In the leading weeks of the school year, students may anticipate the announcement and casting process of the first theater show of the season: the fall musical. This year the theater program is putting on Rodgers and Hammerstein’s version of “Cinderella.”
Actors began the audition process on August 30 in the choir room where they met for the audition workshop. Adults in charge of the program gave tips for a successful audition and briefed the students on what the process would be like. But for some, this process began even earlier. Thespian co-President Rowan Sechrist, senior, started training her voice for the role of Ella in June.
“I prepared all summer, pretty much. It’s a golden age musical, it’s Rodgers and Hammerstein’s, [so] you have to have really good vocal technique,” Sechrist said. “I worked throughout the whole summer and just practiced with singing teachers, I developed the character, and I practiced every single female part because I didn’t know what they would call me back for.”
After the workshop, vocal auditions began on Sept. 4. Students were then called back on Sept. 5 and 6 for certain parts, which were posted on the theater website. The finalized cast list was posted on Sept. 6 as well.
“I honestly find that auditions are way more scary than being on stage,” Sechrist said. “When there’s less people there it feels scarier because it’s more intimate, whereas on a stage it’s just, you know, performing.”
Sechrist was cast as Charlotte, one of two step-sisters in the story. Grace Boyer, senior, was cast alongside her as Gabrielle, the other sister.
“In this version she’s like the nice one, and she has her own little love story on the side,” Boyer said. “She’s kind of nerdy, I get to wear glasses. It’ll be fun to play a funny side character, so I’m happy.”
Associated Student Body (ASB) Arts Commissioner Brody Olson, junior, also auditioned for the musical and was cast as Topher, the prince. Prior to the audition, Olson had no acting experience.
“I was not expecting something that big. It completely shocked me,” Olson said. “I auditioned the first day, and I gave it my all, and then we got callbacks later that night and I was like, ‘Oh my gosh, I got casted.’ I got callbacks for the prince and one other person did too and it just completely blew my world.”
Olson sings as a bass two in symphonic choir, but was seeking a challenge for the new school year.
“This was my first time going in, I am not a seasoned theater person,” Olson said. “When I perform for choir, I tend to go into a zone, and so [I] don’t really think as much. When it comes to acting, I’m probably gonna have to learn [that] every move is intentional, every word I say, it has meaning and carries a story— it’s a lot.”
Boyer is also in symphonic choir as the soprano section leader, as well as singing in the A capella group Fresh Pitch.
“I think choir really teaches you a lot about connecting yourself to the music, and that plays an even bigger role in theater because you’re acting on a deeper level,” Boyer said. “You have to be emotionally attached to what you’re saying.”
During the audition process, it is encouraged that actors audition for lead roles, no matter their circumstance or expectations. As a result, castmates who worked together for previous productions were put in a competitive position.
“We all would rehearse with each other during lunch and after school,” Boyer said. “It was kind of cool to see how, even though we’re technically competing with each other, we all helped each other and worked together.”
The cast of “Cinderella” will be rehearsing nearly every day after school until opening night on Nov. 8. Aspiring actors and returning cast members can look to audition for more productions later in the year, such as the recurring “Shorts” productions. Sechrist suggests that actors don’t get hung up on failure if they don’t get the part they want.
“Maybe you don’t get called back for the part you want,” Sechrist said. “It happens to everybody. I think that you can get stuck in the thing of like, ‘Why not? I’m not good enough.’ It’s not necessarily that you weren’t good enough, it’s just the part they see you in, or it’s not the part they see you in, or these other people also deserve it.”
Starting in November, students and families can begin seeing the production in the auditorium at 7 p.m. on Nov. 8, 9, 13, 14, and at 2 p.m. on Nov. 16.
