ONE ACT PLAY NIGHT

http://picasaweb.google.com/angelo.c.guarino/PhantomOfTheOperaClosingNight?authkey=Gv1sRgCNqLloOyj9LDTQ#

http://picasaweb.google.com/angelo.c.guarino/PhantomOfTheOperaSPHS2010?authkey=Gv1sRgCKi5kf6D5LHRNw#

WTG Phantom Phriends-you ROCKED the show!! Miss G is VERY proud of you!!!

The Cappies Reviews are in!

The cast of Severna Park High School takes the audience through an eerie tale of romance, shame, and bitterness in their production of “The Phantom of the Opera,” the story of a hauntingly disfigured man who seeks revenge on the world for casting him out, while pursuing the love of a talented young singer.

“The Phantom of the Opera” follows Christine Daaé, (Jenny Judd), the daughter of a famous Swedish violinist, as she advances from chorus girl to lead singer in the opera house, with persuasive assistance from her teacher, the Phantom. This ghostly, masked man makes known his obsessive love for Christine, who is in turn in love with her childhood playmate, Raoul. The story takes the audience through the many chilling events at the opera house, all caused by the Phantom, who makes every attempt to win Christine’s affection. Eventually, when the Phantom captures Raoul, Christine is forced to choose between the two men.

The lead roles were the anchor of this performance; all had stunning voices and a wide range of emotions and expressions. The orchestra was also extremely impressive; made up almost entirely of student performers; they faced this challenging score with minimal mistakes and wonderful tone and dynamics.

As mentioned, the leads were truly phenomenal. The Phantom, played by Joshua Mooney, not only displayed amazing vocal range, but demonstrated superior acting. He successfully portrayed a deeply complex and troubled character, and his performance was both chilling and extremely moving. The female lead, Christine, (Jenny Judd), also proved to be a fantastic singer, ranging from soaring high notes to resonating, low pitches.  Raoul, played by Henry Pazaryna, also had a commanding voice, and the stage chemistry between him and Christine was quite convincing.

There were a few supporting characters, as well, who delivered great performances. Rachel Buxton was one of them; as the diva Carlotta, she dominated the play with her stage presence, comedic talent, and a voice like that of a professional. Two other such characters were Messieurs André and Firmin (Tommy Minter and Justin Binnix), who played off each other and the rest of the cast to create highly amusing characters. Madame Giry, played by Elizabeth Embser, did not have a very major role, but made the most of what she had; Embser maintained her character very well, and showed impressive acting and singing ability.

The tech crew faced some difficulties with the sound; the microphones were sometimes muffled or malfunctioned, though the problems were quickly corrected. The sound design was very interesting; the Phantom’s voice was made so that when he was speaking from offstage, his voice echoed, like that of a ghost. The costumes were quite impressive; they were not only beautifully elaborate, but kept very nicely with the setting of the show.

“The Phantom of the Opera” is certainly a great challenge for any school, demanding strong vocals, character development, and emotional depth, but despite any difficulties they faced, Severna Park delivered a thoroughly solid performance.


by Abby Hawver of Annapolis

--------------------------------------------------

Love, hate, anger, fright, and acceptance. All of these characteristics seem they would make up a brilliant musical, and that is definitely what Severna Park High School achieved in their performance of “The Phantom of the Opera.”

“The Phantom of the Opera” was written by the French Gaston Leroux, and first translated and published in English in 1911. Christine Daaé, who is grieving her father who had recently passed away, gets a job at the London Opera House. Before her father died, he told her that he would send her the Angel of Music. At the Opera House, Christine hears an enchanting voice that offers to teach her how to sing. Soon the Angel of music – who turns out to be the Phantom – reveals himself to her, and takes her to his home hidden under the Opera House. They start to fall in love until she sees his disfigured face and leaves. The rest of the heart-wrenching musical is full of escape and acceptance for love.

