West Shamokin Plans First Student Musical

 

by Jonathan Weaver

The musical “Annie” – originally based on a 1920’s comic strip and 1982 Columbia Pictures movie – will be West Shamokin Junior-Senior High School’s first musical in the school’s 16-year history.

Director Senta Zelenski – a former musical director in Glendale School District (near Northern Cambria) - said it was always her goal to bring acting back to West Shamokin’s stage.

“When I came into the district six years ago, this was a mission of mine to star these musicals at West Shamokin because they’d never had one,” Zelenski said. “So, I got a team together and with a lot of support from teachers and administrators, they said ‘Go for it.’

“A lot of students were interested, parents jumped on board, and now we’re putting on the first musical at West Shamokin.”

When the musical selection was announced at the beginning of this school year, the titular character, played by Junior Cassie Wolfe, knew she wanted to be on-stage for it.

Even though she auditioned for both ‘Grace Farrell’ and ‘Miss Hannigan.’

“I’m just happy I got a chance to come back and try for a different part,” Wolfe said. “I thought the play would be a fun experience.”

Wolfe, who lives between Rural Valley and Kittanning, has been in the chorus since her days at Shannock Valley Elementary, was not disappointed in her casting.

“(‘Annie’) is just a happy go lucky character,” Wolfe said. “I do have to act more childish (but) I have watched the movie a lot of times – I’m trying to perfect that part.”

Senior Hannah Schrecengost, of Elderton, instead plays ‘Grace Farrell’ – Warbucks’ assistant -, (even though she also auditioned for ‘Miss Hannigan) and Junior Victoria Drahus is ‘Miss Hannigan.’

“I’ve been told that I have a boisterous personality, that I would be a good person to play ‘Miss Hannigan,’ Drahus said. “I watched the original ‘Annie’ a few times to understand that she’s an alcoholic, how much she drinks, how she abuses the children and how she flirts with everybody. I tend to watch it at least once a week.”

Every week, Drahus, of Creekside, said she picks up new facial expressions and emotions of her character. She was also taught by her cousin, Cameron – who will be coming from Texas to watch the performance – never to turn her back to the audience.

Freshman Katie Perry has performed the past few years in Armstrong Community Theatre’s children’s summer musicals.

For instance, last year, Perry played a soldier in the summer musical “Robin Hood,” but this year portrays “Lily St. Regis” – ‘Rooster’s’ girlfriend.

“The soldier was very tough, but ‘Lily’ is very glamorous and ditzy,” Perry said.

Though, that necessarily didn’t make it a harder part to pick up on.

“I am kind-of an airhead myself sometimes,” Perry laughed. “But, I have to act some too.

“Before auditions, whenever I was practicing getting my New Jersey accent down, I watched a lot of videos of high school productions of ‘Annie’ and used each one as an inspiration as to what I should do.”

Perry, who lives closer to Elderton, never met John Titus -who portrays her boyfriend “Rooster” in the production - until practices began, but said their stage chemistry has really blossomed.

“At first, it was really awkward because we didn’t know each other at all, but then we became good friends through the musical and it’s not as awkward anymore,” Perry said.

Titus, of Spaces Corners, agreed getting to know Perry first helped.

“As I’ve gotten to know (Perry and Drahus) more, it’s definitely helped us do better on stage,” Titus said.
Titus also auditioned for his role despite the approximately-50 lines and since his personality doesn’t match the character’s “shady” persona.

“Every practice definitely more of it got into my head and I got more confident as time went on,” Titus said. “I feel I have it all down – we’ll see how show time goes.

Zelenski– a former West Shamokin teacher now teaching 6th grade at Elderton Elementary – praised athletic coaches and Athletic Director Ray Blystone for restructuring schedules to allow student athletes to perform, as well as school Principal Dr. Stephen Shutters.

She praised all 35-40 thespians and crew members for their efforts.

“I knew we could do it,” Zelenski said.

Reportedly, more than 900 tickets have been sold for the April 8-9 showing, but tickets are still available for $5 during activity period, by appointment or at the door.