The lights dim.
The stage is set.
A soft melody is heard, accompanied with bright lights and elaborate dance.
Students can find solace in fine arts, especially for those involved in more than one.
“Theatre gives me more creative freedom,” choir and theatre student Saesha Chawla said. “Choir is more disciplined…[and] it helps build on my singing ability every day.”
For students looking to participate in the musical, like this year’s “Matilda”, singing and acting well are highly in demand. However, both skills take a while to develop and Chawla has been taking singing lessons for a long time to get to her current level.
“Being in both choir and theatre won’t help you if you aren’t working extremely hard in both,” Chawla said. “Just being in the classes and not putting in your 100% into both will not help you become the best you can be.”
Extracurriculars are challenging and extremely time consuming, and individuals looking to pursue them as a career should be willing to give them their all. Numerous scholarships are also given to talented students in such programs, as often in college, theatre or music departments can personally audition and accept students.
“The actors in “Matilda” all worked very hard and had many different skills,” stage manager Jessica Lee said. “Even last year for “Legally Blonde”, being in both programs was very helpful to the outcome of the show.”
Whether in high school or beyond, the skills that come with being a part of these programs are very advantageous. They require a lot of dedication however, but it ends up being worth it when accounting for the tight-knit communities and leadership skills that can be helpful later in life.
“If you are someone who wants to get better at musical theatre and love singing, then I totally recommend it,” Chawla said. “Just remember that everyone is on a different path to reaching their full potential, and just because yours is different, doesn’t mean you won’t become a good singer or actor.”