Every single lead shook Severna Park High Schools stage with their incredible vocals. Both Carlotta, played by Rachel Buxton, and Christine, played by Jenny Judd, had wide-ranged, spine-chilling voices that constantly wowed the audience. The Phantom and Raoul, played by Joshua Mooney and Henry Pazaryna respectively, both played their parts with extreme talent and strength. Judd and Mooney’s voices blended extremely well together, sending shivers down the audience’s spines in their many duets.

Monsieur Firmin and Monsieur André, played by Justin Binnix and Tommy Minter respectively, had hilarious stage presence together. They worked together, and played off each other’s roles to their advantage. Elizabeth Embser, who played to roll of Madam Giry, was very confident of her part. She amazed the audience with both her acting and her beautiful voice.

The Back Stage Crew had a marvelous set that captured each individual room in the London Opera House. The lighting was sufficiently used to portray different events happening, and individuality of each room. Despite Phantom’s occasionally muffled voice due to microphone problems, he and the entire cast’s lines rang out loud and clear.

The Phantom of the Opera Orchestra was very clear and precise in their music. The Orchestra as a whole balanced out with each other very sweetly, and they never overpowered the casts dialogue or vocals. The sweet violin melodies and the daring wind instruments, that the audience often heard, added a lot of excitement to “The Phantom of the Opera.”

With every challenge of performing such a unique and dazzling show, Severna Park High School put in their all, and their efforts paid off tremendously! The immense amount of emotion in this production is something the audience is not going to forget.


by Erica Meusel of Annapolis

--------------------------------------------------

You can steal one’s heart with a beautiful voice, but in the end what does it mean if the feeling isn’t mutual?  Phantom of the Opera is about a young girl with an exquisite voice that attracts the Phantom. Although she has stolen the Phantom’s heart, she loves Raoul. Christine gets the solo once the Phantom interrupted Carlotta.  His plan to marry her failed in the end.

Severna Park High School really did convey a powerful message and proved that they were capable of putting on a mature musical. First and foremost, the vocals were incredible.  The majority of the time, the pitch, tone, volume were exact. Their voices were too good to be true. This was a great musical choice Severna made because the voices were powerful and clear and made the production better. Secondly, the costumes were fantastic. They were big, beautiful and caught the audience’s attention.

Overall, the leads were phenomenal. The characters had to have strong voices and these actors certainly did. Jenny Judd, who played the role of Christine Daaé, had a nice elegant voice. She was the main character and every time she sang, it blew the audience away. Another remarkable lead was Rachel Buxton who played Carlotta Giudicelli. She had great vocals, just like the rest of the cast, but she was also very humorous. Everything that came out of her mouth was funny and the energy she portrayed was so contagious that she kept everybody’s eyes on her. In addition a character that stood out was Meg Giry who was played by Meredith McBroom. Even though she wasn’t necessarily the lead, she always had great energy and even when the spotlight wasn’t on her she still stayed in character and really stood out from the crowd.

The tech crews did a good job on keeping the show going. They got props and sets off and on quickly. As far as sets go, Severna’s set was quite minimal but it was very descriptive. Some parts of the sets were confusing but it was easy enough to be identified.  The chandelier and the streamers were also very exciting which kept the crowd pleased.

You can be in the mood for opera voices and romantic scenes but after it’s said and done, Severna Park High School’s Phantom of the Opera will always keep you guessing.


by John DePass of Annapolis

--------------------------------------------------

Who’s the face behind the mask? Or the voice behind the song? Those are the questions that get answered in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s “The Phantom of the Opera,” the tale of the most passionate but deadly love triangle between the Phantom, young Christine Daae, and the Vicomte de Chagny, on the stage at Liberty. 

In this enduring story of choosing to love rather than live, the Phantom grew up in the dreams of the innocent Christine. He became known as her angel of music and gave her the gift of song, and grew to love her more than life. Little does the Phantom realize, Christine is in love with her childhood sweetheart Raoul, the man she is destined to marry. The Phantom has no intentions of ever letting her go, even if that means a few people have to give up the ghost.

