Drama students have many traditions before performing a show. One finds the girls in the girls dressing room where they get into a circle and sing the Banana song.
The boys go into the boys dressing room and listen to “The Immigrant Song” by Led Zeppelin. Other traditions are top secret.
They will be following these traditions before the spring musical “The Music Man” according to the actors.
“It is a show full of memorable songs, dance numbers and dynamic characters,” junior Carter Smith said. It is a story of an instrument salesman who cons the people of River City, Iowa.
Frank Earley is the director; the vocal coach is Kelly Parmenter and Ed Cannava is in charge of the orchestra. Bonne Berman and Kathleen Kirchiemer choreographed the show. The play stars junior Melanie Rothman as Marion and Matt Gottlieb as the Music Man, who unexpectedly falls in love with Marion the librarian.
“Memorizing the lines is the hardest part. We have rehearsals until five everyday working on the music and blocking,” Rothman said.
Ten-year-old Landon Dyer plays Winthrop and 13-year-old Angel Luckenbach plays Amaryllis. Both of which are siblings of current Arapahoe students.
Carter Smith plays the Mayor with Katy Flansburg acting as his wife. The Mayor’s daughters are Brittany Harms as Zanita and Hannah Jonas as Gracie.
“Dinner break is my favorite part of rehearsals,” senior Brett Evans said.
“It is great getting to hang out. Also when we start tuning the play and putting it all together is when it really starts getting fun.”
The musical, set in 1912, includes singing parts and dancers as well as actors. A crew of 76 students is needed to stage the “Music Man.”
Crew leaders include Molly Goodman and Brendan Moss as the construction crew chiefs. Brianna Circle and Caley Kolb as the costume crew chiefs. Alex Brown and Chris Presson as the lighting crew chiefs. Emily Newton and Megan MacGregor as the props crew chiefs. Racheal Ragland and Sharaya Guerrero as the publicity crew chiefs and Jessical Whelan and Alyssa Williams as the SPAD crew chiefs.
The show goes public April 18-21 at 7 p.m. and tickets will cost $8. “The best thing about being in theatre is that no one cares what other people think so you can really be your self around everybody,” junior Michelle Weaver, a dancer, said.