Auditions for this year’s spring musical, “42nd Street,” were announced to the upper school community by way of email by performing arts director Laura Lang-Ree on Aug. 1.

“I was looking for a very epic musical that just spoke to traditional Broadway,” Lang-Ree said. “I think we’re all going to be so excited and impressed by the new theater that it just needed something that spoke to the history of musical theater.”

One of musical theater’s most classic tales, tap musical “42nd Street” tells the story of Peggy Sawyer, who goes to New York in hopes of achieving her dreams of becoming a Broadway star.

“It’s a very fun show and the songs are super cool,” Anika Banga (12), who plans to audition for the musical, said. “Another thing that’s difference about this musical is that it’s a tap musical, so it’ll be fun to learn how to tap and see how that combines in with the rest of the show.”

Marie Stinnett, a dance instructor and former Broadway dancer, will be the show’s tap master and will assist in choreographing the dances.

“She worked with Frank Sinatra and she worked on the Broadway stage and [with] Tommy Tune and all these classic famous, famous people,” Lang-Ree said. “She’s seen things from all regards: as a performer, as a director and as a choreographer. She’s one of the most meticulous choreographers I’ve ever met.”

This year, auditions for the musical will take place in September, rather than November, in order to allow the actors more time for additional vocal and tap training.

Auditions will be held during lunch from Sept. 18 through Sept. 20, and dance auditions will be held on Sept. 21 in Nichols.

This piece was originally published in the pages of the Winged Post on September 6, 2017.