Oliver! comes to Bryn Athyn's Mitchell Performing Arts Center April 22

Broad cockney accents, rough behavior and rag-tag clothing have turned a collection of talented students at the Academy of the New Church Secondary Schools into a crew of clever thieves, and their teachers and families couldn’t be more pleased.

That’s because on April 22 at 8pm, this crew, along with their more genteel cast members, will hit the boards at the Mitchell Performing Arts Center (MPAC) in Bryn Athyn to open in Oliver!, the Tony Award-winning musical based on Charles Dickens’ enduring tale of a poor, sensitive boy among thieves, looking to find his place in the world.

“Familiar songs and beautiful music make Oliver! a joy to perform and a delight to see,” says Sarah Cooper Waelchli, the show’s producer. “Declan Durand, who was Peter Pan in last year’s show, gives us an Oliver Twist who is sure to charm audiences. For our own ‘twist,’ our Fagin and Artful Dodger are played by females: sophomore Rayna Synnestvedt and senior Tykah Echols. Tykah is a real veteran of the Mitchell Center boards, having been in all eight productions of her ANC career.”

The show opens at 8pm on April 22 and continues with 3 more evening performances and a matinee at 7pm April 23, 2pm April 24, 8pm April 29 and 7pm April 30. Tickets are $15, $12 for students and children; they’re available for purchase online at www.ANCSS.org, by phone at 267.502.4810 or at the door. MPAC is at 800 Tomlinson Rd, Bryn Athyn 19009.

Making the most of Oliver!

Leave it to the Academy of the New Church to take behind-the-scenes advantage of the morality lesson provided by a 19th-century novel-turned-musical. As the students at the ANC Secondary Schools dove into production for the spring musical, the staff used the story’s depiction of relationship abuse to launch a school program to raise awareness among the student body for dating violence and responsibility.

“For those who are familiar with the play, the most unsettling scenes are those between Nancy and Bill,” says Cooper Waelchli. “We knew when we chose this show that we would want to do some educational work in conjunction with that relationship abuse element.

“A few weeks ago we invited Laurel House, an organization that works to end domestic violence, to talk to our students about teen dating abuse, how to recognize the warning signs and protect themselves, and where to get help.

“Look for the cast members to be wearing small purple ribbons on their costumes to show support for domestic violence awareness. A small fundraiser at our performances benefits Laurel House in Montgomery County and A Woman’s Place in Bucks County.”

Performing Arts at ANC

The Academy of the New Church Secondary Schools’ robust arts program includes not only classes in instrumental, choral and dance but also two plays a year, a year-round dance team, two-week summer acting camp for middle-schoolers and an intensive Performing Arts Portfolio class taught by the co-directors.

Students interested in the backstage aspects of theater can take courses in set design or costuming. They can also participate as members of the stage crew or by joining the sound and lighting team.

This year’s production of Oliver! is directed by Chris Waelchli and Sarah Gladish, who are also Music Director and Choreographer, respectively. Assistant Music Director is Simon Daum, Pit Orchestra Director is Donna Bostock and Costume Director is Judy Merrell.

IMAGE: Rayna Synnestvedt as “Artful Dodger” and Declan Durand as “Oliver” in the Academy of the New Church Secondary School’s production of Oliver! opening April 22 in the Mitchell Performing Arts Center, Bryn Athyn. (Credit: Sarah Cooper Waelchli for ANCSS)