the gamblers and chorus girls as the mission dolls try to reform them, according to Catherine Anzuini.
Additional starring roles included Nicely Nicely Johnson, played by Matt White; Rusty Charlie, played by Dan McGinley; a gambler, played by Zachary Fayer; Aunt Abigail Abernathy, played by Jordan Virgil; Benny Southstreet, played by Phil Kramer; Lt. Branigan, played by Jill Ryan; Harry the Horse, played by Danny Bocanumenth; Agatha, played by Doriane Feinstein; Joey Biltmore, played by Tyler Switsky; master of ceremonies, played by Brian Klein; Mimi, played by Samantha Gleich; Gen. Cartwright, played by Briana Kupper; and Big Jule, played by Zackary Fayer.
Catherine Anzuini, of East Windsor, produced and directed the musical and has been directing at the high school since 1993 and for the district since 1974.
She is the music teacher at the high school, including a musical theater class.
”I read through several shows, listen to the music to hear vocal ranges and then talk to the choreographer and the set technicians to get feedback,” Ms. Anzuini said in an email Sunday. “I also try to keep in mind what might appeal to the students and community and what the students can learn about theater through doing a production of a particular title.”
Diana Horowitz, of Yardville, who choreographed and did the musical staging, began with the district in 1987. She choreographed at both Kreps as well as at Hightstown High School, but in the past five years, has concentrated at the high school where she teaches English.
Ms. Horowitz has been involved with dance as a performer, dance instructor and choreographer for 60 years.
”The choice of the musical is finally up to Cathy, although she always discusses her considerations with me since, obviously, my job is one of the key elements of a musical,” Ms. Horowitz said in an email Sunday. “She must consider vocal ranges that are required for a particular show, and I need to know if I’ll have the dance talent that a show will require. There are other considerations as well.”
More than 1,000 family members, friends and students attended one or multiple showings during Friday and Saturday evenings and Sunday afternoon.
Parent Michele Charache was impressed at how “incredibly professional” the musical was.
”Amazing talent,” Ms. Charache said. “A wonderful performance. It’s really a nice group of kids.”
One of her favorite scenes in the musical is the Havana scene and, of course, she loves the scene with the “Hot Box” dancers in which her daughter, Nicole, 14, of East Windsor, plays a dancer.
”They missed a wonderful production if they haven’t seen it,” Ms. Charache added.
Jackie Hart, of Hightstown, a fourth-grade teacher at Ethel McKnight School, came to support and watched her former students perform.
”I have a number of former students up there on stage, and I’ve had them in kindergarten, and now they are way up in high school, and they are performing,” Ms. Hart said. “It’s always so fun to watch them.”
According to Ms. Hart, her favorite parts of the musical were the scenes with all the guys playing the parts of the gamblers.
”Their costumes are really cool, and they are really playing the part of the New York gamblers,” Ms. Hart said. “Their accents are excellent.”
She added, “When you see a production like this, you see any kind of music ensemble or athletic event, it’s young people at their best. They are doing what they love, and it’s really an opportunity for the community to see good things the teenagers do.”
Eighty students were cast in roles and worked in various crew positions, which included crew and pit.
According to Ms. Anzuini, this time around, everyone who auditioned was able to receive a role, which is not always the case.
For Miranda, a senior from Hightstown, this was her final show.
”It’s my last show with Hightstown High School,” Miranda said. “I have been doing shows since the third grade, and just growing up with these people has been incredible.”
Miranda noted the highlight of the play was spending it with her three best friends one last time before moving on with their lives — “Getting this last chance before we all move on with the rest of our lives.”
She added, “It was a wonderful experience for everyone involved. It was one of my favorite plays. It was one of the best productions that Hightstown High School has put on.”
Senior Shlok, of Hightstown, agreed it was a “wonderful experience.”
He said, “I couldn’t have asked for a better part, a better co-star and a better overall experience than these last few months have been. We have been really excited to perform.”
He added, “After last year’s crop of seniors left, a lot of people were wondering whether or not we could handle it. I think that we have proven, every year seniors leave, and more people will come in and fill in their shoes. We put on a really great production here this year.”
”It’s been a very memorable experience, and I know we are going to hold these memories for a very long time,” he said.
For Ellen, a senior from Roosevelt, the experience of rehearsing five and sometimes six days a week has “brought us closer as friends.”
She said, “I think more than any other year, this show has brought us together. I felt so happy. I thought it was a great show to go out with.”
According to Ellen, they’ve had the biggest audience attend the performance on opening night the school has seen in a few years and described it as “electric.”
She added, “I think everybody should be encouraged to do theater. It’s a really rewarding experience because you work so hard and then get to show everyone what you can do so I think everyone should get a chance to do a show in their lifetime.”
For Vincent, a senior from East Windsor, this musical found himself “finding my voice” and himself in his character.
”I really found my niche here,” Vincent said. “I guess, for me, I really matured as an actor. I did a lot of character work. I really felt like I had a connection with the character I played.”
He added, “If you have kids that are good at speaking and like the limelight, encourage them to go on stage because it’s a great experience. We meet a lot of new people, and you just have a lot of fun.”
According to many, the cast and crew are a tight-knit family.
For Ms. Anzuini, the highlight for her was sitting back and taking in the reactions of the audience and seeing her students respond to the crowd after months of hard work.
”Just seeing how pleased the students are with the audience reaction to their performances,” Ms. Anzuini.
Ms. Horowitz added, “Every time the kids successfully nail a musical number in the way I’d envisioned it and taught it, and the audience responds enthusiastically, regardless if it’s a duet or a big ensemble number, that’s memorable for me.”

