CLHS presents musical “Sweet Charity”
Students from Cypress Lake High School Center for the Arts will perform “Sweet Charity”, a spectacular Broadway musical based on a Neil Simon play, on Nov. 19, 20, 21 and 22.
The show is a story about a lovelorn New York dance hall hostess, Charity Hope Valentine, who dreams of an old-fashioned romance but gives her heart to one undeserving man after another. Cypress Lake High’s musical production will be the first Lee County High School musical of the year. Casting is complete and the rehearsal schedule set. The production will be enhanced with high tech Computer Graphic Imagery in addition to the numerous sets and props constructed by the students.
In 2008, Scott Saxon, general manager of the Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall began a program called “Lee County High School Musical Awards” to support and promote theatre arts in Lee County high schools. High school musical productions are judged and an awards ceremony takes place at Barbara B. Mann in May. For two years running, Cypress Lake High School has won several of the “High School Tony Awards” including the “Best Overall Production Award” in both 2008 and 2009 for our productions of “All Shook Up” and “The Producers”. The musical awards are growing in popularity. In 2008 only four schools competed. In 2009 the number of participating schools doubled.
Due, in part, to the CLHS center’s previous outstanding success in the “Lee County High School Musical Awards,” and increased publicity efforts, the productions are attracting more and more people. Last year the production of “The Producers” was nearly sold out at all four performances, breaking all school records. By adding Broadway style Computer Graphic Imagery to this year’s performances, there is hope to inject a new level of professionalism into Lee County high school theater.
In addition to the “High School Tony Awards” and the Computer Graphic Imagery, this musical production will be adjudicated. A show that has been adjudicated is eligible to perform at the Florida State Thespian Festival. The festival takes place in Tampa and high school students from all over the state compete in a variety of different categories for the coveted superior and excellent awards.
The public is invited for an evening of high quality theatre entertainment at the CLHS auditorium at 6750 Panther Lane. Curtain time is 7:30 p.m. on Nov. 19 through 21 (doors open at 7 p.m.) Curtain time is 7 p.m. on Sunday the 22 (doors open at 6:30 p.m.) Admission price is $10 per person. Contact: 481-2233 for additional information weekdays between 7 a.m. and 2 p.m.