Student-run project puts spotlight on Mainland as leader in arts
LINWOOD — The COVID-19 pandemic has had a dramatic effect on the performing arts at Mainland Regional High School, but students now have an opportunity to make up for some lost time.
The Drama Club was on the verge of performing “Mama Mia” in spring 2020 when Gov. Phil Murphy announced a statewide two-week shutdown that turned out be much longer, keeping students out of school for the remainder of the year and half of the next.
It wasn’t until May 2021 that the teen thespians once again took the stage to perform “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat,” but mask requirements and social distancing made for a less-than-ideal situation.
Last fall, things got back closer to normal when the students performed “Midsummer Jersey,” following that with “Shrek the Musical” on stage March 17-19.
Drama/performing arts teacher Curt Foy said New Jersey Thespians announced in January that it would organize a statewide production for the first time in years.
Foy, a new member of the organization’s board of directors, was asked to direct the performance.
“Because they asked me to direct it, we as the host school get to host all of the rehearsals and all of the tech stuff,” he said, noting students would be coming to the school from across the state.
He said the production will provide an amazing opportunity for Mainland students, as well as those from throughout the state.
“After losing a year in a pandemic, now they are going to be able to be in a fall play, a spring production here but then also those of the students that audition and get in the production, and even from a technical element, will be able to work on a second show,” Foy said. “For anyone who is a freshman, sophomore or junior, they get to audition for two shows and a play.”
Foy said the students will be performing “We Will Rock You,” a Queen-themed jukebox musical.
The show will be performed during the New Jersey Thespians Festival, a two-day event preceding Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
Foy said the venue is not set but that it would be held in the middle of January, followed by two performance at MRHS on a Saturday at the end of January. Two weeks later, he said another performance will be held in northern New Jersey.
Foy said there also is a chance the production would be part of the National Thespian Society Festival in June 2021.
“We have it on good authority it’s never been done before at the state level or the national level. All eyes are going to be on us,” he said.
Foy said the audition process begins immediately, with information sent out Monday regarding vocal auditions. The following week will be information on dance then acting and tech positions.
Foy said they plan to include students in every facet of the production.
“It will really truly be an overwhelmingly student-run project,” he said, noting the only adults would be the director, stage manager, technical director, choreographer, costume designer and music director.
Foy said the audition process would be over by the end of April and that once the cast is set, the school would host an intensive week at the end of July when they block and choreograph the entire show in one week.
Every month following would be dedicated to brush-up rehearsals, technical elements, costuming and such.
“We Will Rock You” lends itself to a large cast but Foy said they plan to keep it to about 35 rather than 50 because of the staggered rehearsal schedule and other demands on people’s time. He also wants to provide those chosen to participate a fully engaging experience.
“We want them to really get a chance to work intensively on the show and also provide those students that are really the crème de le crème of the state more opportunities to do more in the show as opposed to having more ensemble members that come on for maybe one or two numbers,” Foy said. “We want those core cast members to double as as many characters as possible.”
He said it won’t be easy.
“They are going to get to learn a guerilla-style theater. They’re going to have to come into July knowing all of their lyrics. They are going to have to be close to off-book if not completely off-book,” Foy said. “Within five days we are going to block and choreograph the entire show. By the time they leave here in July they are going to know the whole show, it will be just a matter of each month having a day or a weekend to add another element to the process.”
He said entire process “will put a spotlight on Mainland as a premier school for championing the arts.”
The Mainland student production of “Shrek the Musical” is scheduled for 7 p.m. Thursday, March 17, and Friday, March 18, as well as 1 p.m. and 7 p.m. Saturday, March 19, at Mainland Regional High School. Tickets are $12 and can be purchased online at mainlandregional.net or in person at the door. Masks will not be required and there are no limitations on seating.
By CRAIG D. SCHENCK/Sentinel staff