WOODBURY – No sooner does NHS’ drama club take their final bow after their fall play do the auditions for the spring musical Godspell begin.
The musical is about the formation of a community which carries on Jesus’ teachings after he has gone. Some students decided that a musical with lots of singing and dancing wasn’t for them but others didn’t skip a beat when it came time to sign up for auditions.
“Those who want to audition are asked to prepare a specific selection of material—be it a monologue for the play or a song from the show for the musical,” says director Catherine Pelky who has directed several shows at NHS. “Students will have a private audition with me (the director) and Mr. Gorski (the music director) to see what they bring to the character and the song. After all the students have auditioned, they go through callbacks—where they are asked to dance and prepare a certain song for review.”
June Robinson, a junior, is auditioning for the role of Jesus in the Godspell musical.
“I chose the role of Jesus because I want to expand my horizons in acting and bring as much as I can to the role and production,” Robinson said.
Some students enjoy the auditioning process and some don’t. While the skills necessary to succeed in an audition may come easy to some, for others, it’s a challenge.
“The best part is displaying your skills and showing what you can do,” said Robinson. “The worst part is the suspense as you wait for the cast list to come out. I’m excited to see how everyone else fares and how we’ll be able to work together to bring our best to our roles.”
Each character in the musical has their own personality. There are different cliques, for some students that make picking a role very easy. This is true for Lori Marquis, a current senior.
“I am auditioning for the Goth cliques because I know I can handle it and nail the personality of the character,” said Marquis. “If I get cast as Jesus, however, I would be more than happy.”
This spring’s musical will be a dramatic departure from fall semester’s production of 12 Angry Jurors. Godspell will task performers with singing, dancing, a performance that’ll demand energy.
“I’m excited for the music. It is such a fun score full of energy and joy,” said Pelkey. “ I’m super excited to have a live band. The music is infectious, and I hope audience members will be having as much fun as the performers.”
For NHS’ actors, this blend of song and dance fits the skill set of this spring’s cast.
“The best part is the singing. I love singing and it’s such a passion of mine.” Marquis adds, but these added techniques create even higher expectations for NHS’ cast members. “The worst part is how wild my nerves get; I always get so nervous.”
Drama students all have techniques to help them prepare for auditions and to be sure they nail the roles and ensure this year’s spring musical doesn’t miss a beat.
“I’m excited to interpret the musical in our own way and express our creative talents with the music and story,” says Robinson.
“I’m excited to see how everyone’s skills come to life and to see the musical really come to life,” Marquis adds. “I’m super excited to see what everyone has to offer.”
Once auditions are all wrapped up, rehearsals will be held, and they will soon be ready for the musical on April 3rd, 4th, and 5th.
