Photo Courtesy of SMGH
Putting on hit shows is nothing new at St. Mary Gate of Heaven—they’ve been doing it for the past 100 years. And this year was no exception. The cast of “The Little Mermaid” thrilled audiences over the Mothers Day weekend after having been in rehearsal since January.
Produced Frank Gulluscio has been behind the shows for the last 25 years. “This is no “little spring show,” said Gulluscio. “It’s a production on a professional level offered by a local elementary school. Everyone absolutely loves our shows.”
And indeed the record attendance for each performance—nearly a thousand people flocked to the school for two performances – proved Gulluscio’s point.
The cast was comprised of nearly 100 students from grades 1-8 and audiences just couldn’t seem to get enough! Spectators not only filled the seats but stood to watch the performance with over 100 children who sat on the floor to watch the show.
It was general consensus that while the entire cast did a fabulous job, it was 4th grader Justin Molina, who played “Flounder,” stole the show with his rendition of the song “She’s in Love.”
Alumni played a huge part by helping with the production, especially in set design and scenery construction. Vinny Napolitano, a Howard Beach resident who is an associate producer on The View, directed the show.
