Valley Children’s Choir putting on a mini-musical version of ‘Oliver’ next Thursday

The Valley Children’s Choir will present a mini-version of the Broadway production “Oliver!” at 7 p.m. April 7 in Theatre 320 on the Valley City State University campus. Singing and dancing in costumes representing London in the early 1800s, the choristers will perform numbers such as “Food Glorious Food,” “Consider Yourself,” “Pick a Pocket or Two,” “Oom-Pah-Pah” and “Who Will Buy?”

Mikey Meester will play Oliver alongside Caleb Reign as the Artful Dodger as they steal their way into trouble with Fagin and Nancy, played by guest stars Kyle Vareberg and Angela Morford, VCSU theater students.

Other characters will be played by choristers at various points in the story, including: Brelynn Komrosky (Mr. Bumble), Jocelyn Stanford (Widow Corney), Jade Oksendahl (Bet), Sarah Montecuello (Mr. Sikes), Hannah Dockter (Mrs. Bedwin), Rebecca Montecuello (Mr. Brownlow), Maggie Oberlander (Rose Seller), Katie Clark (Milkmaid), Ali Mundfrom, Tanisha Petherbridge, and Katie Meester (Strawberry Sellers), and Allysen Mathias, Joshua Vachal, and Presley Curtis (Knife Grinders).

The musical director is Dr. Sara Hagen with accompanist Sarah Rhyan, a VCSU instrumental music major. Kyle Vareberg along with Narrators Courtney Henkel and Katie Hansen, also VCSU theater students, have worked with staging, acting and makeup.

Valley Children’s Choir is supported by the Valley City State University Community School of the Arts under the direction of Shari Larson and by private donations. The choir is open to singers in grades 3-7. This production marks the final presentation of the season for the Children’s Choir.

There is no admission charge. A freewill offering will be taken.

Tags: diversions, performances, choir