St. Paul grad Matt Kannel stars in 'Oliver Twist'

St. Paul grad Matt Kannel plays Bill Sikes in the Hoban High production of Oliver Twist this weekend.

This year's fall play, Oliver Twist, is directed by Mr. Russ Kwitkowski and Mrs. Mary Lou Swinerton.  Set construction is by Mr. Micah Kraus and the art club. Performances are
Thursday,   7 p.m.,, Friday  at 9 a.m. and 7:30 p.m. and  Saturday at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.

English author Charles Dickens would have appreciated the happy ending that students of Archbishop Hoban High School are working toward with the Oliver Twist Initiative, a campaign to raise awareness and funds for Summit County Children Services.

The campaign coincides with the school’s fall play, “Oliver Twist,” based on the classic novel by Dickens and adapted by Joellen Bland. The show runs Nov. 5-7 in the school gymnasium. The Hoban Troubadours Drama Club will team up with the Knights for Life pro-life club for the initiative that will focus on foster care in Summit County. November is National Adoption Month,.

As a  form of appreciation, free tickets to the play  will be distributed through Summit County Children Services to foster families.

Oliver Twist is a social awareness piece that still speaks to contemporary audiences. 

“Through the Oliver Twist Initiative, we hope to demonstrate the type of unconditional care that so few individuals offered Oliver throughout his journey,” said Russell Kwitkowski, a religious studies teacher at Hoban and faculty director of the show.

The community can get involved by purchasing a “Twist” bracelet during the week of Nov. 2 or by making a donation the night of the performances. All proceeds will support the Summit Country Children Services “Beds-for-Kids” program.

For more information on this cause, contact Russ Kwitkowski at kwitkows kir@ hoban.org.