Rocky performances take place at Truman High SchoolвЂ™s Lou Volpe Auditorium, 3001 Green Lane, Levittown, on March 3 and 4, at 7:30 p.m., and March 5, at 1 p.m. Maybe it being my last one, maybe being that itвЂ™s Rocky, but thereвЂ™s something about this musical that just hits closer,вЂќ he said. вЂњIвЂ™ve done this forever, but thereвЂ™s something about this musical in particular. вЂњItвЂ™s just going to get exponentially worse.вЂќД«ut thatвЂ™s perfectly OK with the two actors, especially Kinniry. вЂњI feel like the faculty will no longer call them by their names,вЂќ said Gatte. In the hallway, students and teachers alike could be heard endearingly shouting вЂњRocky!вЂќ and вЂњApollo!вЂќ at Kinniry and Gaines.

вЂњIt will all come together, weвЂ™re just a little stressed right now.вЂќДespite the last-minute hustle, вЂњhell weekвЂќ came with its share of fun moments, especially for the stars of the show. вЂњThey refer to this week as вЂhell week.вЂ™ I would add some other expletives in there with that,вЂќ said Gatte with a laugh.

When The Times chatted with the trio, it was exactly a week before opening night and final details were in the midst of being ironed out. ItвЂ™s a little backwards but I think it works for us.вЂќ So, it went from Broadway to Truman High School to Philadelphia. вЂњThey made the decision to not do the show this past fall, so our contract still stood and weвЂ™re doing the show. вЂњBut everything got bumped a year,вЂќ said Gatte. Following years of waiting, Truman was finally permitted to host the show in March 2021 on the heels of Walnut Street Theatre in September 2020. After seeing it on Broadway in August 2014, she made it her mission to bring to Levittown the gripping story of a small-time boxer from Philly who must take on the reigning world heavyweight champion. Source: Tracey GatteДЄccording to Gatte, securing the rights to perform Rocky at Truman has been a long time coming. They actually look authentic.вЂќ Glad to be back: вЂRocky,вЂ™ on stage March 3-5, is Truman High SchoolвЂ™s first large-scale musical production since вЂKinky BootsвЂ™ in December 2019. вЂњIf someone comes that has a boxing background, itвЂ™s not just theater kids up there on stage acting. ItвЂ™s literally the culmination of everything that weвЂ™ve done that weвЂ™ve kind of thrown on JustinвЂ™s shoulders to make sure this is perfect,вЂќ she said. HeвЂ™s had to work with not only making sure that theyвЂ™re safe and doing all the correct boxing moves, but that it fits all the timing of the show. ItвЂ™s like a dance, itвЂ™s all timed to music. Gatte praised LitzвЂ™s work in training the pair in boxing, all while keeping the arts in mind. He was the perfect trainer for us because he knows the environment that surrounds us with Truman.вЂќ вЂњHe started in the middle of all the craziness going on and I feel like heвЂ™s done really well. вЂњJustin was really a lifesaver for us,вЂќ said Kinniry. In an effort to ensure this climactic moment looks as realistic as possible on stage while also maintaining safety, Kinniry and Gaines have been receiving personal boxing lessons at Bristol BoroughвЂ™s Witherspoon Boxing & Fitness by Justin Litz, a Truman alum and amateur boxer. Rocky the musical is based largely on the screenplay written by Stallone, which means it includes the iconic fight scene between Rocky and Apollo. вЂњI heard TrumanвЂ™s theater program is really good, so I figured IвЂ™d try it out and I love it,вЂќ he said. Because his freshman year in 2020-21 didnвЂ™t allow for the opportunity, Rocky marks GainesвЂ™ debut on the Truman stage. Playing Rocky, I understood the responsibility and was very honored.вЂќДЄs for Gaines, who is taking on the antagonist role of Apollo, heвЂ™s been enjoying personifying someone whoвЂ™s вЂњcocky,вЂќ which is the exact opposite of his personality. IвЂ™m channeling back to how I used to be and how I worked to overcome problems in my life. вЂњRocky sort of takes on an underdog mentality and thatвЂ™s something that IвЂ™ve gone through multiple times. вЂњBeing back on the stage, being back doing what I love with the people that I love, itвЂ™s a lot of fun,вЂќ he said. вЂњSo this is kind of our first everything back,вЂќ said Gatte.ДЇor Kinniry, who got involved in Truman theater in his freshman year, heвЂ™s grateful for the chance to not only hit the beloved stage one final time, but do so as Sylvester StalloneвЂ™s iconic Philadelphia character.

TrumanвЂ™s last large scale production of Kinky Boots occurred in December 2019, with the group able to offer only smaller one-acts and an outdoor fundraiser in the months that followed. Ahead of the premiere on Thursday night, The Times caught up with Gatte, Kinniry and Gaines, all of whom are thrilled to hit the stage following COVID-19вЂ™s shutdown of the arts.

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