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Lafayette’s Marquis Players will perform the rock musical Chess, with lyrics by Tim Rice and music by Benny Andersson and Bjorn Ulvaeus, at 8 p.m. March 30 and 31 and 3 p.m. April 1 at the Williams Center for the Arts.
This is the group’s 16th annual production to benefit charity. Previous shows have raised more than $55,000 for hunger and homelessness causes. Last year’s production of Guys and Dolls raised more than $5,000, which was donated to August House, Easton; Habitat for Humanity of the Lehigh Valley; Safe Harbor Shelter, Easton; Turning Point of the Lehigh Valley; Third Street Alliance for Women and Children, Easton; and the American Red Cross.
Advance tickets are $4 for students and $5 for general public. All tickets purchased at the door are $5. For information, call the Williams Center Box Office, (610) 330-5009.
The director is senior Brian Holz of Franklin Lakes, N.J. The assistant director, vocal director, and rehearsal pianist is junior Scott Wynne (Valhalla, N.Y.). Musical direction is by senior Dan Kauke (Ridgewood, N.J.), assisted by sophomore Kharl Newlander (Pocono Summit, Pa.).
The art designer is junior Dave Gross (Willow Grove, Pa.). Dance choreography is by senior Charis Gehret (Wayne, Pa.) and junior Courtney De Thomas (Bronx, N.Y.).
Costume design is by juniors Sharon Steele (Manheim, Pa.) and Cristen Place (Laceyville, Pa.). The costume staff includes junior Lindsey Alexander (Fairport, N.Y.); sophomores Jenn Bennett (Gray, Maine) and Abby O’Connor (Newton, N.J.); and first-year students Maryann Barch (Neshanic Station, N.J.) and Rachel Korpanty (Charleston, S.C.).
The president of the Marquis Players is senior Gaurav Gangoli (Budd Lake, N.J.). Senior Maria Romas (Short Hills, N.J.) is vice president. The secretary is senior Donielle Weinholtz (Hatboro, Pa.) and the treasurer is junior Angie Kulbick (Cinnaminson, N.J.). Sophomore Jim Azarelo (Stroudsburg, Pa.) is business manager. The adviser is College Chaplain Gary R. Miller.
“The story of Chess is a love triangle set amidst the media frenzy over the world championship chess match between the American champion, Freddie Trumper, and the Russian challenger, Anatoly Sergievsky,” explains Gaurav Gangoli, the president of the Marquis Players, who plays the role of Trumper. “The musical is not, however, only about the game of chess; it also concentrates on the political and emotional turmoil of the characters themselves under the tensions of the Cold War. There are many parallels drawn between these pressures and the game of chess itself.”
Senior Jason Woolbert (Baltimore, Md.) plays the Anatoly Sergievsky. First-year student Jen Carty (Egg Harbor Township, N.J.) plays Florence Vassy, Trumper’s second, and Amie Aguiar (Warren, R.I.), another first-year, plays Sergievsky’s wife, Svetlana.
“The Marquis Players are a troupe of dedicated, hard-working, energetic, and compassionate actors working towards the dual goal of a fabulous production and raising money for charity,” says Scott Wynne, the assistant director and vocal director. “Combine these qualities with emotional music, intense characterization and a touch of humor, and you have this spring’s production of Chess. In the 25 productions I have been involved with, it would be hard to say that any other group has worked harder than the cast and crew of Chess.
Donielle Weinholtz, the secretary of the Marquis Players and a member of the chorus in Chess, says, “I have been involved with the Marquis Players since my freshman year, and it has been one of the most amazing experiences of my college career. The organization has evolved tremendously over the past four years and I am grateful that I had the opportunity to be a part of it. Everyone is incredibly hard-working and dedicated to both the show and the causes that it supports. This club gives everyone affiliated with it a chance to express their creative talents, whether they are acting, playing an instrument, building the set, or sewing the costumes. The best part about the Marquis Players is that it simultaneously gives its members the satisfaction of doing something that they love while allowing them to help others in need.”
“I think it’s great that students can work together to pull off a show this good,” says Rachel Korpanty, who plays Sandra Scamello and is a member of the chorus, in addition to serving on the costume staff.” We did it all by ourselves, and I’m really proud of that.”
The cast of Chess:
Florence Vassy — Jen Carty ’04 (Egg Harbor Township, N.J.)
Freddie Trumper — Gaurav Gangoli ’01 (Budd Lake, N.J.)
Anatoly Sergievsky — Jason Woolbert ’01 (Baltimore, Md.)
Svetlana Sergievsky — Amie Aguiar ’04 (Warren, R.I.)
Arbiter — Michael McFadden ’04 (Lansdowne, Pa.)
Alexander Molokov — Jason Dale ’01 (Franklin Lakes, N.J.)
Walter Anderson — Jim Azarelo ’03 (Stroudsburg, Pa.)
Sergei — Chris Secules ’02 (Hughesville, Pa.)
Nikolai — Ryan Van Horn ’04 (Gibsonia, Pa.)
Mayor of Merano — Nathan Lonergan ’04 (Orwigsburg, Pa.)
Russian Messenger — Dave Gross ’02 (Willow Grove, Pa.)
Sandra Scamello — Rachel Korpanty ’04 (Charleston, S.C.)
Alexi — Nathan Lonergan ’04 (Orwigsburg, Pa.)
TV Announcer — Angie Kulbick ’02 (Cinnaminson, N.J.)
Reporter in Parking Garage — Alyssa Spiro ’02 (Ewing, N.J.)
CIA Agent — Jenny Roberts ’03 (Royersford, Pa.)
Civil Servants — Michelle Angelo ’02 (East Islip, N.Y.); Angie Kulbick ’02 (Cinnaminson, N.J.); Janine Stavrovsky ’03 (Bethlehem, Pa.); and Amy Stewart ’01 (Trenton, N.J.)
Dancers — Maryann Barch ’04 (Neshanic Station, N.J.); Courtney De Thomas ’02 (Bronx, N.Y.); Sandy Furnbach ’03 (Matawan, N.J.); Charis Gehret ’01 (Wayne, Pa.); Angie Kulbick ’02 (Cinnaminson, N.J.); Michelle Nelson ’04 (Medford, N.Y.); Abby O’Connor ’03 (Newton, N.J.); Jessica Papada ’03 (Hazleton, Pa.); Maria Romas ’01 (Short Hills, N.J.); and Amy Stewart ’01 (Trenton, N.J.)
Chorus — Michelle Angelo ’02 (East Islip, N.Y.); Sandy Furnbach ’03 (Matawan, N.J.); Dave Gross ’02 (Willow Grove, Pa.); Matt Julin ’01 (Danville, Calif.); Angie Kulbick ’02 (Cinnaminson, N.J.); Nathan Lonergan ’04 (Orwigsburg, Pa.); Jeff Palen ’01 (Lansdale, Pa.); Jenny Roberts ’03 (Royersford, Pa.); Maria Romas ’01 (Short Hills, N.J); Chris Secules ’02 (Hughesville, Pa.); Alyssa Spiro ’02 (Ewing, N.J.); Janine Stavrovsky ’03 (Bethlehem, Pa.); Amy Stewart ’01 (Trenton, N.J.); Ryan Van Horn ’04 (Gibsonia, Pa.); and Donielle Weinholtz ’01 (Hatboro, Pa.)