‘Anything Goes’ Brings Anything and Everything to Conard High School Stage
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Reno Sweeney (Delia Canarie) with Billy Crocker (Alisdair McLaren) Conard High School Performing Arts presents "Anything Goes," March 2026. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
West Hartford’s Conard High School will perform ‘Anything Goes,’ (2022 Revision) for two weekends, with shows on March 6, 7, 8, 13, and 14, 2026.
Billy Crocker (Alisdair McLaren) with Hope Harcourt (Ellen Hill). Conard High School Performing Arts presents “Anything Goes,” March 2026. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
By Kelly Fleischmann and Brooklynn Knowles. Photos by Ronni Newton
Among the students at Conard High School are multiple triple threats – students who can act, sing, and dance – and their talents will be on display for two weekends this March in Anything Goes, which opens on Friday, March 6 at 7 p.m., and also has performances at 7 p.m. on Saturday, March 7, a 2 p.m. matinee on Sunday, March 8, and 7 p.m. performances on Friday and Saturday, March 13 and 14.
Conard Theater Director Hunter Parker aims to expose students to a variety of musical styles over the course of their four years in high school, and “Anything Goes” is a contrast to recent musicals the school has performed like the classic Les Misérables in 2024 and the much sillier show, Disaster, in 2025.
From left: Lord Eveylyn Oakleigh (Graeham Rogers), Moonface Martin (Myles Low), and Reno Sweeney (Delia Canarie). Conard High School Performing Arts presents “Anything Goes,” March 2026. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Anything Goes was written by celebrated American composer and songwriter Cole Porter in 1934. Its humor and songs, though slightly dated, still make for a great show full of laughs and good music. Conard’s version is the 2022 revision of the original production, modernized and adapted from the 1987 Broadway revival of the show.
Taking place in the 1930s, Anything Goes delivers comedy, drama, and romance – and several love triangles – from an authentic musical theater standpoint with timeless themes, unlike last year’s musical parody Disaster, which Delia Canarie – who appeared in both shows – said was “a spoof of this kind of classic show.” That being said, however, there is a big similarity between these back-to-back productions: The set of Anything Goes is also mainly on a boat.
So, if you enjoyed last year’s show, you may find this one just as entertaining, with its lively and familiar setting and classic musical style.
Delia Canarie as Reno Sweeney. Conard High School Performing Arts presents “Anything Goes,” March 2026. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
The show includes several classic hits from the 30s, including “Anything Goes,” the witty duet “You’re the Top,” and the romantic ballads “I Get a Kick Out of You” and “It’s De-Lovely.”
Conard’s musical productions are known for challenging students in different ways each year while appealing to a wide range of audiences. Hunter Parker, who is now in her fifth year as Coard’s theater director, often selects shows that test different aspects of the performers’ abilities.
Conard High School Performing Arts presents “Anything Goes,” March 2026. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Two years ago, Les Misérables placed little emphasis on dancing, instead focusing on the show’s intense dialogue and emotional storytelling. This year’s production, however, highlights a significant amount of choreography, arranged by Christine Simones and assisted by Nora McHugh. A few cast members with previous dance training were chosen to serve as dance captains, including Bridget Dawson, Rachel Sullo, and Makai King.
Conard High School Performing Arts presents “Anything Goes,” March 2026. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
The cast – including the entire 42-person cast – performed multiple tap numbers. The impressive performance makes you think about how the directors found so many students with such dance talent. The pit orchestra is entirely comprised of students, as is the stage crew.
Lead Alisdair McLaren, starring in the role of Billy Crocker, shared his experience with dancing for the show, stating that this role has been a fun challenge for him because he is “not a dancer, but [has] a lot of dancing to do.” This was not much of a concern for McLaren, though, as his role is mostly singing, which is his strong suit.
Reno Sweeney (Delia Canarie) with Billy Crocker (Alisdair McLaren). Conard High School Performing Arts presents “Anything Goes,” March 2026. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Canarie, a senior, plays Reno Sweeney, who she describes as “a very strong woman.” Her confident personality and energetic stage presence make Reno a particularly memorable character. Canarie also noted that, considering the time period of the 1930s, a female character like Reno “wasn’t really a thing back then.” But because of the updates to the book, Reno Sweeney stands out even more as one of the most distinctive characters in the show.
Anything Goes connects with audiences of all ages. Unlike last year’s Disaster, which focused on modern parody and humor, this year’s production embraces a style of comedy from an earlier era.
Graeham Rogers (left) as Lord Eveylyn Oakleigh. Conard High School Performing Arts presents “Anything Goes,” March 2026. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Lead Graeham Rogers, who plays Lord Evelyn Oakleigh, explained the contrast between the two shows, saying that Disaster “was made to be funny in a modern era,” while Anything Goes “was made to be happy in an older era.” Because the show reflects the humor and style of the 1930s, some of the jokes may not relate as much to modern audiences. But, McLaren noted, “As we’ve rehearsed this, I think we’ve definitely come to understand some of the jokes that modern-day audiences won’t understand.”
Conard High School Performing Arts presents “Anything Goes,” March 2026. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
However, Rogers and McLaren emphasized that this difference actually makes the show more inclusive for audiences of different generations. McLaren encouraged audiences to attend with family members, saying, “Come see the show. Come tell your grandparents to see the show.”
