Students bringing Marilyn Monroe classic to Madison stage

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Dispatch Staff Photo by JOHN HAEGER (Twitter.com/OneidaPhoto) Madison Drama Club members Nathan Mitchell and Jasmine Wratten rehearse a scene from "Sugar" on Saturday Jan. 7, 2012 at the school. The production runs Jan. 12-13, 2012 at the school.

Dispatch Staff Photo by JOHN HAEGER (Twitter.com/OneidaPhoto) Madison Drama Club members Nathan Mitchell and Chris Post rehearse a scene from "Sugar" on Saturday Jan. 7, 2012 at the school. The production runs January 12-13, 2012 at the school.

By MATT POWERSDispatch Staff WriterTwitter.com/DispatchMatt

Dispatch Staff Photo by JOHN HAEGER (Twitter.com/OneidaPhoto) Madison Drama Club members Chris Post, Nathan Mitchell and Jasmine Wratten rehearse a scene from "Sugar" on Saturday, Jan. 7, 2012 at the school. The production runs Jan. 12-13, 2012 at the school.

MADISON Madison Central School District students will keep the audience rolling in the aisles with laughter during two performances of the musical comedy Sugar on Thursday and Friday, Jan. 12-13, at 7 p! .m.

< p>The musical is based on the 1958 classic comedy film Some Like It Hot starring Marilyn Monroe, Tony Curtis and Jack Lemmon.

The story follows two unemployed musicians, bass player Jerry and saxophonist Joe, who witness the St. Valentines Day Massacre in Chicago. In order to escape the gangsters, they dress as women and join Sweet Sue and Her Society Syncopaters, an all-female band about to leave town for an engagement at a Miami Beach hotel. The new girls find themselves getting well acquainted with Sugar, the gorgeous featured singer with the band.

Senior Chris Post said the musical follows the film closely with additional songs mixed in.

Post said he has based some of his performance on Tony Curtis zany portrayal of the character from the film.

He likes to chase different girls every night and spend money that is supposed to be used on the necessities of life on those girls, said Post about his character Joe. He gets into all kinds of shenanigans.

Senior Nathan Mitchell said he and Post have been eager to perform the musical since they read it three years ago.

Its one that Ive really wanted to do for a while, said Mitchell who plays Jerry. We always choose the plays that we want to do as a group. This is one that I really wanted to do more than the rest.

He said he likes the crazy situations created by the duos attempted escape from the mobsters and he is confident that the audience gets a bunch of laughs from the musical.

I think comedy is our strong suit here at Madison, he said. Continued...

Musical Director Maveret Umstead said it has been fun to see two actors really get into the comedic aspects of the musical while wearing dresses.

Umstead also commended senior Jasmine Wratten for the excellent job she does in the role of Sugar which was made famous by Marilyn Monroe. Wratten was not available for comment at! Mondays practice.

Umstead said it is great be able to perform the musical with such a talented group of seniors.

Admission is $3 for students and senior citizens and $4 for adults. Tickets will be available for purchase at the door.