Los Gatos Weekly-Times
Education
They're not pros,it just looks like it
By Emilie Doolittle
The cast and crew gave up half of their February break vacation time to rehearse for the Los Gatos High School production of Aida. And after rehearsing all day, the producer and creative team put in extra hours, staying up until 1 a.m. some nights to design scenery.
They know that hard work and long hours are what it takes to put on a professional musical.
With high-tech lighting, pop-sounding music, wireless microphones onstage and walkie-talkies for the crew, the high school's performance is guaranteed to look professional.
The students are performing Elton John and Tim Rice's Grammy award-winning pop rock musical Aida. Based on the story of Giuseppe Verdi's original opera, Aida is about a love triangle among an enslaved Ethiopian princess, a solider and the daughter of an Egyptian pharaoh. It is a tale of loyalty, betrayal and forbidden love that transcends the vast cultural differences between two warring nations.
"It is so powerful," said producer and performing arts department chairwoman Diana Pleasant. "There are so many conflicts in it that we see in our everyday lives. It will be a real landmark musical for Los Gatos High School.
"The students are out of this world," said Pleasant. "They are very serious about theater and their characters and the business they've been given to play on stage. They're particular about presenting the show to their very best and taking care of the details."
Senior Natalie McDonald, who played a lead role last year in the school's Thoroughly Modern Millie, will play the Ethiopian princess Aida. Natalie said, "Aida is different because it's a very serious and passionate show. It's not a typical musical for high school students. Parts are difficult, but we can pull it off. It's a fairly fictional story, but our director asked us to research the Nubian tribe and the Egyptians to understand our characters more and the historical aspects of the show."
The students were quick to praise director Roth Rind, producer Pleasant and dance choreographer Katie Peterson.
"They like to make sure things get done professionally," said senior Brent Pereyra, who plays Captain Radames, leader of the Egyptian army. "But sometimes they don't. Like when I had to kiss Aida, they said we're going to do this professionally. But when I kissed her the first time, Roth catcalled and everyone laughed."
"Roth can be seen as a friend and director," said senior Brett Van Zuiden, who plays the evil minister Zoser. "Roth was a senior here when I was a freshman. He does a good job."
"Katie knows how to make the dancers look sharp," said junior Hilary Humphries, who plays the Egyptian princess Amneris. "She knows how to put on a good show."
"Pleasant is always amazing," said Natalie. "Roth knows how to be strict and playful, and Katie, the choreographer, gives a different perspective and a funky view on the dancing that makes it atypical."
On stage the 22-member ensemble performs energetic song and dance numbers in front of elaborate props.
Water is one of the hardest elements to portray on stage, but the school's tech team uses lights that reflect wave patterns on the walls while a boat moves across stage. Meanwhile, the tech team communicates from their offstage positions using walkie-talkie headsets. Under the supervision of theater manager Jordan Rosa, they work like a professional stage crew. "I like to call my position the spare tire, because if the production goes well I'm not needed," said Rosa.
"We have such a great cast and crew this year," said Hilary Humphries. "Everyone is fun, nice and funny. And we've worked really hard to put on this show."
"The cast members have blown me away," said director Rind. "Their acting is professional. All of them have memorized the lines and taken what I've said into account."
The high school's performances of "Aida" are Feb. 29, March 1, 6, 7 and 8. The school is at 20 High School Court. The March 6 performance is at 7 p.m. All other performances start at 8 p.m. Ticket prices range from $5-$15 and are on sale now. For tickets call 408.358.4247.