The Drama Club prepares for another musical season with a new group dynamic. Behind the scenes this year for the musical consists of Ms. Debrah Evans as producer, Ms. Heather Giammaria as director, Max Pivik as a vocal coach and Ashleigh Schuler as the choreographer. Together, they chose “The Drowsy Chaperone.”
The musical consists of the lead role, the Man in Chair, played by Brandon Yeager (12), presenting his favorite musical to the audience by playing a record of its cast recording. As the recording plays, the musical comes to life with a comedic twist. A new addition this year is during the intermission, where some middle schoolers will join high school members in a song and dance to the Charleston. This was done to maximize inclusion of members despite fewer roles and a smaller ensemble compared to previous years.
For this year, fifth and sixth graders could audition for the intermission, and seventh and eighth graders could audition for the ensemble. The stage crew is open to all middle school and high school students. Only twenty middle schoolers are participating in the ensemble and stage crew this year, compared to last year’s thirty.
“It made me laugh from the beginning to the end … when we were comparing shows, that is the show that fit the people that we have and our talents the best,” Ms. Giammaria said.
The Drama Club has different types of rehearsals. This includes blocking, which is planning physical movements and positions. This usually occurs on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 2:45p.m. to 4:30p.m. They also do vocals, which is warming up and reviewing songs, this takes place mainly on Mondays from 6:00p.m. to 8:30p.m. Another type of rehearsal is where they practice their choreography, which usually takes place on Wednesdays from 6:00p.m. to 8:30p.m. Various aspects contribute to the musical, providing participants with a comprehensive overview of everything that goes into it.
The cast also has a Saturday practice that takes place from 9:00a.m. to 1:00p.m., where they go over and learn new choreography, vocals and even more blocking.
The musical offers students an outlet for their creative energy and something to look forward to during the school year. Extracurricular activities that encourage creativity can help students use their critical thinking skills and exhibit originality. Drama can open students’ eyes to how much work and thought go into a project as large as a musical. Drama, more specifically the musical, is a motivator for students to get through the day. It also offers a safe space for students who don’t have that in other places.
“[Participating in drama club] helps people step outside of their comfort zones … it motivates people more because they want to be eligible for the musical,” Abigail Hunter (12) said.
Performing in front of a crowd can be nerve-racking. Some students like to mentally run through the play, but a wide variety of coping mechanisms are used for pre-show jitters. Being in the right headspace plays a large role in preparing for a performance.
“I drink herbal tea, and will do various vocal stims and warmups to get me in the right range for my voice part,” Phoebe Smith (12) said.