By Natalia Quiñones
An original musical written by two high school students and their drama mentor will take audiences on a classic pirate adventure in Keene Valley, New York this month. Produced by the Book & Blanket Players Youth Theater, the musical is a unique version of the Robert Louis Stevenson novel, Treasure Island.
Kathy Recchia, Book & Blanket Players producer, says she loves the connection of writing the musical near Saranac Lake, where “Robert Louis Stevenson lived briefly” as the Scottish novelist battled tuberculosis in the late 1800s. Recchia said she’d visited the Robert Louis Stevenson Cottage museum two years ago. She enjoys the original twist the musical gives to the story. “It is a lovely experience to collaborate with others to create something new and actually see it come to life,” Recchia said.
Co-writer Cooper Halloran is a 12th grader from Westport, New York. He will play the villainous role of Long John Silver. “I’ve always wanted to play a villain,” Halloran said, “but I typically get cast in generally kinder roles, so this is an exciting step for me.”
The idea for the musical began for the Book & Blanket Players thanks to a comedic misreading of one of their previous titles, Pride & Prejudice, in 2021. Halloran believed it to be a story about pirates. Now his dream of bringing pirates to the stage has come true.
Co-writer Olivia Marocco is a 12th grader from Onchiota New York. She will play the role of Captain Flint, the parrot. According to Marocco, she, Halloran, and Recchia “loved the idea of making all our own decisions for characters and having a student created musical.”
Nate Lucas, a graduating senior at Skidmore College, collaborated with the students and Recchia on arranging and composing original music for this production.
The Book & Blanket Players summer program gives Adirondack students ages eight to 18 live theater experience after an intense week of rehearsals.
This adventurous production of Treasure Island will have two performances at Keene Valley Country Club on Saturday, July 15th. The first show begins at 11:30 am and the second at 4:30 pm. Reservations are required. For more information, please visit the Book & Blanket Players Facebook page or contact Kathleen Recchia at bookinnjay@aol.com.