St. Joe to perform Broadway play
Broadway returns to the stage at St. Joseph Catholic School this weekend when students stage the fall production of the family comedy-fantasy “On the Tip of My Tongue.”
The play is about two boys, Harry Smith and Ben Jordan, who run away from home and end up in a strange forest. Soon the boys are surrounded by easily recognizable villains, heroes and heroines from children’s literature that help the boys figure out who they are and what is important.
“This is a touching story that has a lot to say about life and that underlines its message in comedy and great storytelling,” said Leslie Harkins, St. Joe’s theater teacher and director of the play. “This is a great production the entire family can enjoy.”
Opening night is 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 3, with additional performances at 7 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 4, and 2 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 5 – all in the St. Joseph Catholic School Fine Arts auditorium on the school campus in Madison.
Admission is $12 with St. Joe students free. Students from St. Anthony, St. Richard and Sister Thea Bowman Catholic schools are free if they wear their school shirt. Tickets will be on sale at the box office the day of the performance.
“On the Tip of My Tongue” is the first of two stage productions St. Joe students will perform this school year including the annual spring musical planned for April 2024. Other upcoming Fine Arts events include the “Gifts of the Season” Christmas concert set for Sunday, Dec. 10.
St. Joseph Catholic School, founded in 1870 by the Sisters of Mercy, offers seventh- through 12th-grade students of all faith backgrounds a rigorous college prep curriculum grounded in the teachings of the Catholic Church.
Student actors have been rehearsing and planning this play since early this semester. Besides the performers, other students have designed and painted sets for the play while others will handle lights, help change sets and manage the sound for each performance.
“Our dedicated, talented actors and actresses as well as the behind-the-scenes crew never cease to amaze me,” said Dr. Dena Kinsey, St. Joe’s principal. “’On the Tip of My Tongue” will be a fun experience at the theater for the entire family.
“These students work hard every year to stage amazing, memorable theatrical and musical productions. Our fall play is just one example of many talents and events that make up our Fine Arts Department here at St. Joe.”