Tyler Morren
Sugar Beet Staff Reporter
The drama department has had several successful and state-qualifying performances. This upcoming spring season GCHS will present a new musical titled, “Evita”. The music for this musical was written by Andrew Lloyd Webber and the lyrics and book by Tim Rice.
“Evita” is about Eva Perón who is the wife of the president of Argentina in the 1940s and early 1950s. She was referred to as “the Cinderella of Argentina” as she had such great political power coming from nothing. This musical follows Eva Perón who was much loved by the common people and despised by those in power positions, as she is viewed as a person fighting for women’s rights and the working class. After the death of Eva Perón, her body disappeared for 17 years causing controversy surrounding her life and the circumstances of how she died.
This will be the first time that the directors from the drama department have directed an Andrew Lloyd Webber musical.
“Webber’s musicals are difficult, and this is our first musical by him, but probably not our last. We are now at the point where we think our students can handle it. The complexity to the music is also incredibly difficult not only to the singers, but also for the musicians,” Barbara Hilt said.
The students participating in this upcoming musical have their hands full with this musical because it is challenging compared to previous ones put on by the drama department.
Students go through a process for the audition tryouts in hopes to secure the positions they wish to have.
“Preparing for an audition there is a lot of research that goes into it as I have to be really familiar with the script by the time that we get to the audition. The musicians, choreographers and assistant directors also have to be familiar with the material to know it well enough to teach it,” Hilt said.
The directors have to secure tracks, rights and royalties so that they can receive the scripts to give to the students once the show has been cast.
For this particular audition students go through stages for the audition including dance, choral music in groups and individual singing if they wish to be a lead role.
“There is no real dialogue in this musical as most of it is composed of song,” Hilt said.
Auditions for this production took place on Nov. 26 and 27.
“I struggled on the dancing part in the audition because I can’t dance, and it was difficult for me, but the signing portion was ok,” Nancy Tran, first-time musical auditionee, said.
Auditions for previous musicals were similar to those for “Evita”.
“For me it is about staying focused, trying and giving it your all when auditioning for musicals and plays,” Eresay Alcantar-Velasquez, said.
Catch the musical, “Evita”, this upcoming spring March first, second and third.
Tyler Morren is a public service senior. Contact him at morrent@student.gckschools.com.
Garden City High School 