One thespian, two thespian, red thespian, blue thespian…they’re ready to entertain people of all ages in this year’s rousing New Fairfield High School spring musical, Seussical. Due to the pandemic, this is the first musical to be staged at NFHS since 2019 and the actors and musicians are excited to welcome you back to the school’s biggest show of the year.
Director Jennifer McPartlin says that this is the “perfect, jubilant, happy musical we all need!” She came back to in-person theater this year feeling ambitious, saying that she and Choral Director Andrew Gadwah chose this show knowing that it would “take a lot of work, a lot of patience, and a truly enthusiastic cast” and knowing that they had all of the pieces of that puzzle.
“From the start I have found myself saying ‘there’s a lot of music in this musical!,’” McPartlin said. Gadwah agreed, saying “It’s a LOT of music to learn,” which has made this year as challenging as it has been rewarding. He described getting back into the rhythm with interesting materials and a heavy rehearsal schedule as a “downright fun process, both for the students and for me!” Both leaders are fans of the show, with Gadwah pointing out that he’s “always loved this musical—it’s full of fun songs and great characters that all come together in such a fantastic way. Great lessons and messages as well, about imagination, acceptance, and looking out for each other.”
Those messages transcend the show and filter through the cast in the months that they spend together in the lead up to the musical. McPartlin and Gadwah intentionally encourage genuine interaction throughout the process, though the kids spend much of their time in character. “It’s so important to laugh. It’s also important to be human. Sounds pretty basic, but teens, and preteens are so very skilled at shielding themselves from appearing to be vulnerable, but you HAVE to be vulnerable, or else you’ll never learn how to make a mistake and learn from it,” McPartlin reflected. She went on to say “The safest way to do that is to be vulnerable myself (I am prone to being a klutz, and not afraid to show my ignorance on many, many subjects). If I can show them that an adult can make mistakes, laugh at them and move on, then they know they will survive as well. Safety in being vulnerable means you get a group of students who are fearless in learning to grow.”
“We clown around”, McPartlin said, recognizing that “This year, that’s so vital. Technique is the next step, but since this year is ALL ABOUT THE RESET, let’s return to the vitals: breathing, and laughing.” Gadwah is in complete agreement, “It has been so wonderful to see these kids find themselves again on this stage after missing out on so much the past couple years. So many of our students love performing, and it has been tough for them to not get to share that with an audience in the same way, or feel that connection with a live audience. And for many students, especially the junior cast, this is their first time performing in one of our school musicals!”
There are so many scenes that the performers cannot wait for the audience to see. One of Gadwah’s favorite songs in the show is “Solla Sollew”, where Horton, trapped in the circus, sings with the other circus animals about this imaginary dream land where “breezes are warm”, and “people are kind.” He finds inspiration in the hope-filled scene, pointing out that “In the light of all of the pain and tumult we have all faced over the past few years, and continue to face even now, this dream of constantly striving towards that land of hope is all the more poignant.”
The NFHS Rebel Players welcome the community to their show and can’t wait to fill the auditorium with joy. In turn, Gadwah is excited for the students in every aspect of the production to experience the “magic and the joy that can only come through a live theater performance…that energy between the performers and the audience… that’s what it’s all about.” He went on to say “From the moment the curtain rises on opening night, to the final bow at our closing performance, I know that everyone will feel the love for what we get to do, and truly how lucky we are!” McPartlin says that “You can’t miss a minute” of this show, “The energy, the Seussiness of it all, is wonderful!”
The energy can be felt Friday, March 25 at 7:00 p.m.; Saturday, March 26 at 2:00 and 7:00 p.m.; and Sunday, March 27 at 2:00 p.m. Tickets for Seussical are $15 for adults, $5 for students and seniors, and free for children under 5 and are available at the door or at https://www.showtix4u.com/event-details/62106. See you at the show!
By Sarah Opdahl