ELLY GRIMM
• Leader & Times
Those looking for a fun local show to watch will soon have just that opportunity thanks to the Liberal High School Drama Department.
The LHS Drama Department will be performing "Emma: A Pop Musical!" at 7 p.m. March 6 and 7, and at 2 p.m. March 8. All performances will be in James W. Maskus Auditorium at Liberal High School, and general admission tickets are $5 for students and $10 for adults. The show is a jukebox musical adaptation of Jane Austen's novel "Emma" and follows Emma Woodhouse, a high school senior at Highbury Prep who plays matchmaker for her friends while ignoring her own desires and creating some humorous chaos along the way. As Director Kathy Harris tells it, the show should be fun and familiar to many in the audiences.
“People should recognize a lot of the songs, and I would say 'Chapel of Love' is the oldest out of the songs in the show, and there's also 'Girls Just Want to Have Fun,' Shania Twain's 'Man! I Feel Like A Woman' and Katy Perry's 'Roar,' among many others,” Harris said. “I think all of that will be fun for the audience. It's been fun for the kids, they've definitely enjoyed it all.”
Originally, according to Harris, “Emma” was not originally on the LHS playbill for this year.
“We had another show picked out, but in the end, we realized it was not going to work at this time with who we had available in terms of casting and other logistical details,” Harris said. “So I was looking for something more along the lines of an ensemble show so that even if someone wasn't maybe capable of being the star and having huge solos, they still could come and be a part of the cast and have fun. 'Emma' really seemed to fit that bill, and we thought it seemed like a show we could find a cast for and also the students would have fun with.”
Harris added putting the show together has been an enjoyable experience for everyone involved.
“Overall, we've really had a lot of fun with this cast. They're working hard and they're good kids without any drama in the ranks, and they're enjoying coming to rehearsal. I'm enjoying working with them, and we're having fun,” Harris said. “When you've worked hard to be able to know your songs and blocking and everything, then you can really have fun. Sometimes it's not as much fun at the beginning because there's some nerves in terms of whether or not they'll be able to learn everything. But I'm really proud of them, and they've worked hard. Everyone's off book, they know their lines, and so now we're just trying to refine and really bring the performance level up so we can really engage the audience, and they'll have fun too as they come out to see it.”
And with “Emma” being her high school directorial debut, Harris said it has been quite a learning experience.
“I did direct the Rainbow Players this past summer, and there were some high schoolers in that show, but this is my first show as far as a cast of just high schoolers, so that's been different. One of the main obstacles is a lot of these students are just so busy and very involved in all sorts of different activities that pull them in different directions. So there has been a bit of a challenge getting them all to be able to come to rehearsal so we can all work together because even if you think 'Well, I know MY part well,' the cast needs you there too to play your part, but I've been pleased for the most part,” Harris said. “They really seem to be committed and coming and working hard at home, and it's been a joy to get to see them just learn their parts, discover the joy of theater and of musicals, because there's a lot of them that haven't done theater at all, especially musicals. It's fun to watch them have fun with it, and I have been the musical director as well as the show director. Usually there's a different person than music, but in the end, that's been me, so that is also has been fun. Pop music is also not what I typically work with, so it's also been interesting learning how to work with those arrangements compared to the more traditional musical theater music I've worked with.”
With all the work that has been put into the show, Harris said she hopes the community turns out and shows its support.
“It's really a cute show, and it's family-friendly. I would be shocked if people didn't recognize at least two or three songs, and again, the music is fun,” Harris said. “The students are doing a great job, and I just really hope that we have a good audience come out so all their hard work pays off. We do this for the audience, of course, and it's fun to have an audience and get them laughing and then have the cast feel the energy in the room. That really makes it all worth it, all those hours of hard work, if we know the audience came and enjoyed it.”
And with opening night so close, Harris said the cast and crew are feeling ready to go.
“I think overall, they're excited. We definitely have quite a few newbies, so I'm sure things will feel more real during tech week when the lights go down in the audience and the and the microphones are on and the costumes are on. That can also be when nerves hit a little bit, so I'm sure we'll get to deal with some nerves and work through that,” Harris said. “But overall, I think they feel ready and they're excited. We are having fun working on it together, and I have high expectations that lines will be learned, and that they will continue to support each other and bring another great live theatre event to the community of Liberal. It's always great seeing everything fully come together. It can be a stressful process for everyone, but every day brings something new and you never know what's going to happen.”
Overall, Harris said, she is excited tor the curtain to rise on “Emma: A Pop Musical!” next week.
“I was happy to do this because I knew it was a role that was looking for someone who had the time to commit to it, and it definitely is big time commitment. I'm not entirely sure if I'll be able to do this again, but the kids have made it so fun and have really enjoyed it that it has made me think ‘Well, maybe I would do this again,’” Harris said. “I'm not a teacher here, I'm a community member, but I've been happy to be involved this year. It's been a good experience and a positive thing. I hope the students who have been involved come away with it with an appreciation and a love for theater.”
