 |
 |
| Student Testimonials Being involved in a musical can be a life changing experience for a high scholl student. Below you will find stories from a few students who have been part of our program. |
||
|
The Musical changed my life! Middle School was awful in the sense that I was unwelcome and unwanted. I was lonely, scared, and humiliated on a daily basis. I stood out, but for all the wrong reasons. But all that changed once I arrived on Nathan Hale’s campus. As a Queen Anne kid, high school was a chance to start over. Distancing myself from the middle school madness, I started once more, searching for that spot where I could fit. And I found it. It happened during the fall of my sophomore year around the time in which I was beginning to realize that standing out could be an asset. Around the school hallways, posters were taped on the walls and signs were stapled onto the bulletin boards around school. They were presenting me with the opportunity to participate in the Nathan Hale Musical: Lucky Stiff. I have “taken part” in Nathan Hale’s Musical every year since. From Lucky Stiff, to Moby Dick, to this year’s production, Urinetown, I have not only found a place to fit, but I have also found a superior support system, countless opportunities to participate, and more than anything else, friends. Creating magic with my fellow classmates is and will remain the most memorable and important part of my high school experience. Andrew Lyon Nathan Hale Class of ‘07 My participation in Nathan Hale musicals... ... stands out as a memorable highlight from my high school years. Participating in Zombie Prom and One Touch of Venus gave me greater confidence in myself and my performing abilities, as well as a number of valuable friendships. I have continued to perform in college and I believe I owe everything I know about the musical rehearsal and performance process to Nathan Hale Productions! Caitlin Goldbaum-Unger Nathan Hale Class of ‘04 The most important part... ... of Nathan Hale Productions is the way that it brings together people at Hale that might never have found each other, in a welcoming, supportive, positive way. For me, it was also a place to shine and feel like I was at home. I was amazed by the growing popularity of the program year after year, starting with the little theatre production of Zombie Prom. I never would have thought we could pull off Lucky Stiff in three years, participate competitively in the 5th Avenue Awards and be part of the reason to build a real theatre at our school. Every new show, I was amazed at the different kids who turned out to be part of the production, and it made me incredibly proud to be part of something big. Roosevelt gets all this hype for their productions, but there is something unique about the way Hale does musicals. It isn‘t about two leads and a chorus of thirty who move around in lines. I don’t think anyone will forget Eric Johnannes singing as a French night club owner, or Alex Hemmelgarn in a nun costume. There is something special about this program, it bonds students together, it produces quality shows, it does it our way- it is one of my most missed memories from high school, because believe me, there is no program like it anywhere else in the country. I have yet to be offered a leading male role complete with a mustache here in college, so its a good thing I got my fill while at Hale. I very much hope NHP continues to be supported for years to come, and I am very proud to be one of it‘s founding cast members. Joanna Johnson Nathan Hale Class of ‘05 Musical theater taught me... ... how to multitask. Musical Theatre asks you to manage your part, group work, performance scheduals, but also requires team work and accountability. Now when I have a busy week at University and my room‘s a mess and I’ve got hardly enough time to eat, let alone think, I think I handle it better having spent time at NHS going class to class and then spending my evenings running a tech rehersal. Kelsey Maki Nathan Hale Class of ‘04 My participation in the Nathan Hale musical... ... has given me the opportunity to be a part of a truly amazing experience. To take a play from being simply words on a page and turn it into a show, with costumes, lights, and choreography is a transformation not only for the script but for the actors as well. My experiences with the musical have truly transformed me. Through song and dance I have learned more about myself than I had ever possibly imagined. During the musical, I can be who I am and best of all I am encouraged to explore and expand on who that person is. Rachael LeValley Nathan Hale Class of ‘08 I am delighted that... ... Nathan Hale Productions is still going strong! I had the honor of playing “Toffee” in Zombie Prom, the first NHP show. In addition, I was part of the production committee, doing fundraising as part of my Junior Community Action Project. I also was in the cast of One Touch of Venus. Both performing and fundraising for theatre are still a part of my life: I am a BFA Acting major at Oklahoma City University, as well as the Fundraising and Special Projects Coordinator for the Theatre Department. The experience of being in the NHP shows was a springboard to where I am now. The expectations of the students in an NHP production are the same expectations in collegiate and professional theatre: punctuality, preparedness, and committing in performance. There is something deep inside all performers that yearns for a chance to be on stage. NHP has done a wonderful job selecting quirky musicals that are new and exciting to perform. I am so pleased NHP started my junior year, and that it continues to give students this wonderful chance to fill this desire to perform! Zandi Carlson Nathan Hale Class of ‘04 |
||
|
|
||