Being one of only 20 schools to receive the prestigious Disney grant, Mr. Phil Anderson, Mrs. Erin Bohn, Mrs. Laura Gottman, Mrs. Barb Hatfield, and Mrs. Shannan Masten selected “Freaky Friday” as this year’s fall musical, with performances taking place November 13th–15th. A heartfelt and funny show, “Freaky Friday” follows a daughter and her mother as they deal with one very freaky twist: swapping bodies for a day.
“We start by looking at what shows will fit our school and the environment for the kind of year we’re expecting,” Anderson said. “We did it because of the Disney grant… only about 20 schools get one nationally.”
However, receiving the rare Disney grant wasn’t the only deciding factor. The show’s message—and especially its music—played a major role as well.
“Vocally, it’s hard. It’s a little high and just different,” Masten said. “I love the meaning behind the show. I got teary listening to the music the other day—a kid singing about appreciating his family at this age.”
Because of this, casting took longer than usual. With nearly every named character getting a solo, the directors had to make sure each role was a perfect fit.
Behind the scenes, production wasn’t necessarily any easier. With so many moving parts and such a large cast and crew, countless hours of work often go unnoticed.
“I feel like a lot of people don’t think about it, but every object used in the show is [the crew’s] responsibility,” said Student Director and senior Sophia Pinkiston. “Some shows we’ve done in the past had multiple tables full of props. It takes a lot of work not only for the crew to find and make them, but also to organize them and make sure they go onstage.”
For cast members like senior Isaiah Littell though, the work has been just as challenging as rewarding.
“One of my favorite rehearsal moments is when we put all the parts of a song together and it sounded really good,” said Littell. “I’m most excited for the audience to see the number ‘Go.’ It’s six minutes long and the whole cast is involved.”
If you want a chance to see one of the 20 or so Disney musical productions this year, tickets are $10 per adult or $5 for Roncalli students and those under the age of 14. Performances take place on November 13th at 7 p.m., November 14th at 6 p.m., and November 15th at 7 p.m.
