Award-Winning Seraph Players Present 'Freckleface Strawberry' This Weekend

“You’re different, just like everyone else.” That’s the message the award-winning Mater Dei Prep Seraph Players hope to send when they perform Freckleface Strawberry the Musical at the Middletown Arts Center this weekend.

Every year Cindy Dwyer, director of the Seraph Players for most of the last 22 years, tries to choose a contemporary musical aimed at children and based on a
children’s book.  In past years the Players have performed The Musical Adventures of Flat Stanley and A Year with Frog and Toad.  This show, about a seven year-old girl with lots of freckles, is based on the book series by acclaimed actress Julianne Moore.  The rights to Freckleface Strawberry the Musical became available recently and the Seraph Players are proud to be one of the first ensembles performing the show in New Jersey.

Senior Catherine Cahill embodies the lead role of Freckleface Strawberry in every
way.  A veteran of more than 15 Mater Dei shows, she enjoys “being able to act like a seven year old.”  She loves that the show promotes the idea that “it doesn’t matter what you look like, you can always have friends.”

The small cast of nine is split between veteran performers and freshmen new-comers.  Senior Ryan Molicki has enjoyed playing basketball on the stage, something he hasn’t gotten to do in real life for a couple of years.  Michael Lynch, a senior in his first year at Mater Dei, summed up his experience with the show like this: “Freckleface Strawberry has given us all the opportunity to tap into our inner seven-year-old and that alone has made it a great, fun show.”

This year the Players are pleased to have Samantha Amaral returning as their
choreographer.  She previously won a Basie Award for Best Choreography for the Seraph Players’ production of The Drowsy Chaperone.  Audiences of Freckleface will be treated to high-energy dancing, including an especially fun number involving basketballs.  In addition to great choreography, the show features fun, oversized set pieces.  Ms. Dwyer is thrilled to be working with Arthur Kaney, The Doodle Dude, on scenery design for the first time.

According to Ms. Dwyer, the show, with a short running time of just over an hour and no intermission, has a “mild anti-bullying message” and a pop/rock score,  suitable for all ages.  Performances are Friday and Saturday, January 25 and 26 at 7:00pm, and Sunday, January 27 at 3:00pm at the Middletown Arts Center, 36 Church Street, Middletown, NJ.  Tickets are $10 for everyone and are
available in advance by calling Mater Dei Prep at 732-671-9100 ext. 49.

For a preview of the Freckleface Strawberry the Musical Playbill, please click here: https://dl.dropbox.com/u/85475360/Freckleface%20Strawberry%20Playbill.pdf