The Boogie Man: “It’s gonna take more than a Pop-Tart to wake this dude up”
By Kevin Spradlin
PeeDeePost.com
* Photo gallery – more than 400 images
* Promo video – “Death by Disco”
* 2014’s “I’m Getting Murdered in the Morning”
HAMLET — The cast and crew of “Death by Disco” used a healthy mix of dry wit and outright humor — and a little love triangle to boot — to stage the third annual murder mystery under the direction of Terry Craven on Wednesday night at Richmond County Ninth Grade Academy.
While retired police officer Anthony Moroni Sr., played by Anastasia Green, declared disco to be dead, he clarified the medical condition of his son, Tony Moroni. But leave it to The Pee Dee Post to keep secret both Moroni’s end state and who fingers are pointed at in his death.
Kevin Spradlin | PeeDeePost.com
The younger Moroni, played by Evan Erwin, stars as a disco-driven drama king in the James Dabb play. A defending championship of a prestigious disco dance contest, Moroni arrives to defend his title with a surprise for dance partner Kathleen O’Reilly, played by Mary Kate Sago.
Moroni presents the beautiful Theresa Maria Garcia, played by Kim Bruce, as his new partner — leaving O’Reilly with precious little time to find a replacement partner. Moroni’s not done with O’Reilly yet, though. He insists the dance partner switch-a-roo is “strictly business” and he professes his continued true love for O’Reilly.
“Just because I love you doesn’t mean I’m stupid,” said Moroni, who retains Garcia as his dance partner.
O’Reilly, for her part, acknowledges her feelings for Moroni are limited. Winning the dance title, she said, “is even more important than my hairspray.”
“See,” asked the Boogie Man. “That’s why Tony broke up with you.”
Kevin Spradlin | PeeDeePost.com
Tony Moroni makes a flamboyant entrance to the disco dance contest.
The Boogie Man, played by Nic Wilkes, is one part jammin’ DJ and music extraordinaire with a secret of his own and another part mediator. He’s the one who teaches Wally Pappo, played by Marquis Ratliff, how to dance disco.
With dance partners set, The Boogie Man reveals the second-biggest secret of the night — that the dance contest winners will win a date with Farah Fawcett and Tom Selleck. But don’t tell anyone, The Boogie Man makes Moroni promise: “Swear on the Saturday Night Fever soundtrack.”
Early in the dance, Moroni hits the floor hard, and an apparently stunned audience — more than 100 people were on hand to watch the presentation — has limited time to ask cast members questions.
Like any good murder mystery-drama-comedy, there’s at least one twist in the end, but PeeDeePost.com won’t divulge anything.
Kevin Spradlin | PeeDeePost.com
Theresa Maria Garcia, played by Kim Bruce, declares that she prefers to be the companion of the disco dance champion.
The event is staged by the Ninth Grade Academy’s TSI Forensics/Drama Club. A student showing is planned for 10 a.m. Thursday.
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Jeff Epps and Chad Osborne, who oversee the Ninth Grade Academy’s summer science and math camps, conveyed the importance and application of 3-D technology in a variety of industries.
Epps said such technology is used in law enforcement to preserve a crime scene — demonstrated by a plastic pink disco dance shoe given to an audience member — or in health care, where X-rays can be taken, made three-dimensional and problems assessed — with likely outcomes — before the scalpel touches the skin.
“What you’re looking at is the future of radiology,” Epps said.
Summer camp dates are not yet finalized but the theme is: Explore a Career, Sculpt Your Future.
Cast
The Boogie Man — Nic Wilkes
Tony Moroni — Evan Erwin
Kathleen O’Reilly — Mary Kate Sago
Vicent Elbodini — Logan Wall
Angela Moroni — Brianna McGuire
Theresa Maria Garcia — Kim Bruce
Wally Papo — Marquis Ratliff
Anthony Moroni Sr. — Anastasia Green
Trivia Host — Tamar Waddell
Production crew
Production assistants — Madison Graves, Asliyah Dixon, Kevin Powell and Joseph Wilson
3D Technology — Jeff Epps and Chad Osborne
Kevin Spradlin | PeeDeePost.com
Wally Papo, played by Marquis Ratliff, learns how to disco.
Lights and sound — Ward Productions
Servers
Abigail Barr, Teay’a Little, Katiar Walker, Alma Soriano, Tiocia Rivers, Autumn Dixon, Destiny Hernandez, Tyshanac Ward, Brandon Silva, Tyree Johnson, Brianna Oathout, Christian Garcia, Patricia St. Louis, Harmony Jones and Gacia Goins.
Special thanks to …
Jan Allen for the set and “the fabulous disco sign”
Neely Sullivan (tickets)
Carla Solomon (servers)
Obadiah Galley (cupcakes)
Sonny Watson
Willie Quick
Hannah Craven (makeup)
Kevin Spradlin | PeeDeePost.com
Jeff Epps puts the real-world perspective on the importance and application of 3-D technology.
Tyson Howlett (volunteer)
Brenna Wyatt
Jeff Epps
Chad Osborne
Richmond County Schools Maintenance Department
Parents of TSI/Drama Club students
