The Performing Arts Department put on the fall musical “Anything Goes” Nov. 16-18. Set on the S.S. American, a boat traveling from New York to London in 1934, “Anything Goes” follows a combination of romantic and comedic storylines.
Ziad Ben-Gacem (’25) played Billy Crocker, a hopeless young man who falls in love with Hope Harcourt, played by Eleanor Ilyas (’24). Crocker ends up on the boat trying to find a way to marry her.
The story grows complicated as Harcourt is engaged to Lord Evelyn Oakleigh, played by Danny Joseph (’26), though she can’t stop thinking about a life with Billy Crocker. Oakleigh inspired laughter and applause as an old British man trying to figure out how everything works in America and please his fiance.
Famous singer Reno Sweeney played by Clarisa Gomez Rodriguez (’24) works to help Billy Crocker with his romantic ambitions after he rejects her. To complicate things further, criminal Moonface Martin, played by Lou Michelson (’24) and his sidekick Erma, played by Kaila Brooks (’24), are attempting an escape to London to get away from the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
“Originally, I had to push to figure out my character,” Joseph said. “However, now I have come to clutch with my character.” (Laila Taraporevala)
“Working with Ziad is great because I’ve worked with him since I was in sixth grade, and he was in fifth grade,” Ilyas said. “We’ve been in musicals together for years.” (Laila Taraporevala)
“I’m playing a man in the musical, which is very different from what I normally do,” Michelson said. “It’s exciting because I’m stepping into a new version of myself I didn’t know existed.” (Laila Taraporevala)
“I think the cast is together this year,” Ilyas said. “Everything has gone smoothly so far.” (Laila Taraporevala)
“Antonio is a great person to act off of,” Turner said. “We’ve worked together on many musicals, and it’s been great to have someone so reliable that I can count on with my scenes.” (Laila Taraporevala)
“I’ve been singing ever since I was young, and it’s my way of expressing myself,” Rodriguez said. (Laila Taraporevala)
