BY JENNY SEJANSKY
DeLand High School’s thespians and Hill Street Theatre are busy putting together their third original musical revue. Join us for Can You Dig It?, an Original Musical Revue.
Students have been working hard on this piece since it was assigned as a class project in December. The story was originated by the Advanced Honors Theatre 2-4 class and IB theater class. The script was written by three pre-International Baccalaureate theater students, Bradyn Darrow, Sophia Tepper and Kate Budzinski. You may have seen them in the Athens Theatre’s production of Cinderella. Now come see them work their magic on our DeLand High School stage.
Our story takes place within a musical comedy variety show along the same lines as Saturday Night Live or The Carol Burnett Show called Can You Dig It?
In our show, the cast and crew are a jovial group of talented singers and dancers who seem to be happy performing the show. A newcomer is brought into the cast after he is randomly selected from the audience. Not sure about where this will lead him, a reluctant Emmett (Darrow) agrees to play along. It doesn’t take much time before he finds himself falling in love with the show’s top star, Val (Budzinski), who is flattered but unsure if she wants to start a relationship with him, given that she is “property” of the show.
TIME STOPS — At right, Kate Budzinski as Val and Bradyn Darrow as Emmett sing “Time Stops” from the musical Big Fish.
We learn that the cast is under the control of the Host (Luis Caquias), who welcomes Emmett, but makes sure the Host’s henchman, Jaimie (Jarrell Rodriguez), keeps a close eye on Emmett.
As the play progresses, we are introduced to the show’s band members (Xavier Soto-Colon, Gavin Kennedy and Keith Schulze), the Valley Girls (Rocky Good, Tepper, Alana Janey and Ella Degaetano) and several other performers, who make up our wonderful ensemble, including Cydney Diaz, Jayda Oyola, Gigi Molina, Kaitlin Hazelton, Reagan Adcock, Giovanni Baez, Shammah Griffin, Londyn Spencer and Jocelyn Renteria.
To say anything more about the plot would only give it away. You will have to come see!
This production is student-written, and all aspects of the musical-theater perspective are run by the students. The music is directed by Soto-Colon; choreography is created and taught by Jordan Williams. Our assistant director is Evey Flatley. The show’s stage manager is Emily Taylor.
Nine songs were selected from Bonnie and Clyde, Hairspray, Hadestown, How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying, Death Note: The Musical, Sweeney Todd and Big Fish, and there is one pop song, Amy Winehouse’s “Valerie.”
Students had to look up the songs and pay for the rights to perform each one. These students have worked hard to produce an outstanding performance for their school and the community. Show your support for them and their efforts.
Show times and dates are 7 p.m. Wednesday-Friday, March 5-7.
Tickets cost $5 for students and $10 for adults, and will be available at the door on show nights.
DeLand High School is located at 800 N. Hill Ave.
See you at the theater!
