One Month On: The Musical
The following are interviews from members of the crew and ensemble of the Chicago musical, sharing their thoughts on the musical experience.
Firstly, an interview with Zoe Petch, a member of the Ensemble.
What do you miss most about the musical?
Let me have a good think… I think one of the main things I miss about the musical is seeing everyone twice a week and meeting this whole new group of beautiful people that I've met and that I really enjoyed hanging out with, our friendships have gone on since then. I also really miss learning new theatre techniques, because personally I don't act, so I really took the musical in as an opportunity to learn how productions work. I really just miss the whole experience.
Can you tell me about your role in the musical?
Well, for the musical this year I was part of the ensemble, also a feature dancer and the tap dancer so I had one solo dance, the tap dance, and then I also had featured dances throughout most of the dances I was part of, and then I also did the ensemble dances as well as singing with them. Then I also took photos for publicity and advertising.
And what would you say to people who are thinking about doing the musical next year?
I’d say just do it. It was such an amazing experience. It is not really like anything else that the school offers. Not just for meeting new people, but also learning how a production works, there are so many elements of the production, you could do band, advertising, make up or costume, there is so many. I would say just do it, don't be scared.
Have you been given any clues about what next year’s production might be?
I heard someone who heard from someone that someone mentioned that it has something to do with a girl with red hair and a dog. But I really don't know anything for sure and this is just a very improbable rumour.
The following questions were asked to members of the music ensemble and ensemble dancers.
1. What was your role in the musical?
2. How long were rehearsals/backstage preps?
3. Was it hard work or fun? Or both?
4. Do you think you’ll do it again next year?
5. The same role or something different?
ALEC MUIR
1. I played double bass in the band.
2. The band started rehearsals towards the end of term 2. We had three days in the second week of holidays where we practiced for six hours or so. Then there was musical camp, which was a period of intense rehearsals. In the lead up to the production week we spent several Sundays refining everything.
3. It was definitely hard work, but at the same time very fun and rewarding. It’s a unique experience and allows you to meet many new faces.
4. I’m not actually a big fan of musicals, so despite me having a great time, I’ll have to take the year’s production into account. Not sure if I’ll exactly have a choice, given how few double bassists there are.
5. Definitely the same role, although playing electric bass would be a lot less of a hassle.
ANONYMOUS
1. I was an ensemble dancer, but I was essentially an extra.
2. An eternity, to be honest. Usually two hours on weekdays and six hours on weekends. One time we had a twelve hour rehearsal which was just too much.
3. Hard work, not fun at all. Teachers had very obvious favourites and were really mean. There were lots of nasty people and I barely had any time on stage.
4. Probably not, but it depends on what next year’s musical is.
5. I will never be in chorus again, it was awful. Everyone knows you’re irrelevant and nobody respects you.
MIETTA STEPHENS
1. I was a member of the chorus.
2. Rehearsals went on for all of term 2, and the first few weeks of term 3 were the more full on, longer rehearsals leading up to opening night.
3. Definitely both: the persona of someone in the ‘20s in a smoky nightclub was something new to a lot of us. However, whatever difficulties that were faced throughout the process all payed off during the amazing experience of show week.
4. Yes, absolutely.
5. I would consider going for a bigger role next year, but it depends on what the musical will be.
CONOR AMMETT
I was an ensemble character, so I had a few lines (including the first line of the whole musical, which was so super special)! I played a murderess, named Mona, who killed her boyfriend for cheating on her (with four different people). I also played Ensemble Member #1, who had some announcing lines that were fun.
Rehearsals went for four hours every week for Term 2, and during the holidays we had three full-day rehearsals. Towards Production Week we had a few Sunday rehearsals, and then of course there was Musical Camp for three days of Term 3.
It was heaps of fun and quite a bit of hard work. I love acting and performing so it rarely felt like work. I think it only felt like work when I was really exhausted at the end of a Friday and realised I had to stay for musical rehearsals after school on top of the full school day. The fun definitely outweighed the work though.
I’m definitely doing it next year! Year 12s have the most fun I reckon.
It would be really cool if I could have a bigger speaking role or even a lead, but I can only hope and try my best!
Contributions and Interviewers: Conor A, Val F and Luci N.