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NYC’s Blue Hill Troupe launches 101st season with Rodgers and Hammerstein’s ‘Cinderella’

Many Brooklynites among cast and governance of distinguished Gilbert & Sullivan troupe

Launched in Blue Hill, Maine in 1924 by Manhattanites at leisure

October 22, 2024 Brooklyn Eagle Staff
Brooklynite (and Troupe President) David Pasteelnick as Lord Pinkleton. Photo by Jovani Demitrie
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The Blue Hill Troupe, New York City’s only philanthropic musical theater group, will kick off its 101st season with Rodgers + Hammerstein’s “Cinderella.” With glorious songs by the incomparable duo of Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II — including “In My Own Little Corner,” “Ten Minutes Ago,” “Impossible” and “A Lovely Night”— this 2013 Broadway revival version of the musical originally written for television, broadcast in 1957 features a new book by award-winning playwright Douglas Carter Beane (“The Little Dog Laughed,” “As Bees in Honey Drown”), putting a fresh, funny, uplifting spin on the classic fairy tale. 

Every year the Blue Hill Troupe donates its net proceeds from two fully staged productions, one Gilbert & Sullivan operetta and one musical theater piece, to a New York City-based charity. Since its inception in 1924, the troupe has donated over $12 million (adjusted for inflation) to its charity partners. Proceeds from the 2024-25 season will benefit the Young People’s Chorus of New York City (YPC), an award-winning multicultural youth chorus founded and directed by Francisco J. Nuñez, a MacArthur Fellow and Musical America’s 2018 Educator of the Year.

Brooklynite Rachel Naugle as Ella and Amnon Carmi as Prince Topher. Photo by Jovani Demitrie
Brooklynite Rachel Naugle as Ella and Amnon Carmi as Prince Topher. Photo by Jovani Demitrie

The Blue Hill Troupe’s production of Rodgers + Hammerstein’s “Cinderella” is directed by Robert DuSold, music directed by Noah Turner and choreographed by Sabrina Karlin. The cast features Matt Berry, Amnon Carmi, Amy Cerullo, Olivia Coe, Deborah Doroshow, Jennifer Noel Dorre, Alex Elkins, Michael Macaione*, Rebekah Mason, Ryan McCall, Ian McGrath, Caitlin McNeilage, Rachel Naugle, David Pasteelnick, Maria Plantilla, David Pohler, Sarah Rhoads, Dan Rosenbaum, Olivia Sohmer Rosenbaum, Emily Ruderman and Noelle Teagno*. (*Appearing courtesy of Actors’ Equity Association.) Five of the leading cast members are Brooklynites.

Maria Plantilla, Noelle Teagno, Rebekah Mason, and Brooklynite Rachel Naugle. Photo by Jovani Demitrie
Maria Plantilla, Noelle Teagno, Rebekah Mason, and Brooklynite Rachel Naugle. Photo by Jovani Demitrie

Ticket prices range from $45-100, with payment in excess of $20 per ticket tax deductible to the extent provided by law. Discounts are available for groups of 10 or more. Tickets can be purchased online.

Performance Schedule:

November 1, 2, 7, 8 & 9 at 7:30 p.m.

November 2 & 9 at 2:00 p.m.

November 3 at 4:00 p.m.

Location

The Theatre at St. Jean’s, 150 East 76th St.

Brooklynite Dan Rosenbaum (ensemble). Photo by Jovani Demitrie
Brooklynite Dan Rosenbaum (ensemble). Photo by Jovani Demitrie

History

The Blue Hill Troupe was born the summer of 1924, when Dr. and Mrs. Seth Milliken decided to try and protect their children from the dangerous influences of the Roaring Twenties by having them put on a production of HMS Pinafore. That first Troupe Pinafore was performed on the deck of the Millikens’ yacht, lit from land by automobile headlights and accompanied by music school students, perched with piano and violins on a nearby yacht.

The Troupe moved to New York in 1926, and, with the exception of 1929, has performed a Gilbert & Sullivan operetta every year ever since. All proceeds since 1928 — adjusted for inflation, nearly $9 million — raised through ticket sales, program advertising and special events, have benefited a New York City charity.

Brooklynite Ian McGrath (ensemble). Photo by Jovani Demitrie
Brooklynite Ian McGrath (ensemble). Photo by Jovani Demitrie

Over the years, more instruments were added to the original piano and strings, so they now perform the original Sullivan scores with full orchestra support. One-night stands have stretched by steps to the present two-weekend performance schedule, usually with an additional road show some weeks later.

The Troupe has produced all 13 Gilbert & Sullivan operettas at least three times during its history. The more popular shows have been performed more often.

Brooklynite Olivia Sohmer Rosenbaum (ensemble). Photo by Jovani Demitrie
Brooklynite Olivia Sohmer Rosenbaum (ensemble). Photo by Jovani Demitrie

In 1984, the Troupe added a fall show in late October or early November, with eight performances in a 100- to 200-seat theater. They started out with small-scale Gilbert or Sullivan productions (“The Zoo,” “Cox and Box”), then tried a few original works by Troupe members. More recently, the group moved to more traditional Broadway shows (“She Loves Me,” “Company,” “Cabaret,” “The Pajama Game,” “The Drowsy Chaperone,” “Little Shop of Horrors,” “High Society”).

The Troupe has elected a Board of Directors annually since 1930. It adopted a constitution (in Gilbertian verse, of course!) in 1934. Over the years, the number of committees and social activities has grown with the membership (which today totals more than 600 active and associate Troupers), as have the quality of the shows and elaborateness of the sets, costumes and technical effects.

Amnon Carmi as Prince Topher and Brooklynite Rachel Naugle as Ella. Photo by Jovani Demitrie
Amnon Carmi as Prince Topher and Brooklynite Rachel Naugle as Ella. Photo by Jovani Demitrie

The result? The Blue Hill Troupe mounts productions that have been described as rivaling many on Broadway, while raising significant sums for worthwhile causes. It has twice performed at Carnegie Hall with the New York Pops and for many years was featured annually in the Metropolitan Museum of Art concert series. On television, the Troupe has been profiled on CBS Sunday Morning and the MetroArts/Thirteen performance series.

Watch the Troupe’s 75th Anniversary History “documentary” from 1999 HERE. For more information about the Blue Hill Troupe, please visit its website.

Brooklynite Rachel Naugle as Ella. Photo by Jovani Demitrie
Brooklynite Rachel Naugle as Ella. Photo by Jovani Demitrie




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