Greenwich High School's Pajama Game Opens Today

Pajama Game stage manager, Greenwich High School senior, Lainie Soler doesn't hesitate when asked what she likes about this year's On Stage production. "It's all happy. I like how every song – even when they're upset about being in love – is still a happy song. There's a lot of pep."  

And the GHS students displayed nothing if not pep at dress rehearsal on Tuesday. In a perfect world, the final rehearsal would have taken place before the holidays if not for Hurricane Sandy, which did its own number on the show's schedule.

But, with a show-must-go-on tradition in the black box, the On Stage students, mostly freshmen, with flu in their midst, and mid-term exams looming next week, persevered with gusto.

And, while much has been debated about the merits of the main stage in the Greenwich High School auditorium, the black box theater on the south side of campus is state-of-the-art and in constant use. Indeed Patricia Cirigliano's popular "On Stage" course has several class sections that meet during the school day, enough enrollment for a total of eight casts for The Pajama Game. In all, the number of students enrolled in On Stage is about 150.

At Tuesday's dress rehearsal members of the different casts rotated on and off the stage, while technical theater students, led by technical director Scott Borowka, worked their magic between the scenes.

The Pajama Game, which originally opened on Broadway in 1954, deals with labor troubles in a pajama factory, where workers demand a seven-and-a-half cent raise.  Amid the chaos, love blooms between Babe, the head of the grievance committee, and Sid, the new superintendent of the pajama factory.

Performances in the GHS black box theater are scheduled for 4:30PM and 7:30PM on Wed., Jan. 16th, Thursday, Jan. 17th, Friday, Jan. 18th, and Sat., Jan. 19th.

Tickets are $10.00. For information or reservations call (203) 863-8808.