Students try out for OKLAHOMA!

GHS theatre students have just wrapped up their last play, It’s a Wonderful Life. Now, many of them begin prepping for musical tryouts this week, for OKLAHOMA!.

Students are excited for the play, and express their passion.

“It’s exciting to perform in front of people, especially after you’ve practiced and prepared for it so much. Even the tryouts are kind of exciting because you’re finally showing off your hard work,” sophomore Ellie Roder said.

Senior Sarah Kuhnke agrees. “I just love the performance process. You put a ton of hours and work into getting the final product so performing it, while it is sometimes nerve racking, is mostly just pure joy,” she said. “Being on stage with your friends and making memories is something I will never take for granted,”

“I love the feeling of being in front of an audience,” junior Ryan Unruh said.

Musical tryouts frighten some students, but other, more experienced students not so much..

“I get pretty nervous before the tryouts because I’ve never tried out for a musical before. Although, I am excited because the dances and songs are so fun to do. This is my first year trying out for theatre,” said Roder. “I got interested because Grease was really fun to watch and a lot of my friends encouraged me to try out.”

Even though Kuhnke has tried out many times, she still gets nervous.

“I am always nervous before tryouts. I was definitely the most nervous before my freshman year fall musical auditions as I had never auditioned for a High School show before- and at that time they would only take a few freshman,” Kuhnke explains. “Even though this is my 8th time going through the audition process, I still get nervous, because every year it’s a new show and every show there are different people that try out.”

Freshman Taryn Smith agrees. “I feel nervous at times and excited and ready at other times. I get nervous because I’m scared I’m going to forget everything that I’ve been doing to get ready for this audition, and I’m scared I won’t be able to do the best I could,” she said. I get excited though because if I just chill out for a bit I think of how much fun it would be to get in and work with amazing people.”

On the other hand, Unruh is more experienced and less worried.

“I took acting Lab semester 1 of freshman year, which inspired me to audition for the musical that year. I’ve been a part of each show since then. I take it pretty easy before tryouts because my life will be okay if I make it or I don’t,” he said.

Eric Christiansen, the play director, describes what he looks for in actors for OKLAHOMA!.

“We are looking for a commitment to the energy that this show requires.  We are looking for some outstanding dancing ability, as this show is a huge dance show with many opportunities to showcase dancers,” he said. “The music is instantly recognizable, and we need singers who can perform these glorious show-tunes.  We are looking for actors who can embody the deeper characterization required to bring this show to life.”

Christiansen chose the play for numerous reasons, including incorporating social issues.

“OKLAHOMA! is a classic Broadway musical, and one of the first “modern” musicals. It incorporates a rich story-line and complex plot structure with some of the best music ever written for the Broadway stage.  Many of the songs are iconic expressions of American Musical Theatre, recognizable and popular today,” said Christiansen. “OKLAHOMA! addresses sensitive subjects that continue to be relevant today, such as woman’s roles and rights and the question of consent. Plus, it’s a heart-warming love story.  I love the music, what the story can teach us about our pioneer past, and the relevance of the story to what is going on in the world today.”

Last year’s dance captains: senior Brooke Kais and junior Gavin Steele enjoy having leadership roles.

“I enjoy being a dance captain because I enjoy dancing.  I feel that you can enjoy a dance much more and become less frustrated if you learn it and can perform to your own satisfaction,” said Steele.  “My motive is primarily making people enjoy the work they do by encouraging them to do their best and pushing students to be proud and confident in the work they have put in.”

“My motive as dance captain is that I love to perform and I can pick up choreography quickly,” said Kais. “I also love to help people and try to break it down for them in a different way to see if they can get it better. It’s so cool seeing people grow as dancers.”

Christiansen loves the audition process.

“I love the challenges inherent in each individual show.  I love the process of casting the show and rehearsing it all the way through opening night,” said Christiansen.  I love the positive energy that working in the performing arts provides.  I love the opportunity that each show offers to explore what it means to be a human being.”

Dance captains express their point of view and level of ease and difficulty.

“I think the rate of difficulty is in between because I will always be there if people need help, although sometimes I could use help too, so pressure is there,” said Kais. “I also have a tight schedule which is difficult to deal with. But, I love helping people and I love dancing, so it evens out.”

“Dance captain isn’t too difficult, I find the dancing to be a ton of fun, so it’s not much of a chore,” said Steele. “The hardest part about the job is the time commitment.  Staying after school for an hour or two teaching the dance and rehearsing it. But, it also depends on the student.  When somebody has not yet learned the dance I like the method of taking them through it slowly, allowing them to get a feel for it.  Once the moves are known and the order is correct I progressively like to up the tempo to gradually move up to performance speed.”