Hamburg Area High School presents its spring musical, performing “Into the Woods” April 20 to 22.
“It’s a lot of fun. It helps build friendships and almost everyone leaves as a family in the cast and crew,” said Hamburg junior Michael Dotterer, 17, who portrays the Baker.
Dotterer likes that the role has given him a lot to do in the show, challenging his acting skills. He has gained leadership skills and the experience has help him with memorization. Dotterer would recommend this experience to other students.
Director Bethany Geisinger agreed that the cast and crew of 45 students becomes a family.
“We are here more than a normal sport would practice. We are together four or five hours at a time and it’s very emotional and very close knit and we all count on each other so it does feel like a family,” said Geisinger.
Geisinger said theater is great for kids.
“They learn to rely on each other; they’re part of a team,” she said. “It helps them find their own personal voice and their personal self-confidence but it also lets them know that they’re needed. They are valuable and they gain a lot of concentration and focus skills.”
The stage crew runs everything back stage: lighting, microphones, set, building the set, moving things, curtains, ropes, everything.
“The kids do it all,” she said.
The students have headsets and walkie talkies that helps them communicate and fix problems as they pop up, said Geisinger. There are also 16 headset microphones for the cast which covers most of the leads.
“The district is really great at supplying. It’s expensive equipment so it’s really cool that we have enough to do a big show,” said Geisinger.
Geisinger said they chose “Into the Woods” because the costumer has been wanting to do a magical show for several years.
“(‘Into The Woods’) has a very large cast. We always try to do something with lots of roles because we have a good size group,” said Geisinger. “It’s very intricate. The music is by Stephen Sondheim. There’s a lot of juxtaposition back and forth and scenes going simultaneously so they really have to listen and work together.”
To the community, Geisinger said, “Even though it’s about fairy tales, it’s also very relevant to what’s going on in our world today. It’s about how people treat each other and it’s about lies and truths and deciding what is right for ourselves and how people get along. So, it’s very cool.”
Hamburg senior Eileen Deisemann, 17, portrays Cinderella.
“She’s very humble in who she is and her actions within the show. She doesn’t take anything for granted,” said Deisemann.
For the audience, she hopes they learn that “every action that you make within life has its consequences and its joys. It’s just a really good piece to see.”
Deisemann hopes the community comes out to see their show.
“It’s going to be a really good show. Come see it, you don’t want to miss it,” said Deisemann.
Hamburg High School presents “Into The Woods” April 20, 21 and 22, with Friday and Saturday shows at 7 p.m. and a Sunday matinee at 2 p.m. in the Hamburg Area High School auditorium. The show is reserved seating. Purchase tickets via dramahawksinfo@gmail.com or online http://hasdhawks.seatyourself.biz.
