Disclaimer: News Editor Chayse White is part of the spring musical but did not take part in the writing or editing of this piece.
High school musicals take a great deal of planning, sweat, and teamwork between students and adult organizers. Similar to the fall play, it is meant to be a show of talent for high school students who want to show their creativity and inspire their peers to join them, whether in theater, musical, or dance classes.
This spring, “Urinetown” the musical is a mix of acting, singing, instrumental music, and scene art.
“I definitely enjoyed doing musicals more than any other projects I do,” said Musical Director Katie Conant.
“The main difference between musicals and fall plays is that a play is just acting, while a musical includes acting, singing, and dancing, all choreographed together,” she said.
This year, OH’s “Urinetown,” a strange but brilliant title, is a satirical play that focuses on a town that suffers under a fictional obstacle of water supply under an oppressive corporation known as “Urineingood” Company.
“Like most plays, it’s quite charming and has a lot of jokes, but it has a serious side because it covers topics like communism, government money, when and where to use the government,” said Conant.
As the director, Conant has to coordinate all the scheduled rehearsals, technical needs, acting practices, and casting, and that can mean students face scheduling challenges.
“I’d say one of the biggest challenges the students face is the time commitment these students have to give,” said OH Assistant Director Adam Jensen. “They have to be there day after day, week after week, after school.”
Other challenges student participants face happen to be any role that has a romantic relationship and memorization of lines during the musical.
¨Even though we face all these obstacles, it doesn’t kill how fun it is to do musicals,” said OH sophomore Owen Shatters. “What helps is that in musicals it’s super easy to make friends and that they help each other work as a team.”
Musicals help enlighten students on the constant fact that, while with enough effort, any student can give an excellent performance in any musical, there is always something to improve on.
“Every musical is like a book, if you read a book ultimately you learn something in the end,” said Shatters. “Most musicals have a character who overcomes a challenge, so I feel like anyone can learn those lessons doing these roles.”
When asked if the musical ha a positive impact on both students and teachers, they unanimously agree that the musical does.
“I got one of the lead roles this year and it’s super fun, I honestly think it’s fun for everybody!” said Shatters.
“Absolutely, yeah the musical is a way for kids to connect with the arts in a really direct way,” Assistant Director Jensen said. “It gives kids with a band background kids who like to be on the stage and who love singing or acting it’s an opportunity for them to perform for their peers.”
All of this effort goes into making “Urinetown” retain its humorous style while feeling visceral and serious.
“Urinetown” premieres April 24 at OH’s Barnes Performing Arts Center. Anyone who wants to experience the work of the directors and enthusiastic students on important topics is encouraged to attend.
When the school year ends those returning next year will encourage those from the other events like the fall play to either join another year or for the first time.
My name is Terrence K. Acosta and I am a Senior in Oswego High School.This is my first year in digital journalism, throughout my final school year i have ventured into many endeavors and school interests to see if one of them captivated me. However I've had no luck anywhere, so I have given journalism a try. I am hoping to enjoy this role in the school a little even if I still have to keeping looking for what captivates me in school.
