Lakeland Welcomes Back All School Production with a New Director

Sirriah Pope, Staff Writer|January 21, 2022

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Ella DeBonis

Ms. Melissa Gentile (middle in red) may be new to the Lakeland drama scene, but she is bringing years of experience to the stage.

Lakeland Regional High School is welcoming a new director and an old classic for it’s spring musical. Ms. Melissa Gentile is making her directing debut with the classic 90’s film-turned-musical The Wedding Singer.  

Ms. Gentile is no amateur to the theater scene. With a teaching certification in theater arts, she has been a director of 20 plays before coming to Lakeland. Some of the plays she’s directed are The Wiz, Charlie Brown and 42nd Street. 

With a seasoned new director ready to go, The Wedding Singer has been casted and rehearsals have begun. According to Ms. Gentile, everyone is working together and making this play the best. 

The cast of Mamma Mia, the Trifectas final show - 2020
Blast From the Past: A Look at All School Through the Years

Lakeland’s All School Production will put on an amazing rendition of this remake, as they have proven time and time again. Lakeland is full of an amazing All School team, from the actors to the musicians to the stage crew. In 2019, “Cell Block Tango” from Chicago was nominated for a Papermill Playhouse award under directors Mr. Andrew Truong, Ms. Megan Curry, and Ms. Erin Murphy.  

After the pandemic shut it down last year, many in Lakeland are looking forward to welcoming back a show this spring.

The Wedding Singer is a popular 90’s film starring comedian Adam Sandler. This movie, a classic romcom, follows Robbie Hart, a wedding singer, who falls in love with Julia Sullivan, one of the brides.