The air is thick with nerves and energy while tap shoes clank and people shuffle into their places. The upperclassmen are throwing it back to the 1920’s in their debut of Richard Morris’s famous production, Thoroughly Modern Millie coming to the NCHS stage on Mar. 13, 14, and 15. The show centers on a small town girl who finds her way in the big city.
Senior Rachel Guth, who will play lead Millie Dillmount, is excited about the production “It is really fun, 1920’s quirky classic musical comedy,” She said.
Although she’s excited, Rachel has experienced challenges in playing the title role. “Millie is a daunting character because she is the textbook example of a triple threat which means she sings, acts, and dances and all 3 parts have to be done equally,” she said.
Despite the challenge, the upperclassmen are excited about the characters they will play in the upcoming production. Senior Lauren Perone is especially excited to play Mrs. Meers, the villain of the musical, a type of character she has never portrayed before.“It’s fun to play an evil person, and it’s completely different from any character I have ever played before. It is interesting to step into that shoe,” she said,
Junior Deven Appel, who will be playing Jimmy Smith, is also excited about the overall production. “We have an awesome set,” he said. “We have taken some set pieces from Staples as well. A lot of people have worked really hard on weekends putting the set together and adding some great elements to the show.”
The show will be judged for the Halo Awards and the Connecticut High School Musical Theater Awards. “The Connecticut High School Musical Theater Awards are so intense and we didn’t enter last year.” Lauren said. “So there are high expectations to do well this year. We want to win. It is such a strong desire throughout the cast.”
However, the cast members are not focused on the competition.“I don’t think judging affects my performance at all,” Emily said, “You are doing it just as we rehearsed. I guess we know what night the judges are coming we think, ‘Oh let’s make less mistakes.’ But, I personally put it out of my mind when I am on stage.”
The length and difficulty of the show adds another layer of complexity to the in the production. “We were all sort of caught off guard by how challenging of a piece it is,” Rachel said. “The numbers are insanely difficult because it is one after the other after the other.”
The length of the show complicates things further. In the first act there are six big musical numbers which is abnormal since there are usually only three or four per act. “Topping that,” Rachel said, “they are long and complicated. So it is a struggle to to keep all of those plates spinning.”
Although it is a challenge, the cast are excited to show the audience what they have been tirelessly working on. “It is very positive, just the energy that we feel is infectious,” Rachel said. “It translates through the music, through the dancing. Everyone’s costumes are so sparkly. I love that it just exudes into the audience, you feel energized watching someone else perform one of these numbers. It is simply infectious there is no better word.”
