Photo: (l-r) Rachel Schindler, Kristen Sabesky, Molly Moreau, and Hannah Zickel get into the flapper spirit.

(April 2012) Coronado School of the Arts (CoSA) will present Thoroughly Modern MillieApril 27 – May 5 at the Coronado Performing Arts Center located at 650 D Avenue, Coronado, CA, 92118. Showtimes are 7 p.m. on April 27-28 & May 4-5 and 2 p.m. on April 29.

Set in the 1920s, Thoroughly Modern Millie follows the life of Millie Dillmount after she moves from Kansas to New York City to experience the modern life. After taking a room at the Hotel Priscilla for Single Women and finding a job as a secretary, Millie encounters friends, enemies, and just enough mystery to make her life as exciting and interesting as she had hoped for.

Film buffs may recall the 1967 movie version of Thoroughly Modern Millie, which starred Julie Andrews and Carol Channing. It was turned into a musical in the late 1990s, and the production debuted at La Jolla Playhouse in 2000 before moving to Broadway in 2002. With electric energy and laugh-out-loud humor, the stage version of Thoroughly Modern Millie was such a hit on Broadway that it won six Tony Awards, including Best Musical. That humor and energy is just what director Barbara Wolf, head of CoSA’s musical theatre and drama department, was seeking when she selected Milliefor the spring musical.

Wolf, who took a group of students to see Millie’s debut at La Jolla Playhouse back in 2000, is excited to see the show come to life on the CoSA stage. “It’s going to be fantastic,” she says. “The students are thrilled with it, they love the humor, and they’ve all gotten a chance to hone their singing and dancing skills.” With two elaborate tap numbers and several jazz-themed dances, the 29 students involved in the production have to be fleet-footed and high-energy, which is a challenge they eagerly accept.

“It has been incredible learning how to sustain my energy in the dance numbers,” says Lakeside resident Kristen Sabesky, who is performing the lead role of Millie. “You have to learn how to balance conserving your strength with performing energetically.” Sabesky, who is onstage for nearly the entire duration of the show, jokes that she’s learning how to be a theatrical “marathon runner” in her role. She also notes the wonderful sense of community that grows among the cast and crew during the rehearsal period for a show. “The best part about being in a show is the people,” she says. “You become really close with each other as you learn how to work together.”

In addition to the sensational dancing and standout performances, the set and costume design are sure to dazzle. With an art-deco design and a huge cityscape of New York, the set is the perfect backdrop to the glamorous and changing time period featured in Thoroughly Modern Millie. Additionally, the brightly colored and fringed flapper dresses on the girls and pinstriped suits on the boys evoke the fashion of the era.

Don’t miss this fabulous trip to the Roaring 20s! Tickets to Thoroughly Modern Millie are available for purchase online at www.cosafoundation.org. Prices range from $6 to $16 depending on age. All seating is general admission. Tickets will also be available for purchase at the door 45 minutes prior to showtime. Coronado Performing Arts Center Theatre and Box Office are located at 650 D Avenue, Coronado, CA, 92118. Call 619.522.4050 x5 with questions.