Hey Mesa! You might’ve seen fliers or posts on Instagram about the middle school drama production of Alice in Wonderland, a musical with phenomenal actors and amazing cast members.
I had the chance to interview some of the actors and crew members about their experience and some general thoughts about drama and the production.
ALICE:
Hitching Post: How has it been preparing for the play?
Penny Chin: It’s been fun but it’s a challenge remembering everything.
Hitching Post: How do you remember those like how do you memorize your line?
Penny Chin: I don’t know. I usually just go over them a lot.
Hitching Post: How do you do with balancing school and drama?
Penny Chin: Well I try to make sure I always get good grades, but still focusing on the musical advice you would be struggling. Your grades drop just because of an extra curricular activity.
Hitching Post: How do you get over nerves like when you’re performing?
Penny Chin: I like to do like a shake out where you shake 12345678 that’s a theater warm-up.
Hitching Post: What’s your favorite song in the musical in the musical?
Penny Chin: Probably a world of my own since that’s my solo song.
Hitching Post: What’s your favorite part about being in Alice in Wonderland?
Penny Chin: The cast is really good. It’s a really good community and a lot of my friends are in the production.
Hitching Post: How do you get along with cast members you don’t necessarily like?
Penny Chin: You just have to remember you’re all focusing on one thing to do this production. Put everything else aside and just focus.
Queen of hearts:
Hitching Post: What’s your favorite dance number?
Megan Lynch: I’d say probably the finale, or caterpillar actually the caterpillar. It is just looks really nice with like all the positions and people in the levels I mean.
Hitching Post: Who do you look for in the like audience first, like is it your mom? Is it your friends?
Megan Lynch: I’d say my friends.
Hitching Post: What made you wanna join?
Megan Lynch: I’ve been doing it since I was very young like four and I just love drama/theater.
Hitching Post: What made you go out for the Queen of Hearts?
Megan Lynch: I mean, I love playing the villains and I didn’t audition for the queen, I auditioned for the caterpillar, but I still like the part.
Hitching Post: What do you think is the most important thing to do during rehearsal?
Megan Lynch: Having a line memorized and having water, you’d be surprised on how much you need water. The most important part of rehearsals is like probably actually retaining all the stuff that’s given because if you’re not fully paying attention or at least partially paying attention then it’ll take a lot more time to get it down.
White Rabbit:
Hitching Post: What’s your favorite line in the musical?
Micah: My favorite line is probably when I become an announcer and the road sharpener for the Queen of Hearts. So I say, “Attention attention all, and how does subjects in all the director indirect object of Wonderland follow your knees in trouble before her Majesty Rigatti, yes folks your favorite monarch of mean and mine the one the only queen of hearts.”
Hitching Post: What made you like theater?
Micah: Like elementary school starting in fifth grade I was in 101 Dalmatians and for sixth grade I was the lead role for finding Nemo Junior. I was Marlon.
Hitching Post: How do you get rid of nerves when in front of an audience?
Micah: I’m not really like going in front of people but at the same time it kind of takes nerves off me because I’m in a good community. I have people that support me and also since I don’t really tell people about my shows.
Hitching Post: What would you say is like the biggest motivation for drama?
Micah: For drama is probably the friends that I have and when I came here, I was kinda like I didn’t know like it was if it was gonna be good or bad but this community is like it’s really like friendship building and I’m really glad that I have a lot of new friends here.
During the weeks leading up to the performance, I visited to take some pictures of the cats and crew working to produce an amazing show. There were sets being painted, lights being programed, and costumes being put together. Here are some photos I took of them preparing for the musical.
Here are the Leads from the crew:
Hair and makeup: Gwendolyn M
Props: Noah R
Sound: Lilly D
Lighting: Sophia S
Set: Aspen
Assistant Stage Manager: Kaya F
Stage Manager: Peyton M
Assistant Director: Wyatt
Costumes: Parker D
Finally, I went to see the production yesterday, which was amazing. Its truly so impressive to see what all of our mavericks (and backstage mustangs) can do! The costumes were gorgeous, the set was jaw dropping, and the actors were so great! I was ablet o get permission to take pictures during the musical, make sure to take a look!
All in all, this performance was amazing to go and watch and I encourage you to find yourself in the preforming arts theater later today or tomorrow!
here is the link to buy tickets: https://cmhsperformingarts.ludus.com/index.php
