BWW Blog: Jessica Vanek - 2017 High School Theatre Season is in Full Swing with NICE WORK IF YOU CAN GET IT & PETER AND THE STARCATCHER

Jess here. In my very first article I wrote about what makes a good show. One of the points that was brought up included the importance of having a cohesive ensemble (and by ensemble, I mean the entire cast). I had the pleasure of seeing these words come to life on stage this past week. I saw two high school theatre productions, each perfectly demonstrating the role a cohesive ensemble plays in taking a show to the next level.

Nice Work If You Can Get It was produced by Green Valley High School. This story, written by Joe DiPietro, is a jukebox musical featuring music and lyrics by George and Ira Gershwin. The show follows the story of Billie Bendix, a hard-headed bootlegger who changes her ways when she falls in love with engaged playboy, Jimmy Winter. Not only was this comedic tale brought to life by an outstanding group of principals, The Combined skills possessed by the entire cast truly made this production shine. Each member showed incredible talent, not just in singing and dancing, but in the potentially difficult art of comedic timing as well. It was clear from the start that the ensemble knew exactly what they had to do in order to make their show a comic masterpiece.

The perfect casting of this funny show (and I mean, REALLY funny) can be accredited to director Jennifer Hemme. The actors were fantastic! I would like to specifically recognize the work of Adelynn Tourondel (Billie Bendix) whose vocals were spot on when singing classic Gershwin compositions backed by a live orchestra. Zoe Konsur (Eileen Evergreen) and Jason Scalley (Cookie McGee) added the perfect amount of well timed humor. Their mastery of how to effectively play off their fellow actors had the audience laughing out loud time and again. I also admired Greg Kata's choreography of the Chorus Girls and Vice Squad. They were very fun to watch whenever they were on stage, and skillfully executed every move. A talented and cohesive group of performers presenting a well written story exudes an undeniable chemistry. They love what they do, and know how to do it well. This production was no exception to the rule.

Many similar accolades can be given to Faith Conservatory of the Fine Arts' production of Peter and the Starcatcher. Due to the fact that this show relies on a clever and close-knit cast, it has the potential of being tricky to produce. Faith Conservatory, however, had the perfect ensemble to present Rick Elice's stage version of the not-so-well known tale relaying the origin of Peter Pan. This production is an ensemble driven show, which gave all of the actors on stage an opportunity to make their mark while developing their individually unique characters.

The director, Erik Ball, had amazing artistic vision when he cast this show. The strong characters created by Chris May (Peter), Maddie Milledge (Molly), and Jackson Langford (Black Stache) complimented each other, and helped to bring the show together. Milledge's Molly was a fearless, yet kind-hearted young girl, and her perseverance created a perfect contrast to Chris May's shy, lonely Peter. The pursuit of Peter by Langford's bumbling Black Stache was hilariously fitting for the show. Heroes and villains went on to unite in a mermaid number with an unexpected twist opening Act II. The absurdity of it all and the focus of the show's charismatic ensemble had the audience in tears from laughing so hard. This cast all worked seamlessly as an ensemble, which ultimately resulted in a wonderfully entertaining night of theatre!

Both of these shows relied heavily on comedic skill. I've always believed that good comedy (or good anything, for that matter) can only exist when those involved share a mutual respect and trust for one another. I have such admiration for these actors, and respect their hard work and dedication. They put together incredible shows, and it was obvious that they had a great time while doing it. The audience was definitely part of the energy, and clearly loved every minute! When a cast is having fun, the production comes to life. A cohesive ensemble is the foundation of a great show, and all of these high school cast members delivered their best.

"Darling, don't make such a drama. A little less thinking, a little more feeling." -Stephen Sondheim

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