Highbury acting program in the spotlight

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This article was published 18/03/2010 (5864 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Despite only being in its second year of existence, Highbury School’s musical theatre club has found success in offering a creative extra-curricular outlet for its students.

Thor Weidenbacher, who teaches Grades 7 and 8 at the school, says the club has received overwhelming support from Highbury students in its two years of existence.

“When you take into account the cast, crew and pit band there is 35 students involved this year,” he says as the club prepares for their first dress rehearsal for their April production of Annie. Jr.

Weidenbacher says the club is really taking off, with many theatre rookies stepping forward to see what musical theatre is all about. He said after the success of the club’s first production, The Phantom of the Music Room, everyone was looking forward to this year’s production.

“Students in Grade 6 last year were eager to join, now that they were in Grade 7. All Grade 8s who took part last year returned as well,” he says.

“For a lot of them this is their first experience of musical theatre and they are here to try something new.”

A new experience was just what actor Hannah Bartel was looking for.

“I had a few friends that said they tried it out last year and they said it was a lot of fun.”

Bartel auditioned for the first time, hoping to be cast in a minor role with a few lines. She ended up being cast in the title role.

Grade 8 student Martha Ayele is another newcomer and finds herself playing the role of Miss Hannigan, the story’s main protagonist. After helping out behind the scenes last year, Ayele thought stepping from behind the curtain would be fun.

“It is my first time on stage and I sure want to continue,” she says, adding that playing the villain is a different but interesting proposition.

While many of the cast members are stage newcomers, some students are not. It is not too often a 14 year old concerns himself with character arc and the emotional impact of the finale, but that is exactly what you get with Grade 8 student David Teffaine, who is playing Daddy Warbucks.

“Getting to go out there and perform is a cool thing. You get to be a bit abnormal and not get criticized for it, but praised for it. I think acting is one of the only things you can do this in.”

Teffaine adds the Warbucks character may be the one who changes the most from the beginning of the production to the end.

“He becomes affected by Annie, someone who thinks of others and expects to get nothing in return. He starts the play taking everything for granted but he changes and learns there is more to life than money.”

Teffaine says the plays message is simple: that tomorrow will be a better day.

“That’s why the song Tomorrow is the finale.”

Annie Jr. goes on Mon., April 12 and Tues., April 13 at 7 p.m. in the Highbury School Gymnasium, 99 Highbury Rd. Tickets are $5. A matinee performance will be held on April 13 at 1 p.m. For more info call 254-5078.

rob.brown@canstarnews.com