Everyone participating in this production truly tried their best to put on one of the most challenging musicals any high school could attempt to do. They stayed incredibly exact to the original score and script. The orchestra tied the whole lot together in their phenomenal performance of some of the most beautiful musical pieces ever written.

This particular cast brought their own feel to their part while still staying true to the original characters. There are literally no words to describe the unbelievable job that Rachel Buxton did in portraying the character of Carlotta Giudicelli. Every time she opened her mouth she stole the show and all eyes and ears were on her. Henry Pazaryna was equally breath taking in his role as the Vicomte de Chagny. He was incredibly convincing while playing Raoul and was a great contribution to the cast. 

Each ensemble played to its own strength in trying to bring the story to life. It was greatly entertaining to watch the ballerinas’ flit gracefully around the stage. Everyone was amazing in coming together and carrying out a memorable recital of “Masquerade.” The entire cast stayed in sync almost the whole time.

The crew did a good job of switching out the sets for the many intricate scenes and kept the feeling of each set vibrant and obvious. Equally fun and creative, were the costumes. Each one fit each character perfectly and helped give an even better portrayal. Though sound seemed to be a bit of an issue, everyone still carried strong. Besides, when has anyone ever had perfect sound?

Everyone in the audience got lost in the music of the night and found their angel of music. Once you entered the auditorium, you were past the point of no return; you had no choice but go back to Paris and relive the mystery of “The Phantom of the Opera.”


by Kathleen Taylor of Annapolis

--------------------------------------------------

Some of the most powerful forces can’t be seen by everyone, especially when that is the last thing he wants. Severna Park’s production of the longest running Broadway show, “The Phantom of the Opera,” depicts this wonderful story with ease and creativity.

On the wings of the student orchestra, conducted by student Tyler Wilkinson, the story begins in the Paris Opera House that is haunted by this Phantom. The Phantom of the Opera, played by Joshua Mooney, gave a spectacular performance. We saw his character evolve with the story and he was a treat to listen to and watch, not only grow, but his reactions were also right on point. Raoul, played by Henry Pazaryna, also gave a wonderful performance on his solo pieces and his duets with Christine. When they sang “All I Ask of You” we really get a chance to see the intensity of their relationship and their romance becomes clear.

Carlotta (Rachel Buxton) ignited the stage with her unbelievable vocal talent as the “Prima Dona” of the Paris Opera House.  But her spine chilling voice was just the tip of the ice berg. She played her character with ease and demanded the attention of the audience. Christine (Jenny Judd) had the voice of an angel and she seemed to effortlessly make her way from note to note, song to song. 

Monsieur Firmin (Justin Binnix) and Andre (Tommy Minter) did a wonderful job at adding comedic relief during times of tension. A magnificent performance was given by Elizabeth Embser as Madame Giry whose French accent was superb and she truly embraced her character. Meg Giry (Meredith McBroom) graced the stage with her portrayal of her character with her amazing internal monologue and her dancing, along with the rest of the ballerinas. The ensemble, though, at times, lacking energy, shone in the number “Track Down This Murderer”.

The costumes, designed by Ali Duca, Cassela Todd, and Cristina Berron, added so much depth and interest to the story and the characters themselves. From the Hannibal ensemble to the individual ball gowns in the Masquerade, were just right for the story. They all fit the time period and better yet the personalities of the ones wearing them.

So many components made up the set that had to be built to make this production possible. The set construction was simple and didn’t distract from the performances. The lights added mood at all the right parts. Though they could be seen on the ceiling at times, they were able to illuminate the stage and highlight all of the characters with effortlessness. Sound struggled at some points with feedback and microphones but they were able to make the Phantom seem as though he filled the entire auditorium with every word he said.

The cast and crew of Severna Park took on the challenge of The Phantom and they succeeded. This story of sacrifice, struggle and love gave the audience chills and moved some to tears. Bravo!


by Marley Crank of Annapolis

--------------------------------------------------

The music of the night was flowing vibrantly at Severna Park High School as they put on their version of Andrew Lloyd Webber's famed musical "The Phantom of the Opera."

