What’s it like to see the musical that was recently made into a movie “Into the Woods” in person with the characters only a few feet away? The San Benito High School drama program performed this musical on March 19-21, and the 26th and 27th in the auditorium.
The spring musical is always announced in the first semester of the school year. Then, students are able to audition in December for whatever play is chosen for that year. The cast list is posted before Christmas break and the actors are able to start memorizing their lines.
Auditions can be nerve-racking for some of the students, but most say being in the play was worth the little bit of fear at the beginning of the play season. Senior Shelby Wright, who played Little Red Riding Hood in “Into the Woods,” said, “I’ve auditioned for every school play I’ve had the opportunity to audition for. Finding out that the musical was ‘Into the Woods’ just made me more excited because one of my older brothers was in it before as the baker, so I had a little bit of knowledge about it.”
Not only were the students excited to play the parts they were given in the musical, but as a bonus they were able to do it with people with whom they can have fun performing. Cozette Grabau, a sophomore at SBHS, played the role as one of Cinderella’s stepsisters. Grabau said, “We as a cast are pretty close. Once you get to know everyone (which is quickly because you spend a ton of time at rehearsals) we become a family.”
Senior Megan Bettencourt, who played the role of the baker’s wife, said, “You end up making a lot of inside jokes.”
While attending rehearsals every day after school, the students still had to find time to make sure their schoolwork is done so they can participate. Grabau said, “It’s kind of hard to juggle schoolwork because I am not home usually until 6 and then I have other things to do also.” Bettencourt has participated in musicals since she was in middle school and she the key is to “find the right balance” between studies and practice. “It’s difficult but not impossible to do,” added Bettencourt.
Although there was a lot of work and effort put into the musical, the cast agreed there was much to gain.
Senior Corbin Hughes, who played Mysterious Man, said it was rewarding to “get reactions from the audience.” Another senior, Casey Dearden, who played the role of the narrator, says he enjoyed watching everyone react to the play.