ICYMI: Amity High School Students Will Fly in 'Tarzan'

Editor’s note: This article originally was published this past week on Bethwood Patch. We’re republishing it here in case you missed it:

By Nancy Sasso Janis (Star Patcher)

Pictured: Rehearsal photo of Morgan Guadagnoli as Kala in ’Tarzan’ at Amity HS Photo by Nancy Sasso Janis

The always impressive Amity Creative Theater will definitely be dazzling audiences with its upcoming five performances of the Disney Musical Tarzan.

From the minute patrons walk into the corridor in front of the school’s auditorium, they will be swept up in Tarzan’s jungle and it’s inhabitants. Although I was invited to stop into the Sunday rehearsal before the show opens on Friday, I will do my best not to review the musical...yet. It won’t be easy.

I passed a few green lawn signs advertising the production as I got closer to the high school. When I arrived at the rehearsal, there were parents already in the hallway working to make sure it will be decked out in the Amity tradition.

I entered an almost deserted auditorium because the students were taking a break for lunch in the cafeteria. I could not believe how they had completely transformed the stage from last year’s inner city for In the Heights to Tarzan’s jungle. One of the parents helping out asked another, “Is it me, or do the sets get more elaborate every year?”

The space soon came alive with the arrival of the 36 musicians that make up the all-student orchestra. Amity theater teacher Robert Kennedy, the director of Tarzan, told me that this is the first time the orchestra will be 100% students. The musicians will be seated in front of the stage once again and under the direction of Phillip Dolan, they play the score by Phil Collins beautifully.

The stage crew of 30, some sporting Tarzan t-shirts, also began to get to work, for they have a lot to do in this production. Lighting and projections were checked, Mr. Kennedy eventually got his “God mike,” and the rehearsal began in earnest.

Amity Creative Theater has hired a flying effects company to train the student cast and crew for the performances, and the Amity students know how lucky they are to have this amazing opportunity. The world renowned ZFX (zfxflying.com) flying effects company is based in Louisville, Kentucky and the trainer assigned to Tarzan is on the road 300 days each year.

On Saturday, the ten hour load in of the necessary equipment was completed. The ZFX trainer worked with the student actors on Sunday for the first time and will continue to do so through Wednesday. After that, the cast and crew are left to do it all on their own. During each of the five performances, seven student actors will need to fly.

As I watched their first rehearsal with flying, the actors learned how to glide through the trees or just a few feet off the stage as offstage crew members pulled them up. The students worked on hooking up their fellow actors and then unhooking them, sometimes onstage. (No pressure!) I only witnessed one stubbed toe and the young actress brushed it off as everyone made sure she was all right.

Mr. Kennedy told me that there are three different types of harnesses used in the show. Some actors use the Peter Pan type harness, Tarzan uses an aptly-named Tarzan harness and the young lady playing the deadly leopard wears a special type of harness that allows her to do back flips. The young man playing Tarzan’s human dad came out to show an adult in the house his harness with a steel plate on his back.

The musical tells the story of Tarzan’s first experience with modern civilization and love. It ran on Broadway back in 2006. Amity’s production involves more than 110 students, with 50 of them appearing in the large cast. There is a lot of choreography for students dressed in beautiful monkey costumes and the make-up is....ok, I’ll stop.

The play stars Max Karasnow from Woodbridge as the adult Tarzan; he played Benny in the performance of In the Heights that I saw last year. Tarzan as a boy is played by the young son of Mr. Kennedy. Addie Robbins of Orange plays the role of Jane; she appeared as Camila last year.

Also featured is Bethany resident Khari Blue as the big gorilla Kerchak; I have seen this senior at Amity as Piragua Guy last year and Beadle Bamford in Sweeney Todd the year before. Morgan Guadagnoli from Orange appears as Kala, Tarzan’s adopted mother and Kerchak’s mate

If you live in the area, I urge you to try to get tickets for this one. You will not be disappointed. Show dates are March 20th, 21st, 27th at 8pm and March 28th at 2pm and 8pm. There are only a few seats left for opening weekend at amitytheaterdepartment.com All seats are $18.