The musical deals with the struggles of a chorus girl named Christine. After an accident during rehearsal, the prima donna of the Paris Opera, Carlotta, refuses to perform and leaves that night's show without a lead. Christine sings for Messieurs Firmin and André, the opera house's owners, and she's given the lead in the night's performance. Raoul, an old childhood friend of hers, recognizes her and soon falls in love. This invites the ire of the Phantom, who also covets Christine. The relations between the Phantom, Raoul, Firmin, and André soon worsen and a power struggle occurs, not only for control of the opera but for control over Christine's fate.

Josh Mooney played the Phantom emotively and he clearly conveyed the Phantom's suffering and depression. Rachel Buxton delivered an entrancing performance as Carlotta, using her powerful voice to the best of her abilities. Her comedic abilities were used well and she was a joy to see on stage. Jenny Judd (Christine Daaé) showed great amount of vocal control as she hit the high notes demanded of her character and Henry Pazaryna's Raoul was fiery and brash. Their romance felt believable and their chemistry was clear.

Messieurs Firmin and André (Justin Binnix and Tommy Minter respectively) provided comic relief. They played off each other well and went about their roles in a lively way. Elizabeth Embser played Madame Giry, Firmin and André's dramatic foil, and did so with aplomb. Her French accent was well executed and it stayed consistent throughout the whole performance. The ballerinas had a large amount of stage presence and usually took up a large part of the stage.

An appropriate atmosphere was cultivated throughout the play. The student conducted orchestra did a fine job providing the musical background to the production. At times, members of the stage crew was noticeable and disrupted the flow. However, these occasions were rare and scene transitions were handled quickly and without much noise. The costumes were ornate and they worked together in harmony with the scenery to provide a consistent tone for each scene.

During certain scenes, the scenery was complex and filled up the stage: the Phantom's lair was dark, filled with various clashing trinkets to reflect the Phantom's tortured personality; the ball was crowded and used all of the ensemble to demonstrate the attention-seeking natures of Firmin, André, and the Phantom. In other scenes, the stage was almost bare, though the actors' grand performances more than compensated for the absence of scenery. The story was not contained solely to the stage, as the characters routinely walked through the audience, which always served to reengage the audience into the story.

Though there were a few missed notes strewn about, Severna Park's cast put a large amount of energy into the musical and it was clear while watching the production.

by Richard Cardozo-Martinez of Annapolis

--------------------------------------------------

It is very frightening to hear a voice come from many different places in an opera house. Severna Park High School was one of the few schools that were allowed to perform “The Phantom of the Opera.”

“The Phantom of the Opera” tells the story of an opera house’s phantom (Joshua Mooney) who is the vocal teacher of Christine Daae (Jenny Judd). Christine, however, does not know who teaches her because the Angel of Music only comes to her in her dreams. The Phantom is truly in love with Christine; however, Christine is in love with Raoul (Henry Pazaryna). The Phantom then sends notes containing instructions to the owners of the opera house and orders them to cast Christine as the lead instead of Carlotta Giudicelli (Rachel Buxton). Near the end, Christine faces the decision of singing the part so that the Phantom will be pleased or staying with her true love, Raoul.

Joshua Mooney, the Phantom, had a very wide and impressive range. He pushed himself and really brought forth a job well done. Christine, Jenny Judd, had a very impressive voice and character and showed much emotion. The way she held herself showed much talent and comfort with the stage. The connection between the two, when they first met, brought the audience to tears. The chemistry between Judd and Henry Pazaryna was also wonderful. Carlotta, Rachel Buxton, played her part very well. She gave off the right impression of ignorance and ego and kept the audience laughing.

Monsieur Firmin (Justin Binnix) and Monsieur Andre (Tommy Minter), the two opera house owners, sang and acted well together. Madame Giry, Elizabeth Embser, had a very believable French accent and held it throughout the show and even during her solos. Christine’s friend, Meg Giry (Meredith McBroom), was a wonderful dancer and supplied a voice to match. She performed a beautiful duet during one of the last few scenes and danced with much grace.

