Friday, March 29, 2019

The Beauty of Musical Theater

By: Emily R Young

As winter sports come to a close, the weather becomes warmer and the spring activities commence. Throughout this transition, the musical theater department is still in the process of perfecting it’s craft: from memorizing lines and cues, fixing lighting, sharpening dance moves, correctly placing set pieces, delivering strong acting and more, musical theater kids don’t get enough credit.
The phrase “musical theater kid” does not strictly apply to those acting on stage- it includes the crew that works tirelessly behind the scenes. No matter if someone is an actor or crew member, each individual contributes to a larger whole- a family that puts on one big show. As Julia Dieffenbach stated, “it really is a tight-knit group”. Nick Cobb, who has been a crew member for 2 years now, further added “its like a second family to me.” Every person fits part of a puzzle piece that creates a magnificent production.
In the theater community, there is a widely known ceremony that recognizes outstanding performances by high school theater programs. Created in 2003, the Freddy Awards restore passion and meaning to musical theater by enhancing and rewarding the local high school theater programs: such as Hackettstown, Easton, Belvidere, Emmaus, and more.  Throughout the occasion, there are awards in categories such as: outstanding use of lighting, outstanding costume design, outstanding performance by an actor in a lead role, etc. How then, is our school involved in such a spectacular occasion? North Warren Regional is fortunate enough to be able to participate in the Freddy Awards. Each musical, including ours, is viewed by judges and has the potential to be nominated or even chosen for particular awards. The awards are an immense honor due to the prestige nature of the event, and the fact that around 30 other schools are involved.
This year, North Warren Regional’s musical production is Mamma Mia, which tells the story of Sophie (Daniella Archilla), who secretly invites three of her possible fathers to her wedding to find out which one is truly hers. It also follows her mother, Donna (Caroline Copen) during the preparations of the wedding and throughout Sophie’s secret plan. Filled with laughter, drama, and disco, Mamma Mia is an unforgettable show worth every penny.

Showtimes for Mamma Mia are this Friday and Saturday at 7:00pm, and Sunday at 3pm. Student tickets are $10, adult tickets are $14, and senior citizens are FREE! The first 50 people that show up to each show will receive 50% off their tickets! Please support the drama department!

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