Rogers added, “You can come with your whole family tree, and everybody can enjoy it.”
Canarie’s message to viewers of this year’s musical is to simply “Enjoy yourself, sweetheart.”
Get your tickets here!
A promotional video, created by West Hartford Public Schools technology specialist Craig Diamond, provides some enticing highlights of what you can expect in this year’s Conard High School Performing Arts production of Anything Goes.
Conard High School Performing Arts presents “Anything Goes,” March 2026. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Conard High School Performing Arts presents “Anything Goes,” March 2026. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Conard High School Performing Arts presents “Anything Goes,” March 2026. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Conard High School Performing Arts presents “Anything Goes,” March 2026. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Conard High School Performing Arts presents “Anything Goes,” March 2026. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Conard High School Performing Arts presents “Anything Goes,” March 2026. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Conard High School Performing Arts presents “Anything Goes,” March 2026. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Conard High School Performing Arts presents “Anything Goes,” March 2026. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Conard High School Performing Arts presents “Anything Goes,” March 2026. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Conard High School Performing Arts presents “Anything Goes,” March 2026. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Conard High School Performing Arts presents “Anything Goes,” March 2026. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Conard High School Performing Arts presents “Anything Goes,” March 2026. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Conard High School Performing Arts presents “Anything Goes,” March 2026. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Conard High School Performing Arts presents “Anything Goes,” March 2026. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Conard High School Performing Arts presents “Anything Goes,” March 2026. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Conard High School Performing Arts presents “Anything Goes,” March 2026. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Conard High School Performing Arts presents “Anything Goes,” March 2026. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Conard High School Performing Arts presents “Anything Goes,” March 2026. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Conard High School Performing Arts presents “Anything Goes,” March 2026. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Conard High School Performing Arts presents “Anything Goes,” March 2026. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Conard High School Performing Arts presents “Anything Goes,” March 2026. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Conard High School Performing Arts presents “Anything Goes,” March 2026. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Conard High School Performing Arts presents “Anything Goes,” March 2026. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Conard High School Performing Arts presents “Anything Goes,” March 2026. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Delia Canarie as Reno Sweeney. . Conard High School Performing Arts presents “Anything Goes,” March 2026. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Conard High School Performing Arts presents “Anything Goes,” March 2026. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Conard High School Performing Arts presents “Anything Goes,” March 2026. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Conard High School Performing Arts presents “Anything Goes,” March 2026. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Conard High School Performing Arts presents “Anything Goes,” March 2026. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Conard High School Performing Arts presents “Anything Goes,” March 2026. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Conard High School Performing Arts presents “Anything Goes,” March 2026. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Conard High School Performing Arts presents “Anything Goes,” March 2026. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Conard High School Performing Arts presents “Anything Goes,” March 2026. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Conard High School Performing Arts presents “Anything Goes,” March 2026. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Conard High School Performing Arts presents “Anything Goes,” March 2026. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Conard High School Performing Arts presents “Anything Goes,” March 2026. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Conard High School Performing Arts presents “Anything Goes,” March 2026. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Conard High School Performing Arts presents “Anything Goes,” March 2026. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Conard High School Performing Arts presents “Anything Goes,” March 2026. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Conard High School Performing Arts presents “Anything Goes,” March 2026. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Conard High School Performing Arts presents “Anything Goes,” March 2026. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Conard High School Performing Arts presents “Anything Goes,” March 2026. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Conard High School Performing Arts presents “Anything Goes,” March 2026. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Conard High School Performing Arts presents “Anything Goes,” March 2026. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Conard High School Performing Arts presents “Anything Goes,” March 2026. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Conard High School Performing Arts presents “Anything Goes,” March 2026. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Conard High School Performing Arts presents “Anything Goes,” March 2026. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Conard High School Performing Arts presents “Anything Goes,” March 2026. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Conard High School Performing Arts presents “Anything Goes,” March 2026. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Conard High School Performing Arts presents “Anything Goes,” March 2026. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Reno Sweeney (Delia Canarie), left, and Hope Harcourt (Ellen Hill). Conard High School Performing Arts presents “Anything Goes,” March 2026. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Conard High School Performing Arts presents “Anything Goes,” March 2026. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Conard High School Performing Arts presents “Anything Goes,” March 2026. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Conard High School Performing Arts presents “Anything Goes,” March 2026. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Conard High School Performing Arts presents “Anything Goes,” March 2026. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Conard High School Performing Arts presents “Anything Goes,” March 2026. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Conard High School Performing Arts presents “Anything Goes,” March 2026. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Conard High School Performing Arts presents “Anything Goes,” March 2026. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Conard High School Performing Arts presents “Anything Goes,” March 2026. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Conard High School Performing Arts presents “Anything Goes,” March 2026. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Conard High School Performing Arts presents “Anything Goes,” March 2026. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Conard High School Performing Arts presents “Anything Goes,” March 2026. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Conard High School Performing Arts presents “Anything Goes,” March 2026. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Conard High School Performing Arts presents “Anything Goes,” March 2026. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Conard High School Performing Arts presents “Anything Goes,” March 2026. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Conard High School Performing Arts presents “Anything Goes,” March 2026. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Conard High School Performing Arts presents “Anything Goes,” March 2026. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Conard High School Performing Arts presents “Anything Goes,” March 2026. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Conard High School Performing Arts presents “Anything Goes,” March 2026. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
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