The stage crew, even though sometimes they were very visible, did a nice job of changing the sets. The curtains were closed during most of their set changes, but that gave the crew time and very little pressure to perform set changes. The costumes were wonderful and perfect for that setting.

Overall, Severna Park did a wonderful job with a very difficult show. The use of the audience and the interactions with the audience really added personality to the show, and was a nice rendition of “The Phantom of the Opera.”

by Rebecca Hefter of Beth Tfiloh

--------------------------------------------------

Open to an auction, items being sold left and right. The bidder delivers a story to every item, making them appeal to the importance of ownership. The final item to be sold was a glass chandelier that hung in the old opera house. The bidder connects this chandelier to the tale of the Phantom of the Opera, and as the dealer demonstrates the new wiring in the chandelier, time rolls back to 1881. This began Severna Park High School’s musical “The Phantom of the Opera.”

“The Phantom of the Opera,” being the longest running show in Broadway history, was based on the novel “Le Fantôme de L’Opéra” by Gaston Leroux. Christine (played by Jenny Judd) shows off her beautiful singing and everyone is in awe. When confronted about her new-found singing ability, Christine explains that the Angel of Music had been helping her, although she’s never seen this Angel of Music. After agreeing to go to dinner with Raoul (played by Henry Pazaryna), Christine is confronted by her Angel of Music, the Phantom (played by Joshua Mooney) that wears a mask covering a part of his face, behind the mirror. He then takes her from the opera house down into his lair where he puts her in a sort of trance. The next day after she returns to the opera house, everyone is receiving notes as to how the Phantom wants things to run in “his” opera house. However, when things don’t play out the way the Phantom wanted them to, he resorts to acts of murder. After catching Christine and
  Raoul confessing their love for one-another, the Phantom swears he shall get revenge.

Severna Park’s version of “The Phantom of the Opera” was, in all, a success. I’ve never seen a high school give so much towards one musical production.  All soloists kept in key and really tried their hardest to make the music enjoyable. The ensembles were well put together and all participants were in unison with one another.

All leads were magnificent. The Phantom, Christine, Carlotta, and Raoul all gave it their all. The opera singing was that of professionals, hitting all the notes, no matter how challenging. Not only did the Phantom sing outstandingly, but the acting was well believable. You could see how he strived for Christine’s heart.

Meg (played by Meredith McBroom) was among the many Supporting Actors that helped move the story along. She danced with poise and beauty, as well as sang with grace. She was among the most characterized few. The comedic relief was held by the owners of the opera house, André and Fermin (Tommy Minter and Justin Binnix), and also by Carlotta (Rachel Buxton) at times.

The tech was an overall success as well. The elaborate sets told you how much effort they put in. Although the spotlights were a little bit shaky at times, the lighting times were spot on. And while there were some mic mishaps, all singing was able to be heard in the audience. The special effects like the fireball streamers and the boat scene were spot on.

For a high school production, Severna Park’s “The Phantom of the Opera” was phenomenal. All the songs and choreography were elaborate and very close to accurate. I would definitely advise people to go see it while it’s still around!


by Adam Kelley of Broadneck High School

--------------------------------------------------

Putting on a production that has been running for twenty four years is a challenging venture. But when “The Phantom of the Opera” is was met with enthusiasm, talented vocalists, and a strong ensemble cast, it became a smooth and impressive production.

After being feared for his entire life due to a physical disfigurement, the Phantom of the Paris Opera House haunts the productions and the people of the theatre. After falling in love with a talented young ballerina, Christine Daae, the Phantom manipulates the performers and owners in the theatre until Christine is put at the forefront of the productions. The Phantom dedicates his time to wooing Christine away from her lover, Raoul, until he can capture her for his own.

