Whitefish students stage 'Gatsby'
<p class="p1">Parent volunteer Katie Nixon teaches the Charleston to “The Great Gatsby” cast at Whitefish High School.</p>
F. Scott Fitzgerald’s “The Great Gatsby,” one of the most beloved American novels of all time, comes to the stage Nov. 14, 15 and 16 at the Whitefish Performing Arts Center, performed by the Whitefish High School Drama Department.
The show starts at 7 p.m. with live jazz music by the high school jazz band. The curtain rises on Simon Levy’s stage adaptation at 7:30 p.m.
Set among the Long Island rich in the 1922, “The Great Gatsby” is an examination of social classes and the tragic outcomes that can result from obsessions.
Nick Carraway (Hunter Cripe), a young man from Minnesota, moves to New York to learn about the bond business. His cousin, Daisy Buchanan (Marijke Devivier) and her husband, Tom (Jesse Walburn), who are having marital problems, introduce Nick to Jordan Baker (Emma Nixon), a beautiful, cynical young woman with whom Nick begins a romantic relationship.
Nick lives next door to Jay Gatsby (Sam Benkelman), whose legendary parties attract everyone but the person they’re intended for: Daisy. Finally, after an initially awkward reunion, Gatsby and Daisy reestablish their connection.
The show also stars Kate Ehrenberg as Myrtle Wilson, Che Roussel as Chester and Meyer Wolfsheim, Lucille McKee as Saige Perchy, John Dittman as George Wilson, Tucker Blake as the police officer and Mickey Dooley as eyewitness Mr. Michaelis
This production is directed by head coach Kelliann Blackburn and assistant coach Wendy McFadden. It is entirely student run, with elaborate lighting and sound effects, splashy Charleston dance scenes and multiple choreographed scene changes.