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The show goes on

Student theater back in action at Shelton High

For the first time in two years, Shelton High School choir, drama and stagecraft students blend their creative talents to produce a show, “Night of Musical Theater,” which debuts at 7 tonight in the school’s Performing Arts Center.

The show is also staged at 7 p.m. Friday and 2 and 7 p.m. Saturday. Admission is free. Audience members are required to wear face masks.

“Into the Wild” is the theme of the production, an annual showcase that skipped 2020 due to the pandemic. The multi-media show includes a filmed play projected behind the performing singers.

The theme of the animal kingdom came up when the students were brainstorming ideas, said Paul Nakhla, who directs the school’s three choirs.

“It morphed into everything fantastical,” he said. “We’ve got Dr. Seuss and wizardry and mystical creatures.”

The songs include “Biggest Blame Fool” from “Seussical,” “The Bare Necessities” from “The Jungle Book,” “Poor Unfortunate Souls” from “The Little Mermaid,” “The Wild Wooders” from “The Wind in the Willows,” and “I Just Can’t Want to be King” and “Hakuna Matata” from “The Lion King,”

Along with the face mask requirements, ushers will escort patrons to their seats, and family members will be seated together; groups will be distanced. Seating is first-come, first-served.

“We’re trying to fit as many people in as we can safely,” Nakhla said.

The choir students auditioned to sing the solos. Rehearsals began in September. Some of the students filled out questionnaires for the Journal.

Cody Reed, 17, is an actor, film editor, the assistant technical director, and camera operator.

“I enjoy acting the most when it comes to performance, I get the chance to be a completely new identity and person, and I get to bring that character to life with passion and a purpose,” he wrote.

Reed wants act in films, direct, compose musical scores and perhaps write screenplays. “Moulin Rouge” is his favorite musical, and Daniel Day-Lewis his favorite performer.

Josiah Martinez, 17, sang three solos as an eighth-grade student in the school’s musical theater production two years ago. “Hamilton” and “Wicked” are his favorite musicals.

Martinez wrote what he enjoys most about performing is “how singing can impact the audience in many ways and when I see happy faces that’s my drive to continue singing.”

Martinez wants to study music, and perhaps teach and conduct a choir. “If I don’t study music, I would love to dip into cosmetology,” he wrote.

Phoenix Miller, 18, also made her stage debut in the production two years ago. For this show, she is acting, singing a solo, and directed part of the film.

“I just love being on stage and entertaining,” she wrote. “It’s fun to play a part and put on a good show.”

Miller, whose favorite musical is “The Rocky Horror Picture Show,” plans to study musical theater and other performing arts at college.

“Hopefully one day I’ll be a famous performer in one way or another,” she wrote.

Michael Nace, 16, produced video for the show and wants a career in the film industry. What he enjoys most about performing is “when the show goes wrong and we have to start thinking of creative ways to fix things,” he wrote. “Urine Town” is his favorite musical.

Maisie Todd, 16, is making the performers sound good.

“I enjoy running the sound board because it plays a big part into the performance,” she wrote. “I like music, making cool sounds. I like playing with the faders and buttons.”

Cristina Elguero Mateo, 17, made her stage debut in the school’s production of “Shrek” in 2019. She likes “the environment, like the people, having something other to work on instead of homework after school. Everyone wants to put on the best show for everyone.”

The school’s choirs and bands will perform at 7 p.m. Nov. 16 in the Performing Arts Center.

Author Bio

Gordon Weeks, Reporter

Shelton-Mason County Journal & Belfair Herald

 

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