By Journalism Student Josiah W. and edited for clarity by New Life Academy
The New Life Academy theatre department has been working hard to bring everyone’s favorite teen romance and musical comedy, High School Musical, to the stage. Behind this production are two great directors: Janette Bach, who has been directing theatre productions at New Life for eleven years, and Carly Allen, who has co-directed for nine years.
Earlier this year, Mrs. Bach and Ms. Allen got together to choose a word that they wanted to see embodied in their theatre community as the focus of this production. Ms. Allen came up with a word multifaceted. Mrs. Bach and Ms. Allen wanted to emphasize that a person’s skills and gifts do not have to fit into just one box, and that students can be talented in multiple different areas. This is very important, especially in theatre, because not everyone can be the main focal point of the show.
If you’re in the ensemble, you’re in the show. And if you’re missing, there is a distinct hole. Even if you don’t get the role you want, you are no less valuable to the performance.
Mrs. Bach – NLA Theatre Teacher
Actor Jackson L. reflected on the environment the directors have built. “Theatre is a place of trying new things, and Mrs. Bach helps make it an open space where you can try something and fail, or you can try something and succeed,” Jackson said. “She’s supportive in allowing people to try new and creative things, and she is all for experimentation. So, for me, when she calls out an acting choice I’ve made and embraces it, I feel really accomplished because I’ve done something that’s probably outside of my comfort zone and it’s being perceived well by someone who is so dedicated to her craft, has been directing shows forever, and has seen so many acting choices,” Jackson explained further.
This year, Mrs. Bach and Ms. Allen wanted to immerse the audience even more. Theatre is always about audience immersion and making people feel like they are in the room with the characters on stage. This year, they hoped to literally expand the stage into the audience’s space.
“We are blessed that we’ve always been in a gym that is a theater,” Mrs. Bach said. “It is my hope that we can use it to our advantage this time. We’re going to use the bleachers and bring those down as some additional seating,” she shared.
The basketball hoop and scoreboard are also a part of the set. However, she admitted to being nervous about using the gym’s equipment for the first time in production. “We will have to figure out the timing of how we bring the basketball hoop down during a singing number when the basketball hoop moves slo slow,” Mrs. Bach stated.
There is a lot of planning and fine details required to pull off these effects, but she is ready and excited to take on these new challenges.
Mrs. Bach concludes, “High School Musical has been something that I can jump into, and it is lighthearted while still having a strong message. It’s fun and silly, and so are the students in the best way possible. You just have to come out and watch them have some serious fun.”