Good News (2001)

Lower Dauphin High School celebrated 40 years of spring musicals when it presented “Good News,” in March 2001.

The school also celebrated all those who had participated in the past musicals with an “Alumni Night.” After the curtain closes on the final performance, alumni in the audience who have performed in the musical in the past were invited onto the stage for a group photograph. A reception in the cafeteria was the final event of the evening.

“Good News” was the first musical staged at the high school, in 1961. It is the tale of life at Tait College, where the impending championship football game has the campus in a frenzy. Star fullback Tom Marlow has flunked astronomy and his only chance at playing football is to pass a makeup exam. For help he turns to Connie Lane, an astronomy whiz and cousin of Tom’s girlfriend, Pat. As Connie and Tom begin to fall for each other, Pat tightens her grip on Tom. Two other romances complicate the plot on the eve of the big game: an old love affair gone wrong between Coach Johnson and astronomy professor Charlotte Kenyon, and the comic shenanigans of third-string player Bobby Randall and Babe O’Day, the girlfriend of the team’s bruiser, Beef Saunders.

“Good News” is shameless 1920’s nostalgia and roaring good fun, bubbling with zesty dance routines, catchy old songs and over the top zaniness.

Connie and Tom were played by Lindsay Atnip and Steve Werner. Casey Kauffman portrayed Professor Kenyon, with Brandon Wiestling as Coach Johnson. Bobby Randall was played by freshman Brian Freed, while Libby Garner played the role of Babe. Liz Melly played Pat, and Lindsay Gottwald and Ashley Judy played her sorority sidekicks. Sam Naples portrayed Beef, while Joel Hoffman was Pooch, the comedic assistant coach, and Mike Curci, Matt Kabik and Eric Lucking played other Tait students.

The cast of over 50 students in grades 9-12 was under the direction of Kevin M. Strawser, with Linda Whitenight Hummel as music director, and Nanette Kimmel as choreographer.

Familiar songs include “Button Up Your Overcoat” and “The Best Things in Life Are Free.”