Elmwood High School bringing Tarzan to the stage

Elmwood

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This article was published 06/03/2024 (629 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Elmwood High School students are prepping for a swinging good time.

The school’s production of Tarzan: The Stage Musical will open to the public on Monday, March 11, marking the first time Elmwood has mounted a production since December 2019, when students performed Beauty and the Beast.

“We tried to make one happen last year, but it didn’t work,” said drama teacher Jessica Willow. “I picked Tarzan based on the students I had in the building. When we started doing auditions, we’d pre-cast a few roles. Everything fell into place real quick. All my leads are a group of close-knit friends, so within the first month with the script they had all their lines memorized.”

“It’s nerve-racking, but ever since it was announced that Tarzan was going to be our musical, I wanted to play the role,” said Brandon Woodward, a Grade 12 student who is indeed playing the lead.

“Getting into it, you have to think of it as someone who is isolated, living with gorillas. I’ve tried to do that, and connect, and learn about where I am. It helps that I have long hair,” he added, with a laugh.

Alongside Woodward, fellow Grade 12 student Erica Piercy plays Terk, Tarzan’s best pal, who also provides comedic relief throughout the show.

“Going into the role was very easy for me,” Piercy said. “I’m just like Terk. I find myself to be the comedic relief among my friends. So I’ve changed nothing, just memorized my lines.”

The show is based on the Disney film, which in turn was adapted from the classic story by Edgar Rice Burroughs. Willow noted that the stage production is slightly less dark than the film. In total, 40 students from Grade 7 to 12 are involved, 33 on stage with the remainder working behind the scenes.

“We’re very excited about it,” Willow said. “The nerves are starting to kick in. Lots of students are nervous to be on stage. Only two of the cast members, who were in Grade 7, were a part of Beauty and The Beast. Otherwise everyone is new.”

“There will be singing, dancing, lots of stupid jokes,” Piercy said. “There’s a lot of serious themes, too, but they can be expressed kind of silly so you can understand the message.”

While both Woodward and Piercy have some experience on stage, being in choir and concert bands, respectively, this show will be the first time the spotlight is on them alone in a dramatic role.

“I found that I’m more outgoing that I thought,” Woodward said. “I only joined choir a year ago, but I’m not afraid to sing. Before this I didn’t think it would be something I’d do, but I’m looking forward to it.”

“I’m in band, but those are the only times I’ve performed on stage,” Piercy said. “I’m not exactly a dancer, but I’m doing some cool stuff. I’m confident but very also nervous.”

The fact the cast are close has helped bring it all together.

“It makes everything less nerve-racking, because I have people I can trust who will work hard,” Woodward said.

“They’ve made it so easy,” Willow added.

Elmwood High School’s production of Tarzan: The Stage Musical will run March 11 to 13. Doors will open at 6:30 p.m. each night, with showtime at 7. Tickets are $5 at the door.