It starts with the long awaited email, finding out you got the role of your dreams. That’s when the months of blood, sweat, and tears begin. Putting on a high school production isn’t as easy as one might think. But the work all seems worth it with increased skills, new friendships, and roaring applause on opening night.
Senior Jade Youree started her journey in the theater program at Noblesville High School this school year. It was her very first time auditioning for a theatrical production and the results were better than she ever could have imagined. She got the role of Morticia Addams, one of the leads in the show. However this theater production is not her first time on stage.
“I love performing and I’m in the show choir. I did theater because it’s my last year [in high school] so I decided to do something bigger and close out,” Youree said.
One difference between show choir and a musical theater production is the visual appeal. While show choir numbers require large dance choreography and unique costumes, theater also requires props and a set to make the production interesting.
“Something that stands out to me is everything coming together and props and the big staging and all that. It’s just so cool to me,” Youree said.
In her first year on stage, Youree says she was welcomed by many other performers who had the same interest as her, in music and theater. Julianne Fowler, one of the many teachers that devoted their time to developing the production, said Youree was able to learn from those who had been in theater productions before.
“She’s already a really great singer and dancer, but this is her first theatrical production,” Fowler said. “To see her really push and to be able to grow in this new role—especially being surrounded by kids who have done this for a really long time—has been awesome to see.”
Through their time spent at rehearsals and on stage, actors often say that friendships are formed through many of the cast members. A friend of Youree’s, senior Nick Sizelove, cast as Gomez Addams and they are involved in many scenes together.
“My favorite part of the show is when I get to yell at Nick. I think it’s really funny,” Youree said.
A lot of the performers’ time is devoted on and off stage in order to learn scenes, lyrics, and musical numbers. Students often spend hours after school to perfect the show. Many students use their talents to put into these productions, as well as teachers who have devoted their time to putting shows together.
“I think it’s definitely the people that make this special,” Fowler said. “Not every school gets to have a performing arts program, and even then, a lot of schools don’t get to put on a musical. Most schools in the country don’t put on musicals in this scope.”
Apart from those on stage, a variety of roles are involved in the musical, such as the stage hands, to makeup and costume crew, and down below to the musicians in the pit. All these people use their talents to add visual appeal to the show.
“There are lots of rehearsals. We are at the school until 7:00 every night. We don’t really see our families at all. We just kind of stay here,” Sizelove said.
With their time sacrifice, the cast is able to put their hard work together. What starts as a vision for a set or a choreography idea, is eventually brought to life on stage.
“What’s most special is really watching the kids grow and seeing it all come together,” Fowler said.
“My favorite part of performing is making people laugh and just being myself on stage,” Youree said.
The cast members say they find happiness while putting the shows together and they get to dive into who their character truly is. In some ways, a part of them becomes their character. Junior Charlotte Wiggins was cast as the Grandma of the Addams family and has been able to get to know Youree through their time rehearsing.
“Jade is super sweet, and she’s just the perfect Morticia ever. She’s just so good at all the movements and talking like Morticia,” Wiggins said.
Youree had to spend time learning her role and she says she has been able to dive into her character. This year’s musical is a production containing large musical numbers that require intense choreography. Fowler has worked alongside Shantel Morris, the production’s head director, to pull the production together and has taught it to the cast members.
“Sometimes that can be challenging because then I have to remember four different sets of choreography for the same song,” Fowler said. “It’s a really neat opportunity to work with many students.”
After all the time spent memorizing music, lines, and dance moves, painting sets, and learning cues, all the individuals who were a part of the process get the opportunity to perform their work for the community.
“I think it’s really amazing, seeing how we all started and seeing where we are now,” Youree said. “It’s just beautiful to see the process unfold.”
