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June 16, 2018
St. Cecilia Players to present ‘Memories in Music’ cabaret June 22 and 23
REGIONAL
Story and photos by Rebecca Drake
Channeling Aretha Franklin and demanding a little “Respect” are (right foreground) Diane Diehl and (background, left to right) Deb Trimboli, Diane Ryan, Luanna Saunders, Kayla Saunders, Janet Shea and Barbara Fitzgerald.
WILBRAHAM – Martha and the Van Dellas’ 1964 pop hit “Dancing in the Street” may have audience members dancing in their seats.
That is the hope of Eva Stockhamer, director of St. Cecilia Players’ upcoming performances of “Memories in Music (Songs from Your Stereo, Eight Tracks, Cassettes, Boom Box and Playlists).” The cabaret-style show will be presented on Friday and Saturday, June 22 and 23 at 7:30 p.m. at St. Cecilia Parish Center, 42 Main St., Wilbraham.
Kayla Saunders, 12, (left) and her grandmother, Luanna Saunders, rehearse “Side by Side,” one of the songs to be featured in St. Cecilia Players’ “Memories in Music.”
“We hope the audience will reminisce with us, feel the need to dance in their seats and even sing along a little to the songs they know and love,” said Stockhamer. “We think they will take away some of their own personal memories of the songs performed and enjoy being with friends and family in this setting.
“We are having our seating at round tables so people can enjoy each other’s company while enjoying the show,” she said.
The show’s musical director is Todd Rovelli, longtime organist and music director for St. Cecilia Parish and director of the parish’s popular “Festival of Carols” concert each December.
“This show gives us an opportunity to perform some really cool secular music that we’d never be able to do at ‘Festival of Carols,’ which focuses on sacred choral Christmas repertoire,” Rovelli said. “The theme of the program might be described simply as songs we love to sing and the audience loves to hear, including World War II classics, 1970s disco favorites, and Broadway standards. There really is something for everyone.”
Rovelli and Stockhamer were the longtime directors of the performing arts program at the former Holyoke Catholic High School.
“We were inspired to do this style show because we wanted to do something different than we had done before together,” said Stockhamer. “Todd and I have worked together for over 20 years now and we have done, for the most part, strictly musical theater. We decided we wanted to have songs from every area of music, as well as every era that inspired us.”
A total of 30 singers will be featured in the show and bring a variety of talents to the program, said Rovelli.
“The program features singers of all different skill levels and ranging in age from 12 to 85, accompanied by professional instrumentalists,” he said. “I believe that the combination of their unique talents and hard work in rehearsal will lead to a show that is uplifting for everyone.”
Singers in St. Cecilia Players’ upcoming cabaret will include (front row, left to right) James Haskins, Martina Haskins, Kayla Saunders, Emily Stratton, Lizzy Judycki and Sam Tsongalis; (middle row, left to right) Deb Trimboli, Barbara Fitzgerald, Marie Greco, Shirley Lertora, Ginny Dubord, and Jena Fallon; and back row (left to right) Diane Ryan, Gail Manning, Linda Pabich, Ellen Doyle, Diane Diehl, Luanna Saunders, Karen Drumheller, Leo Morrissey, Jeff Roberts, and Tony Vecchio.
The show’s singers have been rehearsing since mid-April and say they are already uplifted by the musical numbers.
Asked what her favorite song in the show is, alto Janet Shea said, “‘Lean On Me!’ It came out in 1972 when I was navigating those awkward years from junior high to high school. It is a beautiful, soulful song and always reminded me of the power of kindness.”
Soprano Diane Diehl has a special connection to the song, “Thank You for Being a Friend,” theme from the popular television series, “The Golden Girls.”
“My grandmother, sister, and I loved watching ‘The Golden Girls’ together and this reminds me of her (my grandmother),” said Diehl.
Other songs in the show include the Swedish group Abba’s “Mamma Mia”; Aretha Franklin’s “Respect”; “Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy”; “We’ll Meet Again”; “No More Tears (Enough is Enough)”; the “Laverne and Shirley” theme song, “Making Our Dreams Come True”; a medley from the Broadway musical “Grease”; and many more.
For soprano Lizzy Judycki, 21, one of the younger singers in the show, “Dancing in the Street” will be a highlight. “It’s very fun and upbeat and it’s a classic.”
“Musically, it’s very interesting, especially with the harmonies and rhythms,” said Judycki, a vocal performance major at Westfield State University. “Listening to it is such a blast and it’s always fun to sing!”
“I think that because the songs span multiple generations, everyone will find a song they enjoy — maybe even get up and dance to,” said Diehl. “I also think the songs will remind everyone of summer!
“I truly hope the show brings people together to enjoy each other’s company and have a little fun in a world that can just be so crazy,” she said.
Admission to “Memories in Music” will be $12 per person and can be paid at the door. Light refreshments and beverages, including beer and wine, will be available for purchase.
For more information, contact Eva Stockhamer at hstocky@gmail.com or 413-244-5904.