Director Jessica Sisson and music director Michaela Hetherington have been preparing for the production since June — and informed the students then — and have worked diligently to prepare the production for December.
The students have worked equally as hard according to both Sisson and Hetherington.
“We have a certain standard here that we like to meet each year. We help support students and push them towards meeting that standard and they have not disappointed,” said Hetherington. “They give up lunches, after schools, they've given up their evenings; there are some upcoming weekend rehearsals that they're going to have to attend and participate in.”
“For many of them, this is their first time doing something like this so they're learning curve is so substantial,” said Sisson. “For me, that makes it even more rewarding because to watch them go from never having sung on stage to belting out a number as a lead is pretty incredible to watch.”
Twenty-five cast members will receive two course credits for being involved in the production —vocal and acting/dance — and are mainly comprised of Grade 11 students. The workload of acting in a play and juggling other courses teaches time management to the actors and actresses, including grade 11 student Kelly Hoang, who plays Cady Heron as one of the lead roles.
“A lot of it comes down to planning my time and knowing when everything is,” she explained. “If I have an English essay due tomorrow, then maybe I should focus more on that rather than focusing on this which has a further deadline.”
