Dedicated to the citizens of Mason County, Washington since 1886
Dedicated to the citizens of Mason County, Washington since 1886
'Night of Musical Theater' opens tonight
From left, Sophia Nakhla, Wyatt Sullivan, Louie Mobley, Madi Nelsen, Kimberly Perez-Martin, Palisade Gallagher, Chelsie Hannah, Willow Greenwood, Amikha Nakhla and Tristan Olson rehearse a number from the school's "Night of Musical Theater," staged tonight through Saturday night.
"The Nature of Community" is the theme of Shelton High School's annual "Night of Musical Theater," staged by the school's choir and stagecraft students beginning tonight in the school's Performing Arts Center.
"Night of Musical Theater" is presented at 7 tonight and Friday, and at 2 and 7 p.m. Saturday at the school at 3737 N. Shelton Springs Road. The doors open a half-hour before the show. Admission is the suggested donation of $15, with proceeds helping the students travel to festivals.
The show includes tunes from such musicals as "Wicked," "Hamilton," "Dear Evan Hansen," "West Side Story," "High School Musical," "Rent," "Neverland" and "The Wind in the Willows." Seniors Madi Nelsen and Oakley Poland wrote the script that ties the tunes together. Along with student Sophia Nakhla, they are the co-directors.
Many of the performers are first-year students, "a young cast, great energy," said Paul Nakhla, the director of chorale activities at the school.
"It's been a slow growth back from COVID ... The self-consciousness that came with COVID seems to be gone with these kids," he said. "Like we're moving in the right direction."
The seeds for the annual show were sown last spring when students began discussing songs they wanted featured in the production. A theme emerged from the selected tunes.
Nelsen and Poland met during the summer to craft the script. They set the show at a small-town festival, much like the Mason County Forest Festival, they said.
"A lot of it is based on what we know," said Nelsen, a member of the Forest Festival Royalty Court.
Jim Coventry, the school's new drama teacher, leads an orchestra of about seven or eight musicians in the pit. Coventry recruited the musicians himself, Poland said.
"He'd walk into the classroom and say, 'Do you want to be the guitarist?' " she said.
IF YOU GO:
WHO: Shelton High School choirs and stagecraft class
WHAT: "Night of Musical Theater"
WHEN: 7 tonight, 7 p.m. Friday, 2 and 7 p.m. Saturday
WHERE: Shelton High School Performing Arts Center
ADMISSION: Suggested donation of $15
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