The massive production necessary for “The Phantom of the Opera” was handled very well by Severna Park High School’s Stage Company. Rather than planting every number directly on the stage, actors spilled off into the audience, with a group of statues placed strategically through the aisles and the booths of the Opera House anchored on either side of the stage. The strong ensemble cast, including a set of ballerinas, helped to unify the production.

The iconic Phantom, portrayed by Joshua Mooney, was mesmerizing. The range of the Phantom’s voice never faltered and his songs soared through the auditorium with ease and strong characterization. Jenny Judd portrayed Christine with believable sweetness and innocence, something very necessary for the character.

Rachel Buxton, who portrayed Carlotta, the prime singer of the Opera House, had a very strong voice and moved through the production with constant poise and a convincing accent. Madame Giry was portrayed by Elizabeth Embser, who made a supporting role very memorable by having impressive range of emotion along with voice.

The ensemble pieces, such as the masquerade, were well choreographed and had magnificent costuming. Every person, ensemble or lead, was decked out head to toe in clothing convincing for the time period. The set used for the Phantom’s underground lair was spectacular. Though there were many sets involved in the performance, and some less professional than others, the sparkling candles and elaborate dividers made this element of the set make up for other scenes.

Fulfilling the challenges of a well known production was accomplished at Severna Park High School. The high points of the production were incredible to the audience that granted a standing ovation. Expanding from a simple stage production, Severna Park Stage Company stepped out into the audience and presented an intense and compelling rendition.


by Hannah Sturm of Broadneck High School

--------------------------------------------------

Mystery surrounds Lot 666, a chandelier newly restored after it was broken many years ago in the Paris Opera House. Raoul, a man in a wheelchair, shutters at the sight of it, and begins to recall his past that was haunted by that very chandelier. The chandelier rises and the audience is taken back in time as the longest running musical on Broadway, “The Phantom of the Opera,” commences.

Severna Park High School’s auditorium was transformed into the Paris Opera House as the audience was introduced to the theater managers, Monsieur Andre (Tommy Minter) and Monsieur Firmin (Justin Binnix). A pretentious opera singer Carlotta (Rachel Buxton) dazzles the managers with her powerful voice, until she is startled by a thunderous noise. Many events later ensue that are able to reconnect the auction and Raoul’s flashback.

Severna Park’s production of the show was driven by the chemistry shared by the entire cast, clearly visible as they sing and dance with comfort and ease. The ability to be able to mesh together as a cohesive unit is a hard one to master, but it is essential to this musical and Severna Park performed it admirably. It was difficult not to get caught up in the excitement and enthusiasm displayed by the performers.

The essential role in this musical is, as the title says, the Phantom. The Phantom (Joshua Mooney) had a very flexible range in his voice as he sang each song with grace and tune, a talent not seen in many high school singers. Mooney’s performance left the audience begging for more as he would command the stage whenever he was on it, and was one of, if not the most impressive singer in the cast. The Phantom is the centerpiece of this musical, and Mooney asserted the character enough for the audience to know it, without seeming overbearing.

The Phantom is not the only character worthy of praise however, as the rest of the cast performed as skillful as well. Raoul (Henry Pazaryna) did an awesome job, as well as Christine (Jenny Judd). They both displayed poise with their characters, and each excelled in their songs. Carlotta (Rachel Buxton) was a memorable performance as her opera singing left everyone with their mouths open, and her pretentious attitude and French accent left everyone laughing.

Tech Crew is very important to this musical as there are many pivotal parts to the play (which I’m not spoiling) that require good tech work. Overall, tech did a nice job on those said parts, but at times they were on stage for too long when removing pieces of the set.

The Angel of Music creates polished renditions of those classical musical songs at Severna Park, and it shows just why “The Phantom of the Opera,” is the longest running Broadway show. It truly is a spectacle, and I recommend that everyone close by should see it.


by Jose Molina of Broadneck High School

--------------------------------------------------

Severna Park High School’s production of “Phantom of the Opera” really got “inside the mind” of its audience. As one of the first high schools given rights to this production, Severna Park was successful in creating a captivating and magical show.

