ANYTHING GOES

Camp Hill High School (2022)

ALL ASHORE THAT’S GOING ASHORE!

The Camp Hill Drama Department is pleased to present the classic, toe-tapping musical comedy, Anything Goes, as our 2022 High School Musical. Cole Porter’s original musical debuted on Broadway in 1934 as a response to the social and political climate of the Depression Era. It was conceived to be a light, romantic comedy with powerhouse, Ethel Merman, in the leading role. Little did the production team know it was going to be a global smash! Since its premiere, Anything Goes has been through multiple revivals, television specials, film productions, and more. In fact, the 2018 Revised Edition, presented today, is significantly different from its predecessors. With new and familiar Porter songs inserted into the score, you’ll notice a close resemblance to the modern jukebox musicals of today.

However, riddled with racial stereotypes, gender biases, and derogatory language, it’s hard to argue that Anything Goes has stood the test of time. In today’s society, anything does not go. Thankfully, the 2018 Revised Edition adjusted much of the language to reflect a changing society. But our work didn’t stop there. Through intense research and conversations with the cast, we were able to have an open dialogue and share that dialogue with you, our audience. Be the change you want to see.

Nevertheless, with an ever changing script and score, the heart of Anything Goes has remained consistent: the expression of love. This show physicalizes how we love. Whether it’s romantic love or mutual platonic love, the characters in this show are continuously trying to find which love language works best for them. Through choreography and staging, you’ll notice the love languages of verbal whit, acts of service, and of course, dance.

Dance is a huge portion of this show. It was our goal for this production to expose the students to a variety of dance styles that they can add to their actor’s toolbox. In fact, this is almost all of the students’ first time in tap shoes. We knew tap can be a daunting art form, so we began offering free tap lessons months before auditions. But tap is actually a small portion of dance in this show. The majority of dance breaks consist of partner dancing. In the 1930s through the 1950s, Porter’s music became standards for social dances: waltz, foxtrot, tango, etc. Our show utilizes the same ballroom techniques, and hopefully inspired some students to continue an almost extinct art form.

The entire cast, crew, pit, and directors are proud to present this exciting show as a return to live theatre following a global shutdown due to the Covid-19 Pandemic. As life begins to resume a some-what “normal” feel, we must never lose track of the things we take for granted. We appreciate your support and dedication to the performing arts in this community. So without further ado, “sit on it” and enjoy the show!

Sincerely,
Josh Miccio
Artistic Director