Hillsboro High School to present "Oliver!"
“Please, sir, I want some more” are the words that famously pluck a small orphan boy by the name of Oliver Twist out of obscurity and drop him into a world of pick-pockets, villains, and families of all kinds in Lionel Bart’s classic musical, "Oliver!," presented by Hillsboro High School’s Theatre Department April 16 and 17 at 7 p.m. and April 18 at 3 p.m. Tickets are $7 and will be available at the door.
After making his request for another menial portion of gruel, Oliver (played by Daniel Jacky) is removed from the workhouse he currently resides in, and is forced to work for an undertaker. Desiring a life with a loving family, Oliver escapes these clutches and encounters a boy with street smarts like none other, The Artful Dodger (Chase Reed). Dodger, promising Oliver a family, introduces him to a life amongst a gang of pick-pocket boys, proudly presided over Mr. Fagin (Jerry Bailey). Fagin assures Oliver that he is welcome, and as long as Oliver “picks a pocket or two” he will always have a place to call home. Once in this world, Oliver encounters characters he never imagined, including the terrifying Bill Sykes (Quinn Pickering-Polstra) and his lady friend, Nancy (Kelley Ernst). When a pick-pocketing excursion goes horribly wrong and Oliver is captured by the police, Sykes and Nancy have different ideas of how to deal with the situation.
Based on the classic Charles Dickens’ story, "Oliver!" includes many hallmark musical numbers such as “Food, Glorious Food,” “Consider Yourself,” “I’d Do Anything,” and “As Long as He Needs Me.”
The cast of "Oliver!" incorporates more than 70 students ranging in grades from first to twelfth. Lead cast members include: Guy Bailey, Jon Bolton, Christopher Butler, Guy Chambers, Ricky Coyle, Aubrey Griego, Christian Gunderman, Kaitlyn Hacker, Emma Jacky, Lizzie Keister, Marissa Miller, Mikaela Morgan, and Kayla Savage. The chorus is comprised of: Joe Beery, Brynna Boone, Salena Brown, Jacqueline Burnett, Kaley Burns, Emily Burwinkle, Kelli Burwinkle, Erin Clark, Marissa Coder, MacKenzie Countryman, Micaela Countryman, Mallori Crum, Kelly Devine, Mikailey Dietrick, Laura Eigel, Ellie Elmore, Onyx Fox, Alli Goolsby, Austin Goolsby, Amie Griffith, Michael Gunderman, Ty Haithcock, Tori Hampton, Abby Harmon, Ciera Hatcher, Jessica Holt, Emma Horick, Christopher Jacky, Logan Kelly, Emily King, Macy Leatherwood, Jacob Lerch, Haleigh Lovett, Ian Lyle, Vanessa McGinnis, Ali McKenna, Marlyn Miller, Reed Newman, Tess Parry, Gideon Pickering-Polstra, Kensley Priest, Michael Saaranan, Christian Schafer, Lexi Sears, Shaylee Simmons, Madison Stratton, Ashley Taylor, Caleb Tong, Clara White, Anja Womelsdorf, and Faye Wooden.
"Oliver!" is directed by Benjamin Gullett and David White and stage managed by McCaylee Priest.