“Phantom of the Opera” tells the story of a man living beneath the opera house who has developed a love and obsession for a young singer, Christine. The phantom takes over the opera house with a series of threats and commands, forcing his way into the other characters’ lives.

Severna Park’s production featured a cast of very strong vocal performers. This along with the set and lighting effects worked together and created an overall successful show. The leads stole the show with their very strong performances.

Jenny Judd, who played the role of Christine, consistently impressed the audience with both her voice and her emotion. She hit most (if not all) of the very challenging notes required for her character, and was overall very nice to listen to and watch. She also had great chemistry with Raoul (played by Henry Pazaryna), especially in the song “All I Ask of You.” Pazaryna also had a very impressive singing voice and was great to listen to throughout his performance. The Phantom, played by Joshua Mooney, was both powerful and emotional. Mooney’s portrayal of the Phantom conveyed the complex emotions and feeling of the character very successfully.

A character that stood out throughout the show was Madam Giry, played by Meredith McBroom. She added something special to the show with her interesting characterization and both her singing voice and her accent. A duo that had the audience laughing almost every time they were onstage was Monsieur Firmin and Monsieur Andre (played by Justin Binnix and Tommy Minter). They were a great team and had a very memorable performance.

The set for “Phantom of the Opera” involved many moving pieces to account for the many locations included in the show. While the stage crew could be seen for sometimes extended periods of time, they did a great job setting up the new locations and completely changing the look and feel of the stage. The lighting added to the effect of all the different scenes, especially in the Phantom’s lair with all the candles. The scene with the boat during “Phantom of the Opera” was handled in a very clever way and looked like an actual boat moving across water.

The strength of the vocals of this group of high school students made the show a success. This along with the work of the stage crew and ensemble created an enjoyable experience that anyone would want to see again.


by Katie Caro of Broadneck High School

--------------------------------------------------

The sounds of the Phantom’s organ were heard throughout the halls of Severna Park High School. “The Phantom of the Opera” is a classic musical about the terrifying Phantom that haunts the Opera house to get his “Angel of Music.” It’s a mysterious musical that leaves the audience in suspense throughout the entire production.

The Opera House has been dominated by the powerful, yet cocky, Carlotta Guidicelli who has been the star in almost every production. They need a new star and look to Christine Daaé, the chorus girl, to take her part. She has a brilliant performance and the Phantom believes she is his “angel of music.” He takes control over the entire Opera House and all must follow his instructions. Christine is left to make the decision between her love, Raoul or the “Opera Ghost.” Who will she choose?

The mystery and suspense comes from the music which is extremely vocally demanding. Severna Park supplied the talent necessary to create this mystery. The entire cast was well-suited for their parts and it truly transformed the writing on a page into a stage spectacle. The lights, set, and orchestra supported the actors on stage to give the entire mysterious affect of the old Opera House.

Within the Opera House, a few characters were crucial to the plot development and overall story of the show. Rachel Buxton, who played Carlotta Guidicelli, had incredible vocal technique that is required of that part. Her vocal talent was met with Jenny Judd as Christine, Joshua Mooney as The Phantom, and Henry Pazaryna as Raoul. Their acting came through when they sang, which produced distinct characters that held the plot together.

Supporting the four leads was the ensemble. When watching the ensemble, each of them had their own character and was reacting to the scene happening right in front of them. They were very entertaining to watch but at times it was distracting from the main dialogue in the scene. Within the ensemble were certain supporting actors whose parts were distinctly pronounced to the audience. Elizabeth Embser, who played Madame Giry, has incredible vocals and a French accent that made you believe it was her first language. Along with her was the hilarious pair, Monsieur Firmin and Monsieur Andre, played by Justin Binnix and Tommy Minter. The two lightened the mood on the audience and were overall very memorable characters.

