The Garden City High School Drama Department will present “The Unsinkable Molly Brown” on February 1st, 7th and 8th at 7:00 p.m. There will be matinee performances on February 2nd and 9th at 2:30 p.m. The performances will be held in the auditorium on the Garden City High School campus, 2720 Buffalo Way Blvd. This production will also be adjudicated for the Music Theatre of Wichita Jester Awards that will be held in May.
Advanced ticket prices are $10 for adults, $8 for senior citizens and $5 for students. Tickets may be purchased at https://www.onthestage.tickets/garden-city-high-school2/individual-tickets, from cast members or at the door at the performances. However, tickets at the door are $7 for students and $10 for seniors, and $12 for adults. The box office opens an hour prior to the production for the purchase of tickets at the door. Cash, checks, and credit/debit cards are accepted. Please arrive at least ten minutes prior to the show to ensure seating before the show begins.
This production was made possible thanks to the Educational Theatre Foundation, Music Man Foundation and Music Theatre International as GCHS Drama was awarded a special $10,000 grant to be one of 32 schools around the country and one of only two schools in Kansas who were awarded the grant. We are so excited and grateful to be a part of this special program. To encourage Molly Brown’s share the luck spirit, we will hold a minute to give during the intermissions of our production. We will split the donated funds to both the Emmaus House and the Finney County Humane Society.
Synopsis: The Unsinkable Molly Brown is the rags-to-riches love story of Molly and James Joseph "J.J." Brown, owners of one of the richest mines in the U.S. at the turn of the twentieth century. The show features music and lyrics by the incomparable Meredith Wilson, and a book and additional lyrics by Tony-nominated author Dick Scanlan (Thoroughly Modern Millie, Everyday Rapture) based on the original book by Richard Henry Morris. This revitalized version of The Unsinkable Molly Brown shows Molly as she really was: vibrant, progressive, and ready to fight for the underdog as a champion of women's rights, labor rights, and immigration reform. In this spirited tale of a legendary American original, we follow the exploits of Margaret "Molly" Tobin Brown, a miner's wife in Leadville, Colorado who becomes an overnight millionaire with her equally feisty husband J.J. But high society is no match for Molly. As she turns the upper crust of Denver upside down, stands with the miners of Leadville, traverses Europe, and famously survives the Titanic, Molly proves her mettle wherever she goes. From rags to riches, Molly Brown tackled big issues and looked out for the little guy, using her personality, platform, and resources to "Share the Luck."
Cast: Playing the title role of Molly Brown is Julia Facio (senior). Her husband, JJ Brown, is played by Oliver Spencer (junior). JJ and Molly’s close friends are Vincenzo played by Silas Lobmeyer (senior), Arthur played by Albert Revolorio (senior), and Erik played by Skylee Stark (junior). Revolorio and Stark are also in the Dolce Trio. William Gerard, a friend of JJ who is tragically lost in a mining accident, is played by Erik Resendiz (junior) and his widowed wife Julia is played by Paige Sanders (freshman). Mine owner, Horace Tabor is played by Zane Sorensen (sophomore) and his wife Baby Doe Tabor is played by Lila Scrivner (sophomore). The saloon girls of Pearl, Birdie and Nelva are played by Sabrina Rodriguez (freshman), Ava Spencer (freshman), and Chandler Powers (sophomore). Upon entering Denver’s elite society, Molly and JJ meet Louise Sneed Hill played by Marsae Hanneman (sophomore), Hanneman also plays Fr. Robinson and is in the Dolce Trio. Sophia Sobba (freshman) plays the Brown’s wise-cracking Irish maid, Mary Nevin. Emelin Dominguez (sophomore) plays both Maud Call, a woman who creates a scandal with JJ, and Maureen O’Shaughnessy, a young immigrant woman who Molly meets on a lifeboat after the sinking of the Titanic. Savier Espinoza plays Hitchens, the quartermaster of the Titanic, who was on her lifeboat. Sebastian Arroyo plays the Governor of Colorado and Fred Bonfils, a writer for the Denver Post. JJ and Molly’s children Kit and Larry will be played by Anabel Reyes (sophomore), and Connor Music (freshman). A group of senators who question Molly Brown on the sinking of the Titanic are: Zane Sorensen, Silas Lobmeyer, Albert Revolorio, Erik Resendiz, Savier Espinoza, Sebastian Arroyo, Leslie Perez (junior), Zephyr Hernandez (sophomore) and Ayden Smalls (freshman). Playing many characters in the ensemble are: Julibeth Arzate, Leslie Perez, & Erik Resendiz (juniors), Sebastian Arroyo, Emelin Dominguez, Marsae Hanneman, Zephyr Hernandez¸ Anabel Reyes, Ailyn Robledo, & Mila Segwick (sophomores), and Alysson Acosta, Maria Ascencio Martinez, Sophie Cornish, Isabella Cruz, Savier Espinoza, Delilah Garcia, Connor Music, Ayden Smalls, Sophia Sobba, Veronica Thang, Veronica Vargas & Journie Wilson (freshmen).
The Pit is under the direction of Sean Boller. Keyboards are by Andrew Zoschke and Pablo Aguilar. Clarinet will be played by Alicia Montoya, Guitarist is Ruben Parral. Reeds are played by Makenzi Johnson and Ashley Ibarra. Christopher Michael Johnson is playing trombone. The violin is played by Summer Miller. String bass will be played by Matt McGrory. Percussionist is Matt Lobmeyer.
Alice Hilt is the Director. Assistant Directors are Tucker Schiffelbein, Mark Van Savage and Robyn Hilt. Musical director is Abigail Martinez. The Pit conductor is Sean Boller. Costume designer is Robyn Hilt, assistant costume designer is Esme Corado. Stage Manager is Izzy Frey (senior). All other tech areas were designed by Alice Hilt and built in technical theatre classes. Projections were rented from Broadway Media.
For more information, contact Alice Hilt at 620-805-5558.