Some members of the Ballston Spa High School Troupe make their second home on the stage, but since January all members of the acting group have been honing their skills and picking up new ones rehearsing for their production of “Thoroughly Modern Millie.”
The play tells the story of a young girl seeking love and happiness in the big city during the roaring twenties.
“It’s not well known to people who don’t do theater. It’s amodern musical with an old musical feel to it,” said Director Laurie Larson.
The play is based on the 1967 musical comedy film version. Milliee Dillmount is from Kansas and encounters the flapper era in New York, including prohibition. In 1967, the film earned an Academy Award for Best Original Score. The Broadway version won the Tony Award for Best Musical and the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Musical in 2002.
Gretel Wilson, a junior, plays Millie Dillmount and has been participating in plays since the age of four.
“Millie has this idea of coming to New York and wants to marry her boss, but also meets Jimmy Smith. I did find a lot of similarities between Millie and myself, like she’s success driven but also goes with the flow and is honest,” said Wilson.
Julia Turano, a junior, plays Mrs. Meers and is finding the role to be a dynamic one.
“She is the antagonist of the story, and American woman who pretends to be a Chinese woman to sell white orphans to white slavery. I learned that I can be very, very mean through this part. I definitely got to use some other acting talents that I discovered,” she said.
Junior Jenna Seifert plays Miss Dorothy. She’s been in theater since the ninth grade, and said working on the play has been an education on the flapper era.
“It was cool to see what people did after they were at work all day in the 1920s. Miss Dorothy is a really rich girl, who wants to see whatit’s like living like the other half. She wants to experience life where she has to work for things,” said Seifert.
Sophomore Keenon McCollum isn’t new to “Thoroughly Modern Millie.” He plays Jimmy Smith, the same character he portrayed in middle school.
“I learned how to be more of a love interest in shows and how toget the part down early on and learn about the person and how they would act,” he said. McCollum plans on pursuing musical theater and says that being part of the troupe helps keep up grades and get school work done.
Ethan Magee, a senior, portrays Trevor Graydon, who is the object of Miss Millie’s affection. He said he’d be taking away a life skill or two from this production.
“You have to work well with people and not be afraid to ask questions but at the same time take charge of your own responsibilities while listening to somebody higher than you like the director,” he said.
“Thoroughly Modern Millie” will be play number 53 for senior Darcy Schacher. “I love doing the school shows. … It’s like a family we’ve formed over the last four years,” she said.
Schacher plays Muzzy van Hossmere and said that it was hard to develop a character that is old and widowed.
“I discovered that you always have to put yourself into yourc haracter. She’s a performer, and I’m a performer, that’s something I had in common that I was able to connect myself to since I couldn’t relate to her,” said Schacher.
The school chooses plays that enable the kids to develop new skills and that can be cross-referenced with other classes.
“Last year we taught them circus arts. This year we wanted to do something completely different. A lot of kids couldn’t tap dance, so we started with tap workshops. It’s more than just putting on a play, but learning another skill,” said Larson.
Producer Patti Mullin added, “We strive to teach the cast something new with each show. Last year we brought in a circus expert to teach the cast professional circus tricks for ‘Barnum.’ The kids are loving it.”
“One of the benefits to doing a musical like this is that it helps the kids relate a little to the past. One of the AP US history teachers Rick Hengsterman is going to cross reference Millie in his presentations for the 1920’s. Two of our cast members Jack Rogers andMark Camilli had to learn Mandrin to do their parts,” said Mullin, who is a substitute teacher.
Most of the cast is involved with theater arts beyond the school.
“We have quite a few cast members who go on to work in the off season at Cohoes Music Hall, and I love that. When they can go out into the community and be really good performers, then we’re doing something right. As far as director, I feel my only purpose is to be the best audience member that they can possibly have. I really like them to develop their characters from themselves,” said Larson.
Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for students. The play will be performed in the Ballston Spa High School Auditorium on Friday, March 30, at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday,March 31, at 1 pm.
