After three days of singing, dancing and callbacks, middle schoolers are ready to rehearse for the spring musical. The cast will be practicing and performing their rendition of “Newsies,” a production about the newsboys of New York City in the late 1800s. It was a Disney movie before being adapted into a musical in 2011, and, since then, it has toured nationally and internationally and garnered fans worldwide.
Auditions for Archer’s production began Feb. 3 and ended Feb. 5. Under the leadership of new director Joe Schenck, arts department chair, this year was the first time a three-day format was used for auditions. For many, it was their first experience with a formal dance call. Students like Eliza Keston (’30) prepared vocal parts, learned choreography from a video sent in advance and returned for callbacks.
“I was kind of nervous, because it’s a new director this year, and I am always nervous to sing in front of someone new,” Keston said. “I think that I’ve gained a lot of confidence over the years by doing musicals for a long time, and I think that it is a lot easier now than it was in the beginning.”
Students prepared for auditions in different ways. Some worked with voice teachers, while others rehearsed with siblings or found quiet places to practice choreography. Delainey Lloyd (’30), who received callbacks for the characters Jack and Katherine, said she tried to mentally reframe the audition process.
“I was definitely very stressed … but I like to think of the auditions as performing. It takes the stress off a little bit. It makes it more fun,” Delainey Lloyd said. “Performing is what I like about acting, not the auditions.”
Her sister, Addie Lloyd (’31), shared a similar sentiment surrounding the stress of auditions, but also love for the Archer theater community.
“I’m always really nervous, but I just try to know that the people with me, they’re my friends and they want the best for you even if you don’t do the best,” Addie Lloyd said. “Everyone knows each other because they’re going through the same things as everyone else. Just knowing that people are there for you, that’s a great feeling.”
While auditions can be nerve-wracking, Keston said performing makes it worthwhile.
‘’Being on a stage and hearing everyone cheer for you, and getting to play the part of someone who can be so different from yourself, it’s different from your life, but it’s also kind of nice,” Keston said. “If you’re going through something in your life, you get to be someone else.”
For seventh grader Mimmy Goetsch, participating in Archer’s production of “Lost Girl“ solidified her love for theater. Last year, she said she chose softball over the musical and regretted it.
“I was like, ‘Why am I doing this thing that makes me miserable?’ I want to be doing theater,” Goetsch said. “When you’re on stage or when you’re in a rehearsal, you don’t have to think about anything else that’s stressing you out. You don’t have to think about the homework you have to do, or what you have to do when you get home or just anything … You can just think about being on stage and being this other person.”
Behind the scenes, assistant stage managers like Tea Walker (’28) help keep the process running smoothly. They organize attendance sheets, film auditions for casting review and keep students in order so everyone is where they need to be at the right time.
“I really like being part of the middle school production, specifically, because they’re very positive and eager to be a part of it,” Walker said. “I like to make sure everything’s going smoothly for them, and they have someone to talk to in case they have any questions or if they’re having emotions about anything.”
Fellow assistant stage manager Samaira Modgil (’29) said one of her favorite aspects of middle school productions is watching students develop more skills over time.
“I’ve known some of them since sixth grade, and then now they’re in eighth grade, and they have just grown so much,” Modgil said. “They’ve improved their voices, their singing, just their acting styles, so I really like watching them grow and seeing that process.”
As middle school performers begin rehearsals, they recommend the theater program to anyone interested.
“If you’re new to Archer or not new at Archer, or whatever, theater is an amazing experience,” Goetcsh said. “Whether you’re in ensemble or you’re a lead, you’ll meet people you would never talk to before. I’ve made such a great network at Archer, just from theater, it’s such a great way to meet people and make friends.”
