In late August the theater department started rehearsals for the Shakespearian play “Much Ado About Nothing”. The show debuted on November 5. The performance received positive feedback. The performance was also chosen to be showcased at the Missouri Thespian Festival.

Preparations for the upcoming winter musical -“The Pirates of Penzance”- started shortly after the premiere of Much Ado About Nothing.

“We had about a week or two weeks just after Much Ado and then we went right into Pirates rehearsals,” said junior Parker Hauptmann.

The cast and crew need more time than the last show to learn not only their lines, but this performance includes choreography and music.

For Hauptman the pressure of a set pace is not difficult to manage. He feels it is simple to transition because he is playing a role. Like much of the cast he is playing one part and then a different one.

“Becoming a different character and going to another is easy, it’s just more tiring. Because you do one whole show and then guess what, you have to do another one,” said Hauptmann.

Senior Camelia Bessette acknowledges that the quick change between shows could be difficult for some.

“It’s crazy, it’s so fast. You have to adapt from two very different shows because you’re doing a play and then you’re doing a musical,” said Bessette.

Although, the shows are different in setting and theme. They share the same comedic roots. With the similarities in the humor, a fast transition is not as hard.

“It takes some adapting but thankfully, they’re both comedies which makes it easier because we’re so used to the whole comic timing of Much Ado that we can take and put that into Pirates at the same time,” said Bessette.

It is consistently non-stop for these actors. Although, it takes much devotion to perfect their shows, they prove they’re able to do it.
The cast and crew hope that “The Pirates of Penzance” follows the success that “Much Ado About Nothing” had.