Norwin cancels musical for this school year, plans to recast in fall

Norwin School District has postponed its production of “The Little Mermaid” and will recast it in the fall in what Superintendent Jeff Taylor said Monday was “one of the most difficult decisions” he has made since taking over the leadership of the district in July 2019.

The decision, announced Friday in an email, was made after two weeks of meetings with students, administrators and teachers, including Lauren Scheirer, the co-producer and sponsor of the Norwin High School Theatre Company. There were 130 students associated with the production.

“This is devastating news for everyone,” said Lauren Scheirer, co-director of the musical and sponsor of the Norwin High School Theatre Company.

The school district “has made the decision on how to proceed and the NHSTC will comply,” Scheirer said.

Taylor contended the “logistical hurdles would be very hard to overcome” to produce the musical this summer. Even if Pennsylvania were to be “open” in July, the cast would need up to three weeks to rehearse before it could be ready, Taylor said.

Scheirer said that she and her co-director, Erin Shrader, had told Taylor that up to three weeks of rehearsals would be needed. to put on the production.

A summer rehearsal and performance could interfere with the students’ summer camps, band camp or jobs. The younger cast members who do not drive would need transportation to the school and that could present problems, Taylor said.

He pointed out that the Pittsburgh Civic Light Opera canceled its summer season.

Taylor acknowledged the theatre company is having “significant financial issues” with the shutdown of the play, for which tickets were sold for four performances.

Several students involved in the musical and their parents expressed their disappointment with the decision and asked for reconsideration that the musical be performed in the summer.. After listening to pleas from students and parents, Taylor said after the meeting that the decision was not final, and that administrators would be having meetings in the coming days to evaluate possible options regarding the musical.

Kailee Scalise wanted the district to reconsider its decision so seniors could participate. Scalise indicated it would not be fair to be “recasting our parts that we worked on so hard.”

Summer dates should be considered, said Sam Cholodofsky, a senior member of the cast. Not allowing the cast with the seniors to perform the musical is like “giving us our championship trophy, then giving it away,” Cholodofsky said.

Alyssa Cholodofsky, Sam’s mother, said she was upset that none of those involved in the theatre company were consulted about the matter.

“It really came across to me as the wrong way to do it,” Cholodofsky said, who added that Norwin should wait another month before making a decision.

The school board “has some hard decisions to make,” said Brian Carlton, board president, who did not indicate if the board would reconsider the administration’s decision.

Senior Kelsy Levendosky, who was to play one of the leads in the musical, wanted the district to follow the lead of Penn-Trafford and McKeesport, which are keeping open the possibility of a summer performance.