Tippecanoe High School presents Fall Musical “The Sound of Music”

Tippecanoe theatre department hard at work

After much rehearsal and practicing, the Tippecanoe theatre department put on quite a show at Tippecanoe High School. This past weekend, the theatre department and drama club presented their Fall Musical “The Sound of Music.”

This classic telling of the Von Trapp family showcased many hardworking and talented cast members who had spent months practicing and perfecting their performances.

Many interworking pieces of the puzzle create such a production, and the students involved are constantly creating throughout the year. Not only does the drama club spend countless hours preparing for a production like “The Sound of Music,” but other students and clubs throughout the school join together to help create other magical performances and experiences.

“The Sound of Music” isn’t the first production at the high school this year. In October, the theatrical performance class joined forces with the dedicated members of the Home Building class to give a spooky sunset performance of ghost stories on a student-made outdoor stage.

As well as acting, singing, and positions on stage, students work incredibly hard offstage as well. With the help of an adult tech director, classmates are able to dip their toes into what it’s like creating a show from behind the scenes. With sound, lighting, set design, and more, many students dedicate rehearsal time to learning how to manage a production from behind the curtain. Theatre director Candice Jasinski said, “I have been very proud of the last few years of upperclassmen in tech positions. With their help, we have been able to establish a system of student mentorship where upperclassmen allow underclassmen to shadow them under the supervision of the tech director. It has led to some considerable accomplishments for our techies.”

As “The Sound of Music” comes to an end, the theatre kids are already on top of beginning their next projects. In the spring, the high school is set to tackle a comedy-oriented play. The drama club also works with members of the community to create experiences outside of the shows. These members enjoy participating in community outreach programs such as donating to local food banks and running their chapter in the Thespian Honor Society. Thespian Honor Society students can qualify to join the honor society and participate in events throughout the school year. They are also able to work to receive special recognition in their playbills and even at graduation.

The booming theatre department at the high school is creating opportunities for students interested not only in acting and singing but also in technical jobs. This year, the students have put in an immense amount of hard work to create their annual musical and a multitude of exciting productions throughout the year, with more on the horizon.