Live Orchesta: Harrison High School Apple Tree Play Production

The Harrison High School Drama Club was selected to participate in the Millburn, New Jersey Paper Mill Playhouse Adopt a School outreach program which offers New Jersey Public High Schools theatrical training and financial assistance to put on plays.

Harrison High’s Drama Club will be putting on the production of “The Apple Tree” play on Thursday, April 7^th through Saturday, April 9^th (2022) at the Harrison High School located at 401 Kingsland Avenue, Harrison NJ.  For ticket information, send an email to [email protected]  

The Director of the Harrison High School Drama Club is Colin Shields.  He was quoted in the Observer newspaper as stating “It’s been a long time since we’ve been able to perform, and the students are incredibly enthusiastic.”  Shields also teaches classes in theatre and set designs at the Harrison High.

In the past, the Harrison High School Drama Club has been recognized by being awarded the Paper Mill Playhouse Rising Star Award on three occasions.

“The Apple Tree” play is a musical play is about someone who believes they want something, but once they achieve their goal, they realize that it wasn’t what they wanted.   The play dates back to 1967 but was revived in 2006. The play’s music was written by Jerry Bock with lyrics written by Sheldon Harnick and a book by Bock and Harnick with contributions from Jerome Coopersmith.

The other monumental thing that will be happening during the performances will be that the music will be played by a live orchestra under the musical direction of Danny Conde.  It has been over a decade since there has been a live orchestra accompanying a play at Harrison High School.

Community Support through local businesses buying advertisements in the Play’s playbook along with school support from faculty and staff has also helped make the play a reality.

The cast has had matinees where lower-grade students have had the opportunity to see the production.

Photo: Actor Allan Alda in the original 1967 Broadway Production of The Apple Tree.

Update: Corrected Friday April 9th to Saturday April 9th in Paragraph 2 above.