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Holyoke Catholic alum to perform in benefit show

Date: 1/31/2014

By Lori Szepelak

lori@thereminder.com

CHICOPEE – As rehearsals intensify for “Lend Me A Tenor,” artistic director Eva Stockhamer noted the “greatest challenge” is everyone keeping their composure.

“The show is really well written and very funny, we laugh a lot,” she said during an interview with Reminder Publications.

What makes this production unique is that the stars are all alumni of Holyoke Catholic High School and are sharing the stage with Stockhamer and musical director Dr. Todd Rovelli.

“The idea of alumni and some of our ‘team’ doing a performance to support our scholarship fund is very exciting and very scary,” Stockhamer said.

“Lend Me A Tenor” is a farce that uses a lot of rapid movement – in and out of doors – around and over the furniture, toward and away from each other, because much of the humor is derived from the rapid accumulation of improbabilities, according to Stockhamer.

“The cast maintains this pace and goes further,” she said, adding, “each performer adds his or her unique touches to enhance the comedic effect.”

Alumni starring in the production include Darryl Geoffrey, class of 1983; Julie Geoffrey, class of 2010; Catherine Leonard, class of 2009; Patrick Moskal, class of 2013; and Kevin Lempke, class of 2012. Stockhamer and Rovelli round out the cast.

“There are no current students performing since we are doing this as an adult cast to raise funds,” Stockhamer said.

Stockhamer encourages area residents to attend the performances that are slated Feb. 14 and 15 at 7 p.m. at Commonwealth Academy, 1 Ames Hill Dr., Springfield. The production is a comedy for teens and adults since the humor is quick and often hard to follow.

“If the audience allows themselves to feel the Marx Brothers style of comedy, all should laugh themselves silly,” Stockhamer commented. “We are having so much fun rehearsing, we hope the audience enjoys the finished product.”

Tickets are $20 per person since it is a fundraiser and can be purchased by calling Karen at 737-4942 or by visiting the school website, which is located at www.holyokecatholichigh.org. The show is reserved seating only.

“With the economy, performing arts scholarships of any size are greatly appreciated,” said Stockhamer, noting scholarships will be distributed at the end of the 2014 school year.

“We are hoping to also have a scholarship for a student coming in as a freshman in the fall,” she added.

An intermission will be observed and Stockhamer expects to have some “special items” from Cerrato’s Pastry Shop available for sale.