The Show Must Go On

Wishes do come true, it seems.

A year after COVID-19 abruptly dropped the curtain mid-run on the Glasgow Middle School production of The Lion King, the young thespians are once again stepping into the limelight. This time around, the drama students will embark to a "whole new world" with the musical, "Aladdin JR."

"I am very happy, because last year we only got to do two out of our three shows," said 8th grader Adam Mickelson, 14, who stars in the title role. "After our second show, we never went back to school."

"We are the first live show with an audience since then," added Maureen Leech, director. "We were the last and now we are the first."

"Aladdin JR." debuts at 7 p.m. Friday, April 16, with an additional performance at 7 p.m. Saturday and a matinee at 3 p.m. Sunday. Performances will be at the Glasgow High School Auditorium, 229 7th St. N.

Tickets are $5 for adults and $3 for students. Tickets must be purchased in advance. Social distancing rules will apply. The performances also will be live-streamed for those unable to attend in person. For more information, call 724-359-7896 or send an email to [email protected].

"Aladdin JR." is based on Walt Disney's 1992 Academy Award winning animated film and the 2014 hit Broadway production about a street urchin who transcends his humble upbringings – with the help of a flamboyant genie – to gain access to the sultan's palace.

The junior version includes additional musical content and characters, such as Aladdin's three friends Babkak, Omar and Kassim. The four live in squalor on the streets of Agrabah, a desert kingdom and one of the greatest nations of the Seven Deserts ruled by Sultan Hamed.

"They do almost everything together," said 7th grader Roman Fast, 14, who portrays Babkak in the upcoming production.

The trio try to keep Aladdin out of trouble, which is often unsuccessful, Fast said.

The struggle is real, said Mickelson, who is channeling the harsh living conditions to bring his character life.

For Aladdin, it is "fending for your life because you are starving and need food," he said.

But, thanks to the nefarious scheming of Jafar – the Royal Vizier of Agrabah who wants the sultanate for himself – Aladdin's luck turns around. At Jafar's bidding, Aladdin enters the Cave of Wonders, hidden beneath the desert wastes, and discovers a magic lamp containing a genie who has the power to grant three wishes.

Keen on winning the heart of Princess Jasmine, Hamed's daughter, Aladdin embarks on a wish fueled quest testing both his will and his morality.

But Jasmine is no trophy wife, as her character notes.

"How dare you. All of you. Standing around deciding my future. I am not a prize to be won."

For this iteration, the feisty Jasmine is portrayed by 7th grader Jourdyn Fercho, 13.

Fercho said the key to the role is capturing Jasmine's individualism is "having the independence of Jasmine and the kindness of Jasmine."

While the cast universally exudes confidence in themselves, nerves inevitably sneak in.

"Yeah," said 7th grader Riley Clampitt, who dons the black robes of Jafar. "I'm kind of scared. Panic Monster. It is exciting though. I usually just forget [the audience is] there and look at the people on stage."

THE EMBODIMENT OF EVIL

To personify the menacing evil presence of Jafar, Clampitt said violence helps.

"I love hitting people with my snake stick, and pushing people," she said. "I push people a lot in the play."

There are many, many beatings, Clampitt said. "I am very physical."

Clampitt said she has had to use her imagination to fill the role.

"I feel like it would be fun to be happier, but I do enjoy being mean while being a funny character. I kind of give it all to Iago [the parrot sidekick]. She kind of just takes it away."

Clampitt said she draws from the other actors on stage to bring the role to life, even when that leads to improvisation.

"One time, I was waking Iago up and I dropped my staff, and I said,' look what you made me do, stupid bird!'"

ENTER THE GENIE

For this production, the mantle of Genie is taken up by 8th grader Gabriel Proctor, 13. Proctor seems tailor made for the vivacious role.

"I just love the feel of it," he said with a playful glint in his eye. "You are in a lamp and you are a prisoner, but you are all happy and bubbly anyway."

Although Aladdin promises early on to free Genie from his servitude, life gets in the way, putting Genie's faith in humanity to the test.

"He gets upset at one point," Proctor said. "Things around him evolve."

Proctor, a witty lad with definite stage presence, said he enjoys showboating, an essential characteristic for the role. The best part, he added, is the songs.

"I like the songs a lot," he said.

Regardless of their role, the 20 cast members and six stage hands have been working tirelessly for the past several months to prepare for opening day, each with their own routine.

Fast has been prepping for the role of Babkak with 8th grader Jorden Mix, 14, who is tackling the role of Omar.

"I have done a lot of studying for my roles or songs, whether it be getting with my buddies and going for a weekend and eating protein balls" with Fast, Mix said.

The young thespians certainly are prepared to face the audience, Mix added.

"I do like being out in front of everyone and being able to express my character the best that I can," he said. "I feel live stage performance, it feels good to be in front of everyone, rather than on recording or prerecorded stuff."

The anticipation of this week's show is rising, Fast said.

"It is exciting."

A RETURN TO NORMALCY

Although the current production is slightly smaller than pre-pandemic shows by the middle schoolers, it is still wonderful the students can get back to a sense of normalcy, Leech said.

"They get to perform. That is the biggest thing because they have not been able to perform. It has been weird year."

The entire state shutdown in 2020 during a cast and crew party following the second performance of The Lion King, Leech said.

"There were some tears shed from all of us."

Now, the students "are ready to go and are super excited," Leech continued. "It has been nerve-wracking, but we are ready."

The show can be performed in front of a live audience thanks to an approval obtained from the Valley County Health Department, Leech said.

"I had to put this whole proposal together and go to the health dept, and then they took a week to look it over. We talked and negotiated and they said yes, let's do this for the kids. We weren't sure we were going to be allowed on audience until February. Now we are pushing to get people here."

Leech said the show is not one to be missed.

"It is going to be a great show."