North Star Academy Presents Cole Porter's Anything Goes

North Star Academy presents Cole Porter's farcical ocean-liner
antics in Anything Goes.

Recurrent revivals on Broadway and London's West End
-- including a television and two film versions -- are a tribute to this musical's enduring popularity. Anything Goes includes such timeless show tunes as "You're the Top," “Blow, Gabriel, Blow”, “Friendship”, “Heaven Hop”, and, of course, "Anything Goes."

This musical farce follows an eclectic group of ocean liner passengers, which includes an evangelist nightclub singer, society debutante, English gentleman, and wanted gangster Moonface Martin, on their journey from New York to London. Stowed away aboard the S.S. American, Billy Crocker conspires with a known criminal, Moonface Martin, to win the heart of
American heiress, Hope Harcourt. Miss Harcourt, however, is engaged to the ever-dull Sir Evelyn Oakleigh. The hilarious antics that ensue are skillfully woven together with mistaken identities, catchy songs and elaborate dance numbers.

North Star is incredibly fortunate to have the directing talents of Maureen McVerry. Ms. McVerry is an acclaimed singer and performer with over 30 years in the theatre, garnering numerous awards including six Bay Area Theatre Critics’
Circle Awards and two Drama-Logue Awards. Maureen McVerry has starred in numerous plays and musicals throughout the Bay Area including Pardon My
English, The Student Gypsy, High Spirits, Wildcat, Verry McVerry and Very Warm for May. She has also appeared
in films, television shows, commercials, and industrial videos that include Nine Months, The Dead Pool, True Believer,
Big Business, The Ox and the Eye, Full House, Deadly
Whispers, and Wolf. Oh, Kay! with 42nd Street Moon is her recent success as a professional theatre director and she is cast in the spring for XANADU at Center Rep. She has been directing elementary school plays for the last 11 years.

“I’m thrilled that we have an enthusiastic and talented Director” declared North Star principal Wendy Kelly. “North Star offers an amazing performing arts program that includes so many students and allows them to experience and understand all of the working parts of producing a show. Refining their skills are led by the expertise of Maureen McVerry. The audiences will be amazed by the excellence of the performances.”

“Anything Goes will bring you back to a different era and is a fun time for every member of the family,” said Director
Maureen McVerry. “The show has your stereotypical characters with different stories to them. It has the good girl who ends up falling for the bad boy, the gentleman who reveals a hidden past, and much more to keep you entertained from beginning to end.”

This is McVerry's fourth return as Director of North Star Academy’s spring musical. Anything Goes was chosen because of its upbeat, entertaining script. “The North Star production contains over 100 students and two teachers carrying out great dance and vocal performances.

These kids put long hours and their spirit into this production, producing a musical which will be sure to please every audience member," McVerry said.

She describes the production as a "crisp, fun, cruise experience that creates an environment where sailors always wear tap shoes, public enemies try to do better, and songs are sung at the drop of a champagne bucket."

The production’s cast members add up to a talented group of over 100 students and two teachers from North Star Academy. In addition to the directing talents of Maureen McVerry, North Star is thrilled to have an excellent team of assistants: Stephanie Finander (costume design), Alisa MacAvoy (producer) and Dave Dobrusky (from 42nd St. Moon as musical director) and Rebecca Lowe and Miguel Ochea (assistant choreographers). There will be live music provided by professional musicians and parents.

The McKinley Institute of Technology (MIT) Auditorium
used for this production is the oldest building in the 116-year-old Redwood City School District, originally erected in 1927. Over the years some renovations have occurred, but in 2011 local nonprofit organization Rebuilding Together spearheaded the latest major upgrade effort. As part of the group’s annual National Rebuilding Day, many community volunteers along with International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) Local 16, and the financial support of many families and Electronic Arts, completed a major renovation of the auditorium including carpet, painting and renovating the
stage and backstage areas. This production of Anything Goes will showcase the improvements.

The North Star Academy production of Cole Porter’s Anything Goes will be performed at 7p.m. Friday, March 8 – 10th and at 2 pm on Sunday, March 11 at the McKinley Auditorium, 400 Duane St. in Redwood City.

Tickets prices are:
Thursday, March 8th at 7pm: $8 youth/seniors, $12 adults online/$14 adults at the door.
Friday, March 9th and Saturday, March 10th at 7pm: $12 general admission/$14 at the door.
Sunday, March 11th at 2pm: $8 youth/seniors, $12 adults online/$14 adults at the door.
Tickets may be purchased at the door 30 minutes prior to the performance or online at http://www.northstartix.com/. Advance purchase is recommended since many performances in the past have been sold out.