As the school year progresses, the Highland Park Drama Club prepares for its annual spring musical, which will take the stage on March 15, 16, and 17. This year, the club is producing Footloose, a musical about a teen named Ren McCormack who moves to a new town whose local pastor has outlawed dancing. With the help of his newfound friends, he attempts to overturn the law and throw a dance.
This year, however, one issue stands in the way: the rehearsal period is much shorter than usual. Over the last two years, the club had from January to May to put together Chicago and then Newsies. This year, the rehearsal process has been reduced to a mere three-month period of January to March, as it was before the COVID-19 pandemic. Although this shift represents a return to normalcy, student cast and crew members used to the five-month time frame must make a conscious effort to adjust.
Many factors play a role in the production of a musical, including vocal rehearsal, blocking (learning where to go on the stage and when), choreography, building the set, lighting and sound design, organizing the props and costumes, and most of all, lots of practice. Getting the show together in less than three months may be difficult for the director, actors, and tech crew members. However, many students hold onto hope. Tech crew member Sophia Tappen expressed, “I think if we work a little harder and work together better as a team, we could get it all done.”
Putting on a show in three months is very different than putting together a show in five months. Mrs. Hodge, the choir director of the middle and high school and vocal director of the Drama Club, made an important statement about the difference in rehearsals. “Well, a shortened rehearsal process puts more onus on the actors and the students to put the production into real swing and not have to rely on the adults doing all of the work.”
Additionally, multiple actors have other conflicts that will also affect rehearsal time. Between sports and other clubs, students can’t be in two places at once. That presents an issue, especially when they clash with the most important rehearsal times, such as the Model UN Mexico trip overlapping with several crucial rehearsals two weeks before opening night. This means that students going on the trip will have to put in extra effort to avoid falling behind after missed rehearsals.
Sophomore Violet Pyatt commented on balancing Drama Club with schoolwork and other activities, especially now when the actors have to take greater responsibility for learning their parts. She answered, “I think the most important thing is communication: communicating with the directors, communicating with my teachers because, you know, I am still in high school, and I definitely need to keep my grades up. Also, just taking time for myself, so I’m not too overwhelmed with everything.”
This year’s modified production process encourages club members to take responsibility, manage their time, and work together better than ever before to make the best production they can. Visit hpdrama.net to get your tickets for Footloose this March.