Fairy Tales, magical kingdoms, and princesses are all classics on the big screen, although this magic happens in movies, it also happens on the stage! As we reach the end of April, we are transforming the Kearlsey High School Auditorium into a kingdom, with a story full of conflict, romance, redemption, and of course, singing! See the adventures of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella: The Musical.
The last musical to be held at KHS was Drop Dead Juliet, a decade ago in 2015. Since then, the drama program put on plays, but it abruptly paused the program due to COVID-19. As the world went back to normal, the drama department was able to revive itself, but not without a few changes. Coming out of Covid, the theater department became primarily student-run with a student director, co-director, and an advising teacher. Of course student-run clubs are common, but not always the easiest. Without a primary director, the productions took a bit more time to produce, allowing for only a single play during the year and not having the materials and assistance to put on a full musical.
Over the past five months, Kearlsey’s Drama Club has worked hard with auditions, choreography, vocal, and blocking rehearsals to ensure the best show possible is put on. With the addition of Mrs. Schroeder as Kearlsey High School’s official theater director and assistance from Mr. Schroeder leading the orchestra with the help of Grand Blanc’s string players, Mr. Smith leading Vocal Rehearsals, and Halle Hoover leading the choreography. A new world of theater has opened up to this generation’s theater program. With so much to learn in a tight time frame, rehearsals were broken up with a day for choreography, a day for vocals, and 2 days for blocking and learning lines. As opening night grows near, rehearsals have become all-encompassing, allowing the directors to see the progress and determine what needs to be focused on.
As of now, the cast has had one opportunity to sing along side the orchestra during their sitzprobe rehearsal, being able to get that first hand experience with the difference between live music and song tracks have allowed the cast to work harder to figure out how they need to adapt to the music to put on their best performance before opening night, April 25th. From the underclassmen to the upperclassmen, the highly experienced to the new members, everyone has been working hard to prepare for such a magical show. “The progress has honestly surprised me. The way everyone has taken on the challenges of adding singing and dancing at the same time as acting. The way that everyone is stepping up and doing what needs to get done. I’m especially proud of the seniors in the group because they are really showing their leadership. I’m excited to see the final Product!” Exclaimed Mrs. Schroeder.
The Drama department’s marketing team, Peyton Hinman, Kallie McCallum, and Brianna Sierra, have been sharing the progress of the musical along with the growth of the cast and crew through their entertaining and creative TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook posts on the official Kearsley Drama Club pages. As we draw near to the musical, posters have been hung and chatter has been heard and now you can pre-purchase your tickets online or buy them at the door. The final new additions to the drama department is the addition of a “Senior Spotlight” as a way to congratulate and honor the Kearsley Seniors who have dedicated their time and talents to put on these productions, as well as a photo wall for community members to take photos with the cast and get character signatures. Rogers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella will be held in the KHS Auditorium on April 25th, 7 pm; April 26th, 7 pm; and April 27th, 2 pm. Ticket prices are $15 for the community, $10 for Kearsley students with their Kearsley issued School ID, or $35 for all three nights.
