Dust off your dancing shoes, and sharpen your singing voice because the Spring musical process has begun. Ragtime is is fast approaching, and this time this show is eligible for a Schuler award. Schuler awards are a high school musical theatre award show, much like the Oscars or the Tony’s. Schools from all over the state enter to win one of the coveted awards in categories such as, “Best Actor,” “ Best Direction”, and more. The program is then broadcasted on PBS. Auditions are currently underway.
Ragtime is a show based in 1902, New York city. At this time racial tensions were high, as America was just trying to get in the swing of the new century. The show focuses on three groups,suburban white families, the African Americans, and the immigrants. The groups are met with trials and tragedies as their lives intertwine with one another.
Auditions were held on the 14th and 15th of November. The directors saw some new and some old faces during the two days. The directors encouraged people of all ethnicities to come try out, even if musicals weren't usually their thing. Auditioned were to prepare one of the given songs from the musical, listed understand casting and auditions on the hillgrove drama website. Some came more prepared than others. There were those who learn the music on the same day and there were some, like Anna Faith Adair (12), who prepared early. Anna Faith elaborates, “I’m just gonna take it day by day.”
For two days students were lined up at the chorus doors after school awaiting their turns. Auditions were only singing, so contenders only had to attend one day. However, Friday are not he coveted callbacks. This will be an acting audition. Students will be given scenes from the show to act out. This will be the determining factor for the parts that will be given.
Many believe that this show has an even greater importance, given the recent political climate. On this subject Adam Sechelski, the theatre director, states,
“It's about us; it's about America… It is about the differences between us, which are also the likenesses between us… Even though there is lots of struggle we are still successful.”
The show reflects the, still prevalent, struggles of society. The characters are forced to adjust to each other, to the government, and to a new way of life. Much like the country is at this very moment.
Students who are auditioning have high expectations for this musical. It’s subject greatly reflects the state of the nation now, and one can predict that it will have a lasting effect on the cast, crew, and students at hillgrove.
“I think it’s gonna be really fun,” concludes Nahir Cavalri (12).