BROOKINGS Hello Dolly, Louis Armstrong famously sang in 1963. Its so nice to have you back where you belong.
And from Nov. 21-23, Dolly will belong on-stage at Brookings High School as students present their rendition of Hello Dolly! the musical where Armstrongs hit tune originated.
Its a kind of show that the students here havent done in quite some time picking a classic Broadway show like that, Kayla Mette, high school English teacher and director of the musical, said. Its a really big show with a lot of dancing and a lot more choreography than the students have been used to a lot of period costumes, a lot of set changes.
Hello Dolly! is a musical update of the 1954 play The Matchmaker. The musical version garnered 10 Tony Awards when it first premiered, and a 1969 film adaption went on to win three Academy Awards.
Its set in New York in about 1890, and it follows the story of Dolly Levi and shes a matchmaker, Mette said. While shes trying to arrange marriage for somebody else, she decides that shes going to set her own marriage up too. And she kind of works things to her advantage so that everybody ends up with the right person in the end.
Putting together a musical production involves lots of students and lots of work.
Between the musicians, the actors and the tech crew, weve got about 70 students involved, Mette said. Since the middle of September, weve been working about 15 hours a week a little bit more now that were close to the show, probably 20 hours a week. So they put a lot of their time into this.
She said whether its those who build sets, play music or tread the boards while singing and dancing they all learn to function together.
They gain a lot of connection. They spend so much time with each other, Mette said.
With people playing different parts people in different roles, not just as actors but the students who play in the pit and the kids who work the tech crew backstage they spend so much time together, they become really close. It becomes a really tight crowd of friends.
Auditions were held in September, and the cast immediately began working with Kathy Winghart, director of orchestras at the school and music director for the play.
After we cast the show, the very first thing we do is we learn all the vocal parts that go with the show. Theres 17 songs in the show that happen throughout act one and act two. So we get down to work right away with the entire cast, learning all the songs, Winghart said. Then at that point, thats when I open it up for auditions for our pit so the live musicians that sit down in the pit to accompany all the vocalists and they are given their music and get down to work, practicing on their own. Then in November, we put all of that together.
She said this particular play features some challenging music.
Its professional level music, so its tough. You know just like key signatures, time signatures, things change quickly, Winghart said. Part of what we play in the pit is part of the comedic timing of whats happening on stage Sometimes we have to slow down, or speed up or wait just to make sure things match with whats happening on the stage.
She said developing a sense of teamwork is crucial for the students.
It cant just be one person. We have to all be together or youd have a train wreck, Winghart said. If somebody forgets their words on the stage when theyre singing maybe they skip a few parts of a song or something as musicians, then we have to jump to where they are. So all the musicians in the pit need to be able to listen as well as read the music They have to be ready for anything that might be thrown your way. The show must go on! With live theatre, you just never know what might happen.
She said the real magic occurs once the audience is seated.
The energy that comes on opening night is so exciting especially when you hear the laughter from the audience it just gives you a boost, Winghart said.
Its an adrenaline rush. You hear the people are enjoying, and laughing and clapping. Its good for the cast to hear that. Its just fun and really energizing.
Mette agreed and said students are eager to perform for the public.
These students have worked really hard and cant wait to be up in front of an audience. The theatre experience is not complete until theyve got people in the seats to perform in front of, Mette said.
Tickets are available at the high school activities office during the school day so from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., anyone can stop in at the main office and purchase tickets. And tickets are also sold starting an hour before the show on each performance night. Adults are $6, students and senior citizens are $4 and then activity cards are accepted but have to be presented at the time of purchase and at the door.
Hello Dolly! opens Nov. 21 at 7 p.m. with performances continuing Nov. 22 at 7 p.m. and Nov. 23 at 2 p.m. All shows are at the V.A. Bell Auditorium of Brookings High School.
Email Jay Roe at [email protected].
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