Templeton High School’s Drama Performs Musical, ‘Sugar’ •

Sugar, the latest Broadway musical based on hit film ‘Hairspray,’ will be performed at Templeton High School this Friday. The show is a highly dramatic production with many different acting styles and emotions. However, it’s not just drama that makes Sugar special; it’s also set in a very unique time period because of its use of the 60s music from top artists like Janis Joplin and Otis Redding.

This weekend, three performances of “Sugar” are available.

TEMPLETON, N.Y. — Last weekend, Templeton High School’s Drama Department began a two-week run of the stage musical “Sugar,” with three more performances scheduled for this weekend.

On stage, Joe/Josephine (Cole Fairchild) and Jerry/Daphne (Sophia Mackle) are Joe/Josephine and Jerry/Daphne, respectively. Matt McFarlane, an ASB adviser, took this photo.

“Sugar,” a musical based on the 1959 film “Some Like It Hot,” starring Marilyn Monroe, Tony Curtis, and Jack Lemmon, opened on Broadway in 1972 and transferred to London’s West End in 1992. The narrative of the musical revolves on Joe and Jerry, two unemployed musicians who happen to witness Chicago’s historic St. Valentine’s Day Massacre. They disguise themselves as female musicians in an all-girls touring band to avoid thugs. When Joe (Josephine) falls for fellow bandmate Sugar Kane and Jerry (Daphne) catches the attention of wealthy Sir Osgood Fielding, things become a little messy.

“Because it’s my first musical lead, this is quite meaningful to me.” And I’ve put in a lot of effort. Senior Katelann Harms, who portrays Sugar Kane, said, “I’ve simply worked very hard to reach where I am musically, so it’s incredibly thrilling to be able to demonstrate the abilities that I’ve gained.” “It has a lot of weight because of Marilyn Monroe, but I approached it in a new route so it wasn’t just centered on Marilyn.” I really like the character. She’s really humorous, very nice, and she makes friends wherever she goes. She’s also effervescent and sugary. I love it when I get to play her; she’s a lot of fun.”

We’re going to get through this together, Atascadero

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After the cancellation of their Spring 2020 show due to COVID, Templeton High School was able to film their version of Pride and Prejudice in November 2020, perform Young Frankenstein outdoors in the spring of 2021, and return to the Templeton Performing Arts Center (TPAC) to perform Our Town in the fall of 2021.

“We were exactly here two years ago, getting ready to perform “Drowsy Chaperone,” when everything went down. “Some of these kids, including Katelann, were in that performance, and they were absolutely upset that they couldn’t do it,” Catherine Kingsbury, Drama Director, said. 

Kingsbury teaches theater at both the High School and Templeton Middle School, and several of the players in Sugar have been her pupils since they were in Middle School. 

“I’ve been doing it [drama] since I came here, which is 7th grade, but I’ve been doing drama since fourth grade,” Joe Lusk, who portrays Sir Osgood Fielding, said.

Cole Fairchild, who portrays Joe (Josephine), is a sophomore who has been working with Kingsbury since he was in seventh grade. 

“He’s [Joe] a musician who enjoys what he does, but he’s also a bit of a con artist.” He’s very intelligent, and he’s very excellent at getting himself out of trouble, but he’s also very good at getting himself into trouble. “Let’s just say he’s not particularly dedicated in his relationships,” Fairchild says of his character. “It’s definitely exciting dressing up as a lady,” he says of switching between portraying Joe and Josephine.

The casting of Kingsbury is always gender-neutral. “As a result, even though the plot revolves on men dressing up as women, anybody may play any role.” All they have to do now is sing it. They must be able to sing in the role.”

Which explains why Fairchild’s Joe is playing Jerry (Daphne) alongside Sophia Mackle, a junior (Josephine). 

“They’re a youthful bunch, but they’re dedicated and having a good time.” Kingsbury describes her cast as “a very supportive, lovely bunch.”

 Thursday, March 24, was opening night, and the performers did an outstanding job on stage. “Sugar” is a stunner and a terrific time out to see some local live theater, with superb vocal and acting performances, humorous timing that will have you giggling, unexpected appearances, tap dancing to imitate gangster’s shooting, and comedically swoony moments.  

“We’re hoping that people will return to the theater.” “The youngsters are itching to perform in front of a live audience once again,” Kingsbury says.

“Sugar” will be performed at the Templeton Performing Arts Center on March 31 and April 1 at 7 p.m. Also at 4 p.m. on Saturday, April 2. Tickets are available for purchase here.

FRONT-PRP-Templeton-Musical-Contributed-Photo-1Sugar’s cast on the TPAC stage. Matt McFarlane, an ASB adviser, took this photo.

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