Clik here to view.
In rehearsal, from left to right, are Casey Wishna, Tyler Carey, Rico Froehlich and Aiden Meachem.
At the tender age of 15, Ridgefield High School sophomore Rico Froehlich is already somewhat of a theatrical impresario.
Froehlich is the young producer behind the Rico Ray Theatre, a troupe of Ridgefield High School students who will perform a Broadway Under the Stars show Friday, June 12, to benefit Scotts Ridge Middle School music department.
“I started performing when I was six years old, and started producing shows in eighth grade,” Rico said. “I love the creativity of the process of producing a show, and I love helping the community.”
The show will be an intimate Broadway review performed by an elite group of Ridgefield High School students: Rico, Olivia Basil, Rosie Staudt, Sarah Thorn, Aiden Meachem, Tyler Carey, Vivian Altopp, Casey Wishna, and Brianna Cacciola. Rico said they will perform songs from Tony Award winners and nominated musicals including Chicago, A Chorus Line and Avenue Q.
Songs from Alice in Wonderland will be performed by the students of Scotts Ridge’s Theatre department.
“I’m very proud of him, he’s really amazing,” said Rico’s mom, Grace Donofrio.
Rico Ray Theatre Production’s team is made up of RHS sophomores, Nicole Kiernan as assistant director and stage manager, and Sarah Ford as production manager.
It’s a show intended to fulfill the requirements of an English project. Rico said he researched funding for the arts, and found that funding for arts programs is usually the first to be cut when school districts are trimming their budgets.
“I decided to raise the funds for the middle school,” Rico said, “because it is better to introduce the students at a young age so they can have more opportunities when they reach the high school level.”
Scotts Ridge Middle Schools is at 750 North Salem Road. The curtain time Friday is 7 p.m.
Tickets are suggested at $20 per adult, and $15 for students and children under 12. There is a $50 cap on ticket costs per family.
Donations of more than that amount will also be accepted.
“This is a show not to be missed,” Rico said in a statement.
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