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Quaker Valley High School has been promoting the arts since its conception in 1956. Over the years it has set a standard of artistic excellence in the community, and has graduated over a dozen Broadway and Hollywood actors. Our director, Lou Valenzi, graduated from Quaker Valley in 1972 (after playing his first leading role, Curly in Quaker Valley's Oklahoma!), and went on to a successful Broadway and film career, highlighted by his Broadway role as Samuel and understudy to Frederic in The Pirates of Penzance. He has directed and performed in the show numerous times, and Quaker Valley was thrilled to have his professional expertise. Mr. Matthew Boice, the choral director, sings professionally with the Mendelssohn Choir of Pittsburgh and is the president of the Pennsylvania Music Educator's Association, District 1.
The success of Pirates not only catapulted the awareness of musical theater in the community, it has made Quaker Valley a recognized and respected example of musical excellence throughout Pittsburgh. More importantly, it opened dozens of students' eyes to the unparalleled thrill of performing on not only a high school but a professional stage, and has boosted interest in musical theater considerably throughout the school district. This year, Quaker Valley's production staff will be largely student run, featuring a student producer, student publicity director, student tech director, and student art directors. Thanks to MTI for offering us such an incredible experience!
Enjoy some production photo highlights of the recent production of The Pirates of Penzance...
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All photos by Jim Dickhans
TOP ROW from Left to Right
Pour O Pour The Pirate Sherry, Male Ensemble, David Ford as Samuel (left); O Better Far To Live And Die, Phil Duprey as Pirate King (center); "Climbing Over Rocky Mountain, Female Ensemble; O Is There Not One Maiden Breast, Shane Valenzi as Frederic
MIDDLE ROW from Left to Right
Poor Wand'ring One, Dana Lundquist as Mabel; O Men Of Dark And Dismal Fate, Alex Grant as Major General; Hail Poetry, Principles, Ensemble; When The Foeman Bears His Steel, Full Company, Shawn Sheffield as Sergeant (center); When You Had Left Our Pirate Fold (A Paradox!), Phil Duprey as King (left), Shane Valenzi as Frederic (center), Elise Scioscia as Ruth (right)
BOTTOM ROW from Left to Right
O Here Is Love, Dana Lundquist as Mabel, Shane Valenzi as Frederic; With Catlike Tread, Male Company; Act II Finale, Full Company
Reviewed by Chris Rawson, the Drama Critic for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. A front-page spread ran March 31, 2004. The full article and pictures are available on the Post-Gazette website:
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/04091/293720.stmPirates was also nominated for 7 Gene Kelly Awards, including Best Musical, and were invited to perform the show-stopping With Catlike Tread at the Broadway-sized Benedum Center for the Performing Arts, to an audience of over 3,000 people. Sponsored by the Pittsburgh CLO, the Gene Kelly Awards for Excellence in High School Musical Theater are patterned after Broadway's Tony Awards, honoring excellence in high school musicals in the Pittsburgh area (Allegheny County). We were nominated for Best Costumes in High Budget, Best Ensemble, Best Choreography, Best Direction, Best Actor (Phil Duprey as Pirate King), Best Actress (Dana Lundquist as Mabel), and Best Musical in High Budget. We won Best Choreography and Dana Lundquist won Best Lead Actress. A full description of the Kelly Awards, as well as a list of nominees and winners, are available on Pittsburgh CLO's website:
http://www.pittsburghclo.org/outreach/gene_kelly.cfmQuaker Valley High School
625 Beaver Street
Leetsdale, PA 15056
(412)741-6040
(Music Director-Mr. Matthew Boice)For more information, visit: www.qvsd.org
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