The Orphan Train

GENESEO Central Drama Club proudly announces its spring play, “The ORPHAN TRAIN,” by acclaimed youth theater author Aurand Harris.  Between 1854 and 1929, children deemed abandoned or poverty-stricken were relocated from the overpopulated New York City streets to families in the Midwest seeking children. “The Orphan Train” chronicles the stories of nine orphans on such a train that left New York City on May 28, 1914. The stories are compilations of true accounts of riders woven into an evening of theatre that both teaches and entertains.  Thirty-eight Geneseo Central high school students are involved in the production. The cast comprises 10 student actors who portray the orphans and an ensemble of 11 additional student performers who adeptly play multiple roles as the families, townspeople, Children’s Aid Society workers, and school children who impact the orphans’ journey and new beginnings in the Midwest.  This production of “The Orphan Train” is a multi-media experience, weaving the students’ portrayals with historical photographs integrated through rear projection. Music will also be heavily featured in the production, as several scenes include song and dance. In addition, interludes of authentic period music will connect the orphans’ stories performed by a trio of musicians playing multiple instruments, including piano, fiddle, cello and others.  Bennett Antonucci, Elena Kohlberg, Finn Morgan, Hazel Morgan, Gianna Cucchiara, Kaedin Andrews, Maia Kohlberg, Oliver Ivers, Victoria Claire Hawkins, and Will Rounding portray the orphans. The ensemble includes Natalie Capel, Emma Conklin, Anna Ferrero, Abigail Fowler, Ollie Hellquist, Alex Jagoda, Caroline Johnston, Kendall LaFleur, Andrew Matuszak, Markus Schiener, and Cade Winslow.  Crew members for the production include Hazel Davis, Vilhelmina Lergin, Vivian Purvis, and Audrey Rounding on the costume crew with Harper Antonucci, Franka Capanni, Maddie Dobson, Fin McCarthy-Wells, Katie Pearson, Alyssa Schlencker, Paula Schwark overseeing hair and makeup. Adi Donegan, Kaden Mahar-Sweet, Emily Metz, Weller Tamura, Ella Videtti, Joel Prinzi, and Jake Yarton-Pollock will assist with props and set movement on the running crew. Jamie Ferrero and Emma Prinzi will run the sound console. There are five co-stage managers who each lead a production area, including Noah French (sound), Harry Tamura and Jonah Levy (running crew), Caitlyn Bui and Soha Sheikh (sound).  The production staff for “The Orphan Train” includes Allison Chanler, producer; costumes by Andrea Rounding; and lighting design by Jena Overbeck. The show's musicians include Karen Canning, Steve Fentress, and Jim Kimball. Bettina DeBell is the artistic director. Jason Loughlin and his high school classes are building the set. Elementary art teacher Mike Wedge will paint the set.  Performances are on Friday, March 21, at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday, March 22, at 7:30 p.m. at GENESEO CENTRAL SCHOOL, 4050 Avon Road in GENESEO. Tickets are $15 for adults and $10 for senior citizens and students. They can be purchased online at https://gcdc.booktix.com/ [https://gcdc.booktix.com/] and at the door during performances.