This just in! Salida High School’s drama team is putting on their spring musical. Directed by Head Director Andre Wilkins, Assistant Director Cat Schleicher, and Choreographer and Costume Director, Britt Searles; the musical, titled Anything Goes, is hitting the stage on Friday, March eighth and on Saturday, March ninth. Show times are 7:30 p.m., and on Saturday the ninth, there will be a 2 p.m. matinee. Though SHS students and staff, in true drama team tradition, receive a teaser of the show the day before opening night. Regarding the plot, senior Nika Peterson, who was casted as the captain commented, “The plot is a famous entertainer on a boat with a little bit of a love triangle going on.”
She also mentions that it gets into a little bit of “shenanigans and mafia stuff.”
In terms of choreography, costumes and set, this show is one of the biggest the team has done. As the last two shows they’ve done– the spring 2023 musical, The Pajama Game and the fall 2023 show, Bedtime Stories, As Told By Our Dad Who Messed Them Up– attracted a ton of new members. They have been very grateful to have received vast amounts of parent and staff support throughout the process of this show and the expansion of their program–including set building, costume donation, and parents donating dinner during long nights of tech week rehearsal.
Though the three directors are the main leaders behind the show, the production would not be happening without Stage Manager, junior Athena Smith. This is Smith’s second production as Stage Manager, and her sixth as a member of the SHS Drama team.
“My favorite part of this show has been getting to see my crew team come up with an amazing set and being able to make it a reality. I think this has been one of my top shows I’ve been a part of. […] It’s been a tough but rewarding experience so far,” Smith said.
This season, the SHS drama team has been hard at work to make this production possible. From mid December to late February, cast and crew members have been rehearsing Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday evenings from four to six pm. For the last two weeks of rehearsals (tech weeks), members have long, intensive rehearsals from four to nine pm. While this process is difficult, it is what allows the shows to be as amazing as they are. During this time, the team practices with full costumes, makeup, hair, microphones, lights, set changes, and sound cues, which really allows the show to come together.
This season is bittersweet however, as the team has to say goodbye to their eight graduating seniors. Trey Andres (Eli Whitney), Peyton Bowers (Prop Master), Scarlett Campbell (Reno Sweeney), Jessica Clinton (Angel #1, Purity), Opal Juba (Crew Captain) Nika Peterson (Captain), Ben Smith (Billy Crocker) and Clara Streeter (Erma) are all leaving the team following the show’s ending. These seniors have been crucial to the success of every single show over the past four years–and though the rest of the team is excited to see where they go next–they will be so missed both on and off the stage.
Here at SHS, the student body and faculty alike are so excited to see their upcoming show, and are so proud of the hard work and dedication they’ve put into it, and for the way the program has grown.
