Sing. Dance. Act. Repeat.
When someone takes part in a musical, they have to go above and beyond the call of a regular actor. Actors in musicals must sing, dance and act, and do it well.
“I’m used to being just a singer, but in the musical you have to be a performer,” sophomore Jevan Bremby said. “It takes more energy and more determination. You have to worry about the next scene, as well as the next note or dance step.”
The difference is evident to the audience as well
“A musical is more like a concert with dialogue,” sophomore Jack Garvin said.
According to choir director Hilary Morton theatre and musical theatre have very few similarities.
“I think regular and musical theatre are just very different,” choir director Hilary Morton said. “It’s more presentational; this is jazz hands, looking pretty and facing forward. No song or dance should distract from the story, they are just used to bring the audience along with the story.”
Auditions were also more complex than those for regular theatre.
“The auditions were a lot more musical-based than acting,” junior Victoria Gilman said.
In order to make the cast list, actors had to have various talents.
“We look for dynamic people; people you can’t take your eyes off during auditions,” Morton said. “When they’re in character and in the moment, you don’t even write anything down you’re too busy looking at them,”
With so many difficult components to master, why do these students choose to put themselves through a musical?
“I love acting and singing is one of my passions,” Garvin said.
For Bremby it was that he felt responsible for the production.
“I knew a lot of guys wouldn’t be trying out so I felt like it was necessary to get involved,” he said.
Like any other extra curricular activity, the musical takes up the actors’ free time. Bremby gave up his job at his old elementary school, Quail Run, to participate.
“I just sleep a lot less now,” Gilman said.
Even after audition prep, less free time and working after school everyday, for these young actors it is worth it.
“It’s just really exciting,” Gilman said, “You get to do what you love and hang out with your friends at the same time.”
The benefits the people involved experience are numerous as well.
“I just think it’s so much fun,” Morton said. “Getting to combine loves of music, theatre and dance is so exciting. You get to hang out with 60 people you may have not have known before. It’s a really big team effort.”
