The East Haven Arts Council (EHAC) has been busy preparing to bring two musicals to the East Haven High School auditorium. The casts of each auditioned in May and have been rehearsing ever since.

The youth program, which is for ages 9 to 17, is performing Seussical Jr. There are 24 cast members in the production, which will have three performances on July 22 and 23. The young adult program, which has 18 actors from sophomores in high school through age 25, will perform The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee the following weekend on July 29 and 30.

“We added a matinée for our youth show this year after feedback from our parent group, so that’s exciting,” said EHAC Chair Cindy Genzano. “Spelling Bee is a really cool production, it’s very fun.”

While a little more than half of the cast members are from East Haven, the others come from surrounding towns such as Branford, North Haven, West Haven, and Guilford. Genzano has been the advisor of North Branford High School’s Drama Club for many year, so some of her cast members also take part in the program.

Because the EHAC doesn’t have a dedicated space in town, it has been rehearsing at the old Pathways School on Dodge Avenue. The Piscitelli family owns the property and has offered the space to the EHAC at no cost each summer.

“They’ve been very accommodating and we are very grateful,” said Genzano. “That was procured through the town and the mayor’s office has been helping us to acquire these spaces, but our pressing need is that we need a dedicated space for the arts in town, where we can store things, build, conduct classes, and rehearse.”

In addition to offering a chance to be involved with youth theater, Genzano stresses that the shows are educational for all involved beyond acting on the stage. Kari Collins, an education major who will student teach in North Haven this fall, is directing Seussical and Genzano’s daughter, Robyn Genzano, is producing the show.

“One of the philosophies of the Arts Council is that we try to make it educational on variety of levels,” said Genzano. “We have recent high school graduates and college students doing a lot of the groundwork.

Genzano is directing Spelling Bee. Richard Colón is the technical director of the program. He leads the design and building of all of the sets and works on lighting design. He is also running the sound for Seussical.

“Rich’s advisor is Mr. [Bob] G. [Genzano, Cindy’s husband], who’s been involved since the beginning,” said Genzano. “Bob has brought Rich up through the ranks and now he works on his own.”

Colón, Collins, and the Gezanos’ daughter have been working with the program throughout the years. While they started off being mentored, they have now been with the program long enough for the tables to turn.

“These kids are now at a point where having graduated and directed and choreographed, they’re the ones mentoring the younger kids,” said Genzano. “We’re able to give these youth a lot more responsibility as they’re going into those fields, if that’s what they’re interested in. Many times if you have a college internship, you’re not given the opportunity to direct a play—you’re likely doing grunt work, errands, or helping with costumes, makeup, and behind the scenes.”

While this is the fifth year that the EHAC is performing a summer show, this is the first year that the group has been able to use the auditorium at the high school. Previously, the shows were held at Melillo Middle School.

Behind the Scenes

Genzano is not only excited about the change of venue, but the series of events that brought the possibility about. Superintendent of Schools Dr. Portia Bonner and the Board of Education recently invited EHAC into a partnership with East Haven schools.

“They were advocating for the EHAC to be able to use the high school with all fees waived for our productions because in the past, we’ve had to use the middle school and it’s very costly to rent lighting and sound and pay the building fees,” said Genzano. “What they were asking for in return was for the EHAC to provide the middle school with the capacity to put on own its own production.”

Melillo Middle School hasn’t had a drama club, so this year, EHAC will help form one. Theresa Moscato will direct a production to be chosen at a later date, but having never directed before, EHAC will provide support.

In addition to providing a grant for funding for the new club, EHAC will help provide personnel, such as a producer, choreographer, and technical director, as well as directorial support.

“We’ll go over and support them so they have that sort of base to build their own drama club,” said Genzano. “We’ll come in this fall to get things rolling. We’re also hoping this is a springboard so other parts of the public schools will reach out to us for help, too.”

With the EHAC getting relieved of the approximately $8,000 in fees involved with holding the play at Melillo Middle School, Genzano is now looking forward to being able to offer more opportunities throughout the year. The actors involved in both Seussical Jr. and Spelling Bee pay a “minimal fee” of $100 as Genzano notes another aim of the EHAC is to “make it as affordable as possible.” EHAC also has scholarships available.

“Year after year, we broke even, but haven’t been able to do anything to build up our accounts so we can do more things in realm of year,” said Genzano. “The fact that the Board of Ed gave us opportunity to use the high school will make a huge difference. Our part is to give back in as many ways as we can to sustain or create new arts opportunities.”

For information, tickets, to donate, or to volunteer, contact Cindy Genzano at 203-215-2483.

Seussical Jr.: Friday, July 22 at 7 p.m. and Saturday, July 23 at 2 and 7 p.m.

The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee: Friday, July 29 and Saturday, July 30 at 7 p.m.

East Haven High School Auditorium, 35 Wheelbarrow Lane

Tickets in advance are $12 for adults and $10 for seniors and youth under 12; $14 and $12 at the door. For tickets, visit ehactheater.com or call 203-215-2483.