Be Local by supporting high school musicals
It’s high school musical season and local schools are offering a selection of Broadway hits that include “Bye, Bye Birdie,” “Footloose,” “Grease” and “Mary Poppins.”
Reporter Olivia Goudy recently prepared a roundup for Go! magazine detailing show dates and times for area schools that can be found on the Herald-Standard website.
This tradition is a way for students to come together for a shared experience, not to mention the community that encourages them.
Be Local means supporting theater that includes not only high schools but colleges and community performances as well.
Faculty at California University’s Department of Music and Theater explain local theater offers many benefits to communities.
“Participating in theater helps to create human beings who understand empathy and compassion, and that differences in individuals are okay and should be celebrated, not degraded,” said Dr. Michele Pagan, department co-chair.
Dr. John Paul Staszel, assistant professor, noted people who come to the productions to support the cast and crew also benefit.
“They are learning something, too, when they’re seeing wonderful stories regarding the human condition,” said Staszel.
Sabrina Hykes-Davis, assistant professor, added that attending local productions is often people’s first experience with theater.
“A lot of times, people don’t understand that theater is accessible to them. They think it’s too expensive or not for them. But they go to a show and discover ‘I can relate to the characters’ and “It’s fun,” Hykes-Davis said. “It gives them a doorway into this genre.”
Pagen said, “I always remind our cast that somebody in that audience, by seeing this show, will say ‘I want to do that’ or ‘I want to see more.’ So you might be changing a life.”
California University’s theater program has several productions taking place this spring, including the recently offered the show “Almost Maine” while “Heathers, the Musical” will be held April 12-14 and the Spring Dance Concert takes place May 3-5.
The university also houses the Mon Valley Performing Arts Academy, a community outreach that provides arts education.
Staszel explained that California University is among many universities that offer their local communities help to get students excited and involved in the arts.
Staszel, who directed “Almost Maine,” said California University invites high school students to free school performances of their productions. Pagen said the university has also made itself a resource for local high school, offering vocal and dialect coaching as well as scenic design.
“We try to get to the schools when we can,” said Pagen. “But I’m delighted to see high schools working together. It’s a very supportive community.”
Audiences sometimes have the opportunity to see professionals in their early years. Several area natives have gone on to careers in theater and film. All eyes this year are on actress Frances McDormand, who graduated from Monessen High School in 1975 and has won several acting honors for her work in “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri.”
That’s just on stage. Behind the scenes there are more. Hykes-Davis noted that “Almost Maine” had a cast of 19 but almost 40 positions in the crew. Staszel added to that the box office and management.
“It’s one of the biggest industries in the world,” said Stazsel. “If you’re passionate about this, you will find work. It all starts somewhere whether it’s community theater or in high school.”
And whether it leads to a career or not, local theater can add meaning to someone’s life by exposing them to something new or making them think about life in a different way.
Pagen said, “We want to encourage avocation as well as vocation. They’re equally important.”
Those interested in joining the Be Local Network can contact Ted Flowers at 724-425-7231 or by email at tflowers@heraldstandard.com. Discount cards are available at the Herald-Standard, 8 E. Church St., Uniontown, and at the Greene County Messenger, 82 W. High St., Waynesburg.