Guest Column: ECHS Drama Students Perform First Musical in More Than 15 Years

By Tracy Giles

The weekend of March 22, 2013 the El Cerrito High School Drama Department will be presenting Little Shop of Horrors.

This will be the first musical performed by drama students in more than 15 years.

The students have been working under the direction Ms. Dreyfus for over a year to bring you this fabulous production.

Little Shop of Horrors is a comedy horror rock musical, by composer Alan Menken and writer Howard, about a hapless florist shop worker who raises a plant that feeds on human blood and flesh.

The musical is based on the low-budget 1960 black comedy film The Little Shop of Horrors, directed by Roger Corman. The music, composed by Menken in the style of early 1960s rock and roll, doo-wop and early Motown, includes several well-known tunes, including the title song, "Skid Row (Downtown)", "Somewhere That's Green", and "Suddenly, Seymour". Here is a clip to entice you: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YzOidHfvOCs

Come enjoy the beautiful El Cerrito High School’s Performing Arts Center, a jewel in the crown of El Cerrito.

The performances are:

• Friday, March 22 at 7:30 p.m.
• Saturday, March 23 at 7:30 p.m.
• Sunday, March 24 at 4 p.m.

Tickets will be sold at the door starting one hour prior to each performance for $10 for adults, $5 children and students.

If you can’t make the performance, consider buying Gaucho Coffee or a beautiful mug. Last year the Supporters of the Theater Arts partnered with Gaucho alumni McLaughlin Coffee to create Gauchos Coffee Shop Blend, now a year-round fundraiser.

This year the group rolled out “Spotlight on El Cerrito” Mugs with a simple design, perfect for El Cerrito residents and businesses. The two-toned ceramic 13 oz. mugs feature a graphic of a stage spotlight illuminating the words “El Cerrito”. Combined they make a wonderful hostess gift for Thanksgiving, and appreciation gifts for our El Cerrito residents.

The coffee and the mugs are available with all proceeds going to the high school program at “Adorn & Flourish” at 7027 Stockton Ave., owned by former Gaucho theater performer Kate Peterson.

They can be ordered for local delivery using the order form on the school website: (www.elcerritogauchos.net search for “coffee”), which can be faxed to (510) 323-7502.

Another way that you or your business can assist the program is to become a sponsor. STA has offered businesses and community members various sponsorship levels. Every donation is appreciated from $25 (Friend of STA) to $500 “Director Circle”, with perks such as coffee, mugs, tickets offered
along with program listings for the season.

Donations are fully tax deductible and can be mailed to: Supporters of the Theater Arts, 3060 El Cerrito Plaza, #507, El Cerrito, CA 94530.

For more info, email: echscoffee@att.net

The El Cerrito drama department would like to take this opportunity to thank our sponsors:

FOUNDING SPONSORS

Rotary Club of El Cerrito, Investing in Academic Excellence for All; Ronald & Barbara Forsstrom; Jeffrey Miner in memory of Pierre Le Page ’73; Pastime Hardware, Original Supporters of the Performing Arts donors 2011-2012

2012-2013 SEASON SPONSORS

DIRECTOR’S CIRCLE ($500 and above)

• B&T Bookkeeping
• Mike & Sylvia Elsbury

SEASON CHAMPIONS ($250 and above)

• Tradeway Carpets
• Farmers Insurance (Al Caruso)
• Rotary of El Cerrito

SEASON FRIENDS ($100 and above)

• Bruce Harter
• Seidell Towing

SEASON SUPPORTERS ($50 and above)

• Adorn & Flourish

*Thanks to the teachers, staff and community members who have bought coffee and mugs and made donations, especially Contra Costa Civic Theater!