Cornerstone production of ‘Anything Goes' to set sail

Ray Gelpke reprises the role he had 30 years ago SPARTA — Cornerstone Playhouse marks its 30th anniversary of performing musicals at Lake Mohawk this season by presenting the first musical it performed: “Anything Goes.” Show dates are tonight, July 23, July 24, and 25 at 8 p.m.; and Sunday, July 26 at 2 p.m. Ray Gelpke, who performed the role Moonface Martin in 1979, will return to perform that same role in this production. The cast includes Debbbie Nannery as Reno Sweeny, Kevin Kane as Billy; Christine Mase as Hope; Mike Yannuzzi as Lord Evelyn; Arielle Lusardi as Bonnie; Steve Shaw as Elijah Whitney; Linda Jean Euler as Mrs. Harcourt; and Rosemary Dietrich as the Captain. Also in the cast are: Michael Gillespie, Max Lehman, Allison McCurry, Tim Nieuwenhuis, Jerry Pagano, Erin Porter, Anna Beth Prescott, Evelyn Tar, Devon Westra and Shirlaine Yannuzzi. Olivia AcQuadro, Sarah Blake, Bridget Boyle, Kai Boyle, Michelle Cella, Olivia Cella, Alex Gelpke, Anna Gelpke, Sofie Mase, Nicholas Nannery, Harmony Prescott and Alice Sungurov. Scott Mason is the director; Paul Diverio is musical director; and choreography is by Christine Mase; and Anna Beth Prescott is assistant director. Cole Porter’s “Anything Goes” features the classic songs “Anything Goes”, Blow Gabriel Blow”, “All Through the Night”, “Friendship” and others. “Anything Goes” takes place on a cruise ship making a trans-Atlantic crossing in the 1930s from New York to England and the confusing relationships that unfold as the Atlantic is traversed. Some of the passengers include the evangelist turned night club singer Reno Sweeny and her “Angels”; Billy the stowaway boy, next-door “buddy” of Reno; Hope, the girl he falls in love with who happens to be engaged to Lord Evelyn; the notorious public enemy 13 Moonface Martin and his sidekick, Bonnie; and two gambling Chinamen, Ching and Ling. The theater is located at the Lake Mohawk Country Club, 21 the Boardwalk, Sparta. Tickets are $13 for seniors and students, and $18 for adults. Reservations for reserved seating can be made by calling 973-729-2120.