Disney’s ‘Descendants’ to take the stage in Wantagh

If there’s any doubt that Wantagh Middle School’s theater program is taking off, look no further than its latest endeavor: Disney’s own “Descendants.”

A cast of 50 students from the middle school’s Drama Club will perform “Descendants: The Musical” on the Wantagh High School stage March 3-5.

Based on the popular Disney Channel original movies, “Descendants” follows the teenage children of some infamous Disney villains, including Maleficent, from “Sleeping Beauty,” the Evil Queen, from “Snow White,” Jafar, from “Aladdin,” and Cruella De Vil, from “101 Dalmatians.” Condemned to live on the “Isle of the Lost,” the children are sent to attend prep school alongside the children of some famous Disney heroes, which include Belle and the Beast from “Beauty and the Beast,” and Snow White herself.

Some of the middle school students playing lead roles are Emily McHale, as Mal, Giada Petrillo, as Evie, Ryan Mundy, as Jay, Nick Allen, as Carlos, Mairead Hill-Hotz, as Maleficent, and Jackson Lehrer, as Ben. “Descendants” is directed by English teacher Kristin Piciullo, with Sameerah Cassidy serving as vocal director and Kimberly Davis as producer and choreographer. Thirty-five crew members will assist the cast.

“I have two young daughters who love ‘Descendents,’” Piciullo said. “This is very popular in my house, there’s three movies. When Dr. Davis and I were perusing through different titles, and I saw ‘Descendants’ pop up, I was elated. I was so happy because the musical is fantastic.”

Some of the leads are seasoned actors at Wantagh Middle School, but a few are new to the game. Emily McHale, a sixth grader, is in her first show at the middle school, though she brings experience from the St. Frances Theater Group.

“They’re going to enjoy the songs and the acting,” Emily said, emphasizing the talents of the students and the quality of the musical.

Giada Petrillo, also in her first role, said the show is something she has looked forward to for a very long time.

“I’ve always wanted to be on stage and I’ve always had the urge to play a character,” Giada said, noting that the show’s comedic elements will keep the audience laughing. 

Auditions were held in October, and the students have been rehearsing ever since. The musical features a ton of high-powered dance numbers as well as quite a few solo songs. But the show’s director said that thematically, “Descendants” asks a very important question: Can we forgive the wrongdoings of the past and move forward?

“What this play is about (is) giving the ‘evil’ kids a chance to come over to the ‘good’ side,” Piciullo said. “And they end up realizing that they’re not as different as they thought. Sometimes we stereotype people a certain way, but then once you actually get to know them, you realize that everybody can get along.”

Theater enthusiasts of the greater Wantagh-Seaford area have a lot to look forward to. “Descendants” will be performed the same weekend as Seaford High School’s production of “Young Frankenstein.” Later in the month, students at Wantagh High School will perform “SpongeBob SquarePants: The Musical.” 

Wantagh Middle School’s theater program was fortunate to get in a production of “Frozen Jr.” just a week before the Covid-19 pandemic lockdown began in March 2020. In the 2020-21 academic year, the students performed “Fame Jr.” through Zoom, which was directed by Davis, who usually directs the high school’s plays. In the 2021-22 school year, they came back strong with the musical version of “Matilda,” and now “Descendants” is up next.