By Jillian McGahan
March 27, 2019
DHS students performing Guys and Dolls in March.
As far back as memory serves, seniors have been staging spring musicals. The Wizard of Oz, Jekyll and Hyde, Cinderella, Legally Blonde (just to name a few) have all been tackled by senior classes of DHS. Each one showcased the acting, singing, and dancing abilities of that particular class. You didn’t have to be a drama student, you didn’t have to be especially talented. It was a fun and entertaining bonding experience for a group of students going their separate ways in May.
Traditionally, the cast for the senior musical has been all or mostly all seniors. Through the years, however, the number of seniors participating has dwindled. Last year, the senior musical had just as many underclassmen as seniors. But the lead parts went to seniors.
This year, none of the leads were given to seniors.
Granted, very few seniors actually tried out for the musical this season. One of the main reasons for lack of senior participation is time commitment. The rehearsals can go on for hours, and most students don’t have the time for it. There’s sports, clubs, work, and other commitments that take up a lot of their time. Also, many students find performing in front of an audience to be uncomfortable. Getting on stage to dance and sing in front of an audience of family members and peers can be frightening. And not everyone has an angelic voice or natural rhythm.
The class of 2019 (and other classes) staged a magnificent production of Guys and Dolls in March. While it’s true that a scarce amount of seniors tried out for the play, it would have been nice if the ones who did were given the lead roles rather than supporting parts.
It was explained to me by the person in charge of the production, Mr. Haywood, that “a production team looks at many qualifying factors that go into placing students in roles. For a musical, it is singing and dancing abilities, followed by acting.” He further explained that everyone is cast in roles “that showcases their talents and abilities in the highest way possible, and for some of those students, they are in roles that are on stage more, doing more than what one may consider the ‘lead role’.”
Choosing the right student for the right part regardless of their grade level is logically what one would want for a typical production. However, the senior musical isn’t a typical production. It doesn’t need to be the great; it just needs to be fun.
Mr. Haywood believes that just because a senior may not be playing a lead role, it does not mean the title “senior musical” needs to be abolished, and that we have to shift our thinking about the process and work that goes into casting a show.”
It’s understandable when Mr. Haywood suggests that our minds have to be flexible in order to develop the production of our plays and musicals. But I hope it’s also understood that the senior musical, in its traditional form, was a special experience. Now it’s just another musical. I’m not mad, I’m just sad.
DHS students performing Guys and Dolls in March.
Meet the Writer!
Meet the Writer!
Jillian McGahan
Jillian McGahan
Jillian McGahan is a member of the class of 2019 and the Opinion Editor for The Dedham Mirror. She runs cross country, winter track, and spring track at DHS. In her free time, Jillian enjoys reading and watching crime shows.
Report abuse