Hundreds attend Malverne’s first outdoor musical

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Malverne High School’s athletic field was filled with approximately 600 district residents as the school district held its first outdoor musical on Aug. 13. The Malverne Summer Theatre, which includes current students, alumni and Malverne residents, staged a free outdoor production, “Little Shop of Horrors.”

The idea for the production came about earlier this year when Malverne Schools Superintendent Dr. Lorna Lewis and Michael Messina, the district’s chairman of music and fine arts, had discussions about the importance of boosting students’ socioemotional health. So Lewis, recognizing the success of the district’s music program, proposed that it host a summer musical.

Messina pitched the proposal to district officials in June, and he received the OK to move forward with the Malverne Summer Theatre.

“There’s nothing better than music and theater, and actually getting together and doing something fun at this time,” Messina said in a previous Herald story. “The kids were really excited about this, and all of the teachers were on board with it.”

Many of the cast members have already discussed plans for another outdoor show next year. Much of their enthusiasm stems from the success of the Malverne Community Theatre’s first-ever alumni musical in 2019.