WESTLOCK — The curtain will rise on R.F. Staples School’s first post-pandemic production as Matilda Jr. The Musical takes to the stage for several performances starting this week.
Drama teacher and producer Susan Bowsfield said the show is a collaborative effort between school departments, including media arts, construction and music, which work together to coordinate advertising, a program, headshots, photography, builds set pieces and facilitate singing and musical numbers.
Auditions began in June, with rehearsals two to three nights a week in September and October. Technical and dress rehearsals, along with set construction began in early November, leading up to opening night today, Thursday, Nov. 17, with performances following on Nov. 19, 24, 25 and 26 at the Cultural Arts Theatre.
“We’re in a rebuilding phase because of the pandemic shutdown. We chose a musical (this year) because we wanted to rebuild the program after having so many students graduate and not being able to do shows,” said Bowsfield, noting production work by choreographer Nicky Vranas, music director Quinn Shelton, director Lalenya Gasse and herself as technical director. “Nicky is a very impressive choreographer whose enthusiasm and vision create a complex movement experience for the audience.”
The school produces a musical every second year because they are quite intensive productions and Matilda Jr. is no exception, as the show involves more set changes, costume changes, and stage blocking with “lots more dynamics needed and musically, a lot more is required of students.”
“We are still working on building back that power of voice — there’s a lot of chorus work, which gives the kids that power,” she said, noting the 31 cast members are a mix of junior and senior high school students.
When choosing a musical, there are several factors teachers take into consideration, including access to various pieces such as props, cast members and whether there is musical capacity to present a particular show. Choreography and acting requirements are also considerations because “being able to sing and dance is a lot more challenging,” noted Bowsfield.
The school’s production company, Dream Merchant Theatre, will present a couple of matinee shows for R.F. Staples’ students prior to opening night, with the last night of the production on Nov. 26, a dinner theatre experience, where guests enjoy a catered meal prior to the performance. Tickets for the show are $15 for adults and $10 for youth, while the dinner theatre tickets are $35 for adults and $20 for youth.
“That’s a really nice evening for us. It feels like you’re at the theatre in the city when we do that dinner theatre evening,” said Bowsfield. “We want to make it affordable for our community to be able to come out and see live theatre in our town.”
