Greensburg Central Catholic tells the tale of the 'Children of Eden'

As Greensburg Central Catholic Junior-Senior High School students rehearse for their spring musical, “Children of Eden,” performing arts teacher and musical producer/director Joette Salandro is on the lookout for any needed changes in lighting, sound and actor positions.

It’s her 29th year directing school musicals, her third time at the helm of this production.

“Children of Eden” starts in the Garden of Eden in Act 1 and moves on to Noah and the flood in Act 2.

“It’s almost two shows. I think it’s a really well-crafted, thoughtful piece. The two parts are linked together with this wonderful song, ‘Generations,’” Salandro says.

There are 34 students, from elementary through high school, in the cast; a math teacher and a school graduate play instruments in the music pit. Choreographer Grace Caravaggio also is an alumna.

The musical will be performed April 26-27 at the Greensburg Garden and Civic Center , 951 Old Salem Road.

Students’ swan songs

Seniors Katelyn Denman, who plays Eve and a storyteller, and Zachary Gilkey, who plays Noah and the lead snake, both 18, are wrapping up their high school musical careers with their performances.

“I was honored to have the role of Eve,” she says. Among her favorite songs to sing are “The Spark of Creation” and “Words of Doom.”

A veteran of musicals since grade school, he enjoys singing a song in Act 1, “In Pursuit of Excellence.”

“It’s a jazzy little, show-offy kind of song,” he says. He and the other five “snakes” also tap dance.

“As Noah, I sing, ‘The Hardest Part of Love,’” Gilkey says. It’s a song about a parent and child, and the parent learning to let go.

“The main story of the show is family. Sometimes you have to make difficult decisions for your family,” he says.

“I really like ‘The Hardest Part of Love.’ It requires Noah to make a decision at the end,” Gilkey says.