“Disaster! The Musical” debuts this weekend with a two-weekend run through May 4 at The Theater at WHATCo, 15 Frank E. Rodgers Boulevard S. Harrison.
The musical and features some song of the ’70s like “Knock on Wood,” “Hooked on a Feeling” and “Hot Stuff.” The musical comedy is set in 1979, where New York’s hottest A-listers are lining up for the opening of a floating casino and discotheque. What begins as a night of boogie fever quickly changes to panic as the ship succumbs to multiple disasters, such as earthquakes, tidal waves and infernos in this homage to the era of bell-bottoms, platform shoes and The Hustle.
The show is directed by Jessa Blackthorne, with musical direction by Scott Burzynski and choreography by Bong Dizon.
The cast features Frankie Perez/Chad, Roman Koster/Scott, Dylan Myers/Ted, Maria Ruppert/Marianne, John Jesse Jeffords/Tony, Samantha Egge/Jackie, Maisie Kelly/Ben-Lisa, Jessica Nelson/Sister Mary Downy, Melissa Broder/Shirley, Robert Strauch/ Maury, Lily Mayo/Levora Verona, Matthew Masiello/Jake, Ashley “Ash” Nichols/ensemble/US Tony, Karina Munoz/ensemble/US Shirley, Maggie Madere/ensemble/US Sister Mary Downy, Amanda Regan/ensemble, Paula Barratta/ensemble, Danubia Vilar/ensemble, Judy Espaillat/ensemble/US Levora Verona, Holly Stefanik/ensemble/US Marianne, Gunnar Holmberg/ensemble/US Ted Richard Dwyer/ensemble/US Wealthy Man and Leo Vasile/ensemble.
Performances are April 26, 27 and May 2, 3, 4 at 7:30 p.m.; April 28 at 2 p.m. and April 27 at 1 p.m. (this performance will feature understudies).
Tickets are $20 for adults or $15 for senior citizens and students and may be purchased at www.whatconj.org.
The WHATCo box office at 15 Frank E. Rogers Blvd South will also be open for advance ticket sales; check WHATCo Instagram and Facebook pages for box office hours. Some tickets may also be available at the door the evenings of the performances. Free parking is available in the lot at the corner of Frank E. Rodgers Boulevard South and Jersey Street.
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Kevin A. Canessa Jr. is the editor of and broadcaster at The Observer, a place where he has served on and off since 2006. He is responsible for the editorial content of the newspaper and website, the production of the e-Newspaper, writing several stories per week (including the weekly editorial), conducting live broadcasts on Facebook Live, including a weekly recap of the news — and much more behind the scenes. Between 2006 and 2008, he introduced the newspaper to its first-ever blog — which included podcasts, audio and video. Originally from Jersey City, Kevin lived in Kearny until 2004, lived in Port St. Lucie. Florida, for four years until February 2016 and in March of that year, he moved back to West Hudson to return to The Observer full time. Click Here to send Kevin an email.