The stage is lit. The students wait. The crinkle of paper and occasional whisper are screams in the silence. Nervous students wait for their turn to speak in the spotlight.

  Welcome to Footloose auditions.

  But what does it take to be a part of this magnificent musical?

  William Klundt, the director of the upcoming play, tells how the auditions were divided into three categories: acting, dancing, and singing.

  During the auditions, Klundt had to decipher which students would best fit the parts. “What are their skills, what are they able to do, and are they fitting in with the characters,” said Klundt.

  Regarding the acting auditions, even more thought was added into the casting. “I have to think about the story and ensemble relationships. I take that into account and add in their physical skills,” said Klundt.

  With a cast of 36 people, the actors and actresses will be “rehearsing for eight weeks for three hours a day five days a week,” said Klundt.

  Actress Brooke Guard, sophomore, is a part of the ensemble and tells how, for her, auditioning was “really stressful because it’s a different auditioning process than I’m used to.”

  While auditioning, Guard was required to sing scales. Although Guard was nervous at first, her nervosity is replaced by confidence as she steps on the stage.

  Guard was also the stage manager for the previous play Frankenstein. She told that the actor’s confidence doesn’t sway even during the play. “If they are nervous, once they go on stage it goes away” she says.

  Even after getting the role actors are still under much pressure.

  “It takes an incredible amount of diligence and no other art form is as community based as theatre, we’ve created it together but when the curtain opens it’s the actors who are in control at that point,” said Klundt.

  This two hour play is about a rebellious Chicago teen named Ren McCormack who wishes to dance in a town where dancing is banned due to the demandings of a local minister. The play features a collection of musical numbers including Footloose, I Can’t Stand Still, and Holding Out for a Hero.

  This newest production held at HRHS premieres on March 6th at 7 pm and continues on the 7th and 8th. Then, the following week it is shown on March 13th -15th at 7 pm.

  Unfortunately HRHS must wait two months to see how this Tony award winning musical is brought to the HRHS stage.

Jade Zimmerman, Staff Reporter