Gina and Gary Scarpa.
Shelton’s Gina Scarpa grew up in the world of theatre, and today she is excited to be the director of Center Stage’s production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, which will feature a talented cast of adults, teenagers, and children from the local region.
The production opens at the Shelton theatre this Friday, February 9th at 8:00 p.m., and runs for three consecutive weekends.
Scarpa’s parents, Gary and Francesca Scarpa, are the founders of Center Stage and the former long-time directors of the celebrated Shelton High School Drama Club.
“Fran and I took the reins of the Drama Club when I was a young teacher, a year before we were married, and we had been directing the school’s productions for four years when Gina was born,” said Gary Scarpa. “As an infant, she literally slept in a portable crib in the middle of the Shelton High School auditorium during rehearsals for Hello Dolly in 1979.”
“I remember appearing in The King and I as a child of the king when I was only 3 years old,” said Gina, “and throughout my childhood, I was either appearing in productions when shows called for children or playing in the SHS auditorium with my sister Mia while my parents rehearsed.”
Gina went on to play major roles like the title role in Sweet Charity and Reno Sweeney in Anything Goes, to name a few, while she was in high school and college, and then in 1999, she assisted her father and mother with the direction of a production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat with the Youth CONNection, which would eventually be incorporated into the Center Stage production season.
“Today, she’s directing the show completely by herself,” said Gary Scarpa. “And, in this case, she is also musical directing and choreographing the production. I know of few people who have the talent and skill to direct, musical direct, and choreograph!”
After that first production of Joseph, Gina went on to direct productions of “Adaptations” at Shelton High School, and in 2005, when her parents opened the theatre, she established Center Stage’s ever popular Teen Musical Theatre Workshop, now in its fourteenth year. More recently, she has directed Peter Pan, Children of Eden, and A Center Stage Christmas. Currently, Gina is the Director of Education at Center Stage, a leader in the field of theatre arts for kids.
“It’s kind of like the passing of the torch,” said Gary Scarpa, “and we are excited about the production and proud of the great work Gina has done.”
The Andrew Lloyd Webber musical re-tells the story of Joseph and his coat of many colors from the Book of Genesis, weaving the lyrics of Tim Rice into Webber’s memorable pop, rock, country, and calypso melodies.
“Few musicals have endured quite like this one,” said Gina, “and I am happy to have the opportunity to bring it to life at Center Stage.”
The show plays Fridays and Saturdays at 8:00 p.m. from February 9th through February 24th with 2:00 p.m. matinees on February 11th, 18th, and 25th and a 7:00 p.m. performance on Thursday, February 22nd.
Adults: $30, Students: $15.
For tickets call 203 – 225-6079 or visit www.centerstageshelton.org.
Center Stage is located at 54 Grove Street in Shelton.
