March 13, 2024 by Francisca Schmalz (‘24)
From Thursday, March 14th through Saturday, March 16th, Saratoga Springs High School’s drama club invites you to the kingdom of Arcadia for their production of Head Over Heels. The show’s plot takes after The Countess of Pembroke’s Arcadia from Sir Philip Sidney of the 16th century. Originally created in 2015 by Jeff Whitty, then later adapted by James Magruder, the jukebox musical comedy features some of the greatest hits from The Go-Go’s.
The musical opened on Broadway under Magruder in 2018 and closed on January 6th, 2019. The plot of Head Over Heels follows the escapades of the royal family of Arcadia and their journey to keep their famous ‘beat,’ and save their kingdom from extinction. The cast has been working hard for months, and from getting to see some of their rehearsals, it’s very clear all their hard work has been paying off. Everyone on stage, no matter the role, has done a phenomenal job at bringing SSHS to Arcadia. As opening night nears, here’s what the cast of Head Over Heels has to say about the production.
What sort of person is going to love this show?
Abby Degregory (Pamela): “I think people with a great sense of humor will enjoy the show. Along with people in the queer community, because the show has great representation. On a general note, everyone will love it, there’s not one dull moment and it’s a fun show to watch.”
What’s challenging about bringing this script to life?
Levi Goodman (Musidorius): “This show has a little bit of everything. It’s fun and silly while also being heartwarming and emotional. I think the most difficult part has been finding a balance between comedy and sensitivity.”
What celebrity would you like to see tackle this character?
Max Mittler (Dametas): “Kevin Hart because he’s hysterical. I think he’d give good comedic timing (to Dametas.) Hart would do great playing off my current castmates.”
How do you relate to your character?
Nora Taliaferro (Philoclea): “I actually don’t relate to my character at all. However, the lack of relation has made it all the more fun to play and develop Philoclea.”
Without giving anything away what’s your favorite moment/line?
Peter Brueggemann (Basilius): “My favorite moment is getting to sing and scream at my best friend. We never really get upset with each other, so playing estranged partners and feeding off of each other’s energy has been super fun.
Favorite Song?
Katelyn Hogan and Dante DePaulo (Dance Captains): “To dance too? Vision (of Nowness), it’s a lot of fun. The choreography is very vogue-like. The vibe is there, we feel every time we practice it just gets better and better.”
Both captains also agree that Vision of Nowness has helped them become even better dancers. Across the entire cast, Vision of Nowness was the majority favorite.
What’s the biggest challenge about this role?
Merritt Nowicki (Pythio): “Just doing it in front of the school. I feel like I’m representing a big community, that doesn’t always get represented super well at Saratoga. It’s scary, but also fun to tackle.”
Sarah Pipino (Mopsa): “This being my first lead has contributed to my challenges. Along with, and this isn’t me sucking up, but there are a lot of very talented girls here, and working with them has been stressful at times. However, it’s been overall really fun.”
What will people be talking about in the car after the show?
Julia Mittler (Gynecia): “I hope that people in the LGBTQ+ community feel supported and seen. I also hope that people with negative views of the community will see them in a new light. On a brighter note, I hope people think we’re really good actors and sing really well.”