March 12, 2009 BY BOB KOSTANCZUK Post-Tribune staff writerHOBART -- The new $62.5 million Hobart High School comes with an impressive 650-seat theater.The Hobart High Theatre Department will break it in with "Anything Goes" — the inaugural theatrical production. The engagement starts Friday.Overhead sound boards are seen in the new Hobart High School theater during a dress rehearsal for "Anything Goes" recently in Hobart. (Scott M. Bort/Post-Tribune) If you goWhat: "Anything Goes"Where: Hobart High School Theatre, 2211 E. 10th St., Hobart.When: 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 7:30 p.m. on Friday, March 20, and Saturday, March 21; matinee performance at 3 p.m. Sunday.Tickets: $6 for students, $7 for senior citizens and $8 for adults; reserved seats available by calling 942-8521, Ext. 8193. Cathy Nelson, the school's theater director, said she and the production team chose to go with the time-tested musical by Cole Porter, a Hoosier who grew up in Peru."We wanted something pretty significant, with a little bit of name recognition," said Nelson, an English teacher who's directing Porter's 1934 show.The state-of-the-art school has a theater with pine wood accents and a brick proscenium."It's beautiful," Nelson said. "We have a great sound system — the best sound system they could have gotten us."She said that in the past, the audio aspect "was always one of our challenges."The cost of the theater is approximately $3.5 million, according to the superintendent's office.In addition to a makeup room and dressing areas, Nelson pointed to other features: "We have a scene shop. We have a full fly system."Graced with such technical elements for staging, the new theater is a fitting anchor for the high school's Performing Arts Center.Also in the mix is the Black Box Theatre, an adjacent room that has curtains and is used for small performances and also as a classroom.One of the theater's most interesting features is an orchestra pit that lies mostly beneath the stage, allowing seats to be closer to the stage.Performing in the first onstage play will be 18-year-old Nathan Allen, who will portray Lord Evelyn Oakleigh, a nobleman, in "Anything Goes."Allen has his own solo."It's probably one of the funniest plays that I've done, just because of the subtle humor in it," the Hobart High senior said. "I've been in numerous musicals, but I definitely like this one the most."Allen will get the vocal spotlight for his rendition of "The Gypsy in Me."Between 60 and 70 students are involved in the production. Approximately 40 of them are in the cast, according to Nelson.A modest-sized orchestra will play."Anything Goes" includes classic Broadway tunes such as "Friendship," "It's De-Lovely" and the title song.
From the Northwest Indiana Times:ANYTHING GOES HobartThe great Cole Porter musical will be performed at the Performing Arts Center at, Hobart High School, 2211 10th St., at 7:30 p.m. March 13, 14, 20, 21 with a matinee at 3 p.m. on the 15. Nearly 70 students and a team of 10 adults-mostly volunteers, are involved in this inaugural production. Tickets are on sale at the Performing Arts Box Office. Reserved seats are available by phone. Tickets are $8 for adults, $7 for seniors, and $6 for students. In cooperation with the Hobart Educational Foundation, the theatre department will offer complimentary tickets to seniors at the 3 p.m. March 15 matinee. Seniors will be treated to tours of the new building and complimentary reception beginning at 2 p.m. They will also receive preferred seating at the show. To participate in this event you must call ahead to reserve your spot.FYI: (219) 942-8521, ext. 8193
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