For the past four months, the Susky theatre program has been gearing up for their spring musical, “Anastasia,” which is based on the execution of the Romanov family and the rumored escape of one of the daughters, Anastasia.
Showing on March 20-22, in order to portray this dynamic journey, the production consists of 80-90 middle school and high school members. Naturally, this has proven to be challenging, but some of the returning members have become mentors for the younger students.
Senior Kiley Herzog plays the lead role of Anastasia, but also realizes the importance of being a role model for other students and has become one herself.
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“There’s… a big cast this year and a lot of new people, so we’re playing more of a role in… leading people, not just as our role but also showing people how things work,” Herzog said.
Navigating rehearsal cancellations and a big cast has been an uphill battle, especially with the history of the musical needing to be portrayed through the music, large set and acting.
The history that will be portrayed in the musical took place in 1918, when the royal Romanov family of Russia was overthrown and executed in favor of a communist government, and persistent rumors emerged that one princess, Anastasia, had escaped the brutal fate of her family.
In addition to the history seen through the acting part of the play, Miriam Presley, the head vocal director, shared how the history affects the music.
“In terms of …traditional Russian music, there’s definitely some elements of that within the songs, especially some of the ensemble pieces and some of the orchestral arrangements…some of the lyrics too, touch on it a little bit about what life was like at the Russian revolution,” Presley said.
This reflects how music created now can serve as artistic expression and also document history and the voices of people during a time of transformation.
To pull this production off, different departments within the program have had to interact and cooperate, and Natalie Watson, the pit director, highlights the importance of communication.
“We have the cast meeting with the costume crew for sizing and fittings…we have singers and the pit together so we learn whether the singers want to go a little faster or where they want to take a little bit of a liberty,” Watson said.
Collaboration is a clear necessity in theater, as every role on stage and behind the scenes contributes to the success of the show. It helps express that a production best functions when everyone’s skills come together to create a shared vision.
It’s evident that a lot of hard work and care have been put into the creation of “Anastasia,” and with that, there comes a heartfelt reward, especially for head crew manager, Alicia Baker.
“It’s always so fun seeing everything you’ve worked so hard for come together and…just to be where I am and see all my cast members…do so good at what they…love to do,” Baker said
Watson also expressed gratitude, thanking the students for their commitment and effort they put into the show.
“I would like to thank all of the students that put all this time into the show…the cast and the crew and…the pit and the costumes,” Watson said. “… they really put their heart into it, and it means so much.”
From the history, to the set and music, all elements are able to be seen by students in the spring production of “Anastasia.”
Students can purchase tickets via an online box office at the SHS Theater website or at the door before their showing times, March 20- 21 at 7 p.m. and March 22 at 2 p.m.
