School News

During this school year our school’s Music Theater Workshop Class and Show Choir were busy practicing and getting ready for their Showcase.

Music Theater Workshop Class is a class that studies the history of the America Musical, works on improv, and other theater activities to become more comfortable on stage. I talked with Erin Kneppar, whom is the teacher that is in charge of both groups.

She said that every year Music Theater has to prepare a class adaptation of a musical for their performance at the Showcase

“This year's class chose to adapt Rodger's and Hammerstein's The Sound of Music. They worked to select the songs to be included, write the script, cast the show (mostly from our class with a few other volunteers added in), design the set, costumes and lighting and to create playbills and a program,” Mrs. Kneppar explained.

The Show Choir is made up of students ranging from seventh to twelfth grade. The Choir decided on La-La-Land medley for their part of the performance. The two group’s choreographer, Nicole Battestilli, whom is a PAHS graduate herself, has choregraphed the groups since the Show Choir began.

“In fact, this was her 10^th year of working with us,” Mrs. Kneppar said, “We are so grateful for her help and expertise!”

Music Theater and Show Choir choose their shows in the fall and begin working on them in January. Music Theater has to spend several work days as well as Saturdays to rehearse or to build the prop and set.

“This year we painted a stain glass window, built a door jam and window and built and painted two mock stone benches. We also sewed all of the costumes for the scene where the children are to wear play clothes that were made from curtains (and, we sewed the curtains, too!)” Mrs. Kneppar said of the Music Theater’s hard work.

The Musical Theater production was rather long while the Show Choir medley was much shorter. However, the groups spent over 35 hours of rehearsal time to prepare for their parts in the Showcase.

“I likened it to a track and field event...Music Theater was like a marathon and Show Choir was like a sprint but they both did their job and did it well!”

The cast even included their younger siblings from the elementary school to play the younger Von Trapp Children. They were overall very excited for their first show and are now looking forward to the second on, which is on Saturday, May 11^th at 1:00.