Love and work will mix in 'The Pajama Game'
BY DAVE BENJAMIN Staff Writer

DAVE BENJAMIN Dylan Kaplan and Jillian Robinson rehearse a scene from the romantic comedy "The Pajama Game," which will be presented at Jackson Liberty High School, 125 North Hope Chapel Road, Jackson.

JACKSON - There will be loads of steam heat tonight, tomorrow and Saturday as the thespians of Jackson Liberty High School, 125 North Hope Chapel Road, perform the romantic comedy "The Pajama Game." All three performances will begin at 7 p.m.

Whether the castmembers are wearing tops or bottoms, the tickets will still cost $10 at the door for everyone who attends one of the three performances.

"This show is about union negotiations," said director-choreographer Nicole M. Mathias.

Mathias said "The Pajama Game" is filled with satire and comedy and is a classic Broadway production. The play debuted on Broadway in 1954 and ran for more than one thousand performances. It was subsequently made into a film starring Doris Day.

Mathias said "The Pajama Game" was chosen to be staged at Jackson Liberty because it gives many students a part in the action. There are 30 students in the production and 28 students in the crew.

"As a team they've been incredible to work with," she said. "There is a lot of student involvement."

Mathias said the production includes students who have appeared in previous plays and those who are new to the stage. She said the set designers have created an original set which is a collaboration of ideas.

"The kids are great, they have been working hard and they've had a good time. It's been an enjoyable, social experience, while they are still getting work done. They're brilliant," she said.

"The Pajama Game," written by George Abbott and Richard Bissell, with music and lyrics by Richard Adler and Jerry Ross, explores the consequences of a workplace romance. Conditions at the Sleep- Tite Pajama Factory in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, are anything but peaceful as sparks fly between the new superintendent, Sid Sorokin (sophomore Dylan Kaplan) and Babe Williams (junior Jillian Robinson), who is the leader of the union's grievance committee.

Their stormy relationship comes to a head when workers strike for a raise, setting off not only a conflict between management and labor, but also a battle between the sexes.

"The Pajama Game" also features Rachel Gill as Gladys Hotchkiss, Paul Maier as Vernon Heinz, Jordan Gochman as Prez, Jillian Anzalone as Mabel, and Nicole Milillo as Mae.

Featured songs include "Steam Heat," "Hey There," "Once a Year Day," "There Once was aMan," "Hernando's Hideaway," "I'mNot atAll in Love," "I'll Never Be JealousAgain" and the title song, "The Pajama Game."

"It's a lot of fun," Kaplan said. "You have a group of kids who all enjoy doing the same thing. When you have kids who all want to be here, it's fun doing a play."

Robinson said she loves "The Pajama Game" because it is different from the show she was in last year. Kaplan and Robinson were both in the Jackson Liberty cast of "Little Shop of Horrors" last year, the first major production at the new high school.

"This year I get to play a role that is so strong that I love it," Robinson said.

Mathias will be assisted by Ann Cole, assistant director, with vocal music direction by Rebecca Dishon. Instrumental music director Mike Carattini will be in the pit and will conduct the musical accompaniment.

Carrie Borgen (scenic design) and Todd Engle (scene construction) are lending their talents to the production as are Harry Ferone (lighting and sound design), Jess Ventrello (scene painting and stage crew coordination) and Kathleen Librandy (costume design and construction).

Student Jessica Gouker will handle the job of production stage manager, making sure that everyone and everything is where it should be at exactly the right moment.