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Bravo to area schools for some simply spectacular performances in high school musicals and theater performances this year.
Mifflin County gave theater junkies a wonderful journey down the yellow brick road with "The Wizard of Oz," East Juniata followed with a whimsical adventure of Roald Dahl's "Willy Wonka" and Juniata just wrapped up Disney's "The Little Mermaid."
The curtain is set to go up on Mount Union's "Hello Dolly!" at the end of April. The first three productions certainly set the bar high for the finale, which is sure to be another crowd-pleaser.
Bravo to the cast and crew from each production, providing a night of wonderful theater entertainment. While the theatrical talent of students certainly stood on its own merit, they also thought outside the box by creating promotional events that enabled the communities to connect with the cast.
Last year, the cast of "Shrek" ramped up the anticipation for the ogre's appearance with a meet and greet. This year, the "Oz" cast did the same and visited students at elementary schools to capture younger audiences. It worked as the musical drew packed houses.
East Juniata did something similar by hosting a character breakfast with its actors from "Wonka." Diners could also purchase famous Wonka bars as could theatergoers at each show. There were also amazing trading cards on sale.
Additionally, the cast of "The Little Mermaid" visited with elementary school students, which translated into full houses.
At a time when school budgets are being stretched thin, it's important for communities to support drama clubs - as well as all
school-related organizations. They fundraise, doing what they can to cover production costs. But it never seems to be enough.
The high school students in these productions put on great shows. All the breakfasts, raffles and trading cards in the world never seem to cover the bills. That's why it's so important for the community to come to the auditoriums on show night and show support.
There are so many talented students who either aspire to have careers in the arts or just want to participate in school extracurricular activities. Some might uncover hidden talents they never knew they had, which could lead to new career opportunities or even additional accolades. That was the case for East Juniata actors Adelie Fisher and Wesley Somers, who were nominated for the prestigious Apollo Award by the Hershey Theatre League. Fisher and Somers were nominated for their roles for the school's production of "Sherlock Holmes" last fall.
Fisher, a sophomore, is up for Outstanding Performer in a Play for Sid Prince, the comedic role she played in "Sherlock Holmes." She was also cast as Sophie in "Wonka."
Somers, a senior, garnered acclaim for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Play for his role as Professor Moriarty. He played Grandpa Joe in "Wonka."
The pair competed against public and private schools in Juniata, Perry, Cumberland, Dauphin, Lancaster and Lebanon counties for the awards. The Apollo Awards offer more than 75 scholarships annually and have awarded $250,000 in scholarships since its inception in 2008.
They are modeled after the Tony Awards on Broadway, recognizing outstanding achievement both on stage and behind the scenes of high school students in musical and play productions.
It would be nice if the high school theater troupes could form a pipeline of talent to local companies, like the Stone Arch Players, which experience actor shortages.
To all the casts and crews, we applaud and give you a standing ovation.