PORT TOWNSEND — In “Wanda’s World,” teenager Wanda Butternut hosts a popular television show, dispensing advice to callers.
Butternut is not only beautiful; she also knows what to say — every time.
So goes her fantasy, anyway.
In real life, Wanda is tormented by her classmates. She has a large birthmark on her face. And now she’s terrified as she prepares for the first day of high school in a new town.
So begins “Wanda’s World,” the musical opening tonight for a three-weekend run at Port Townsend High School, 1500 Van Ness St.
Curtain times for “Wanda’s World” are at 7 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays through May 17, with one matinee slated for 2:30 p.m. Mother’s Day, May 11.
Tickets, sold at the door only, are $10 for adults, $5 for seniors and students, and $3 for children 11 and younger. The box office will open an hour before the show.
For several reasons, this is no ordinary high school show, said Linda Dowdell, the musical director working with Port Townsend High drama director Jennifer Nielsen and 23 student actors.
“Wanda’s World,” the creation of Dowdell’s friend and colleague Beth Falcone, premiered off-Broadway in New York City just five years ago.
Many awards
Falcone won 2009’s Kleban Award for Most Promising Lyricist in American Musical Theater, and “Wanda’s World” landed a Lucille Lortel Award for Outstanding Musical.
This is the first time “Wanda’s” has been on stage west of the Mississippi, Dowdell noted.
In a story about high school politics and peer pressure, Port Townsend High freshman Ciel Pope portrays Wanda, the girl who overcomes the odds against her and, with the help of one teacher — Mr. Lemmings (Zack Slough) — finds her own path.
“Wanda’s World” also has football players, cheerleaders, a Spanish teacher from Ireland and songs like “No One Can Know,” about gossip.
Its humor, while kid-friendly, is also “adult-worthy,” Dowdell added, thanks to this mix of characters.
Clarice Forbes plays Ms. Dinglederry, the eccentric Spanish instructor.
Wanda’s dog, Spangles, giver of unconditional love, is portrayed by Yashwant Saravanan.
Our band of self-proclaimed nerds is brought on by Emily Reid, Sadie Palatnick, Jessica von Volkli, Mazzie Peters, Laure Mounts, Nathan Phillips and Austin Kreig. Alongside them are the gangster wanna-bes: Joey Ripley, Stevie Reipe, Rowan Gallagher and Noah Morningstar.
Ty Belvedere (Sam Jasper) is the quarterback with the best hair in the entire school, and Jenny Hightower (Addi Richert) is princess of the mean cheerleaders.
Surrounding her are Raquel Noltemeier, Miranda McClave, Diana Bond, Mahina Gelderioos and Paula Sexton as the girls who spend more time spreading rumors than studying.
Backstage, Angela Agnew is assisting Port Townsend High student Joyce Holmes with her senior project, the hair and makeup design for the show, while other crew members include lighting designer Kelly Doran from the Tacoma School of the Arts.
For more information about this production, phone the Port Townsend High office at 360-379-4520.
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Features Editor Diane Urbani de la Paz can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5062, or at diane.urbani@peninsuladailynews.com.