In order to complete the affect of the show, the set, sound, and lighting were all very realistic and appealing to the eye. The creativity behind the boat was impressive and left the audience thinking about how it worked. The costumes were very realistic and emphasized the professional quality of the show.

The audience was left on the edge of their seat the entire show, experiencing a range of reactions including goose bumps from the vocals and heart leaps from the special effects. Severna Park performance left a lasting impression on every member of the audience.


by Brady Stevens of Catonsville High School

--------------------------------------------------

Being one of the longest running Broadway shows in history, a well known film, and the widest known cultural representation for the art of musical theatre, “The Phantom of The Opera” has become a musical theatre phenomenon and hardly any high school would think to undertake the challenging music, extensive set, and technical challenges associated with the show-but Severna Park High School did just that.

The classic musical depicts the challenges and dramatic consequences of a Paris theatre subjected the twisted games and orders of a man hiding in the shadows and unseen labyrinth beneath the theatre. He finds interest in Christine Daaé, helping her become the Opera’s new leading lady, after having been only a chorus girl. Carlotta, the previous headliner, is outraged by Christine’s rise to fame whilst the theatre owners try to decide how to handle both Carlotta and the fact they are being given orders by a “Phantom” who will quickly cause catastrophes if his orders are not obeyed. Meanwhile the Phantom is livid at the blooming romance between Christine and her boyhood friend, Raoul.

The two female leads of the show wowed the audience with incredible vocal endurance, range, and acting abilities. Rachel Buxton, who played Carlotta, managed to successfully combine comedic timing with impressive singing, all while exhibiting a very convincing french accent. Her enunciation was particularly well exhibited, especially given the operatic ballads she was required to sing throughout. Her technical skill as a vocalist was complimented by her acting talents. Playing the diva of the Paris theatre, Rachel Buxton made Carlotta both dislikeable, but also comical. Her performance was well received by the audience and seemingly effortless.

Jenny Judd, who played Christine Daaé, met the overwhelming musical challenges of Webber’s music with grace and poise. Throughout the entire show her vocal performance was consistent and strong. In all her of songs her tone and characterization were clear. Her acting skills were distinctly exhibited in the scene in which she is singing with the Phantom in his musical, “Don Juan.” Here Judd convincingly plays both the role in the Phantom’s musical, while expressing the characters anxiety and fear in the presence of the Phantom. Judd handled the complex role of Christine very well, with an incredible and noticeable sense of focus and control, especially for a high school Junior. 
 
Led by the two vocal powerhouses, the show exceeded any expectations of a high school production of Phantom. Both women provided solid performances and contributed to a great show. The show provided an impressive performance of the most well known musicals in arts community.


by Laura Bruns of Catonsville High School

--------------------------------------------------

Christine is a young dancer in a popular Parisian opera house with an unknown standout voice.  She begins taking lessons from a mysterious master and soon finds herself the house’s new star, much to the surprise of all.  Soon her master seduces her into his darkness.  When she leaves him, the phantom teacher’s infatuation grows, and takes revenge on the theater, even going to murder.  Eventually, Christine must choose between the Phantom who has brought her so much fame and her mortal love.  At Severna Park, the result was a vocally-charged crowd-pleasing production of “The Phantom of the Opera.”

Overall, the show was a spectacle.  Clever sets and knockout costumes true to 19th-century France were the perfect backdrop to the talent.  Some of the singing abilities are honest-to-God incredible at Severna Park.  Graduates this year may be some to watch on the music scene beyond high school.

It was clear that every actor in a lead role undoubtedly deserved their part.  Jenny Judd, as Christine (in her junior year!), had a fresh voice that carried her many operatic ballads beautifully.  Vocally, she was the perfect female romantic lead.  Rachel Buxton, playing Carlotta, the house’s former star, had a technical approach to opera that had obviously been studied for years.  Her Italian accent and exaggerated hand gestures only emphasized her truly phenomenal voice and enhanced her character’s comedy.  The Phantom himself, played by Joshua Mooney, managed to sound much older than his actor’s true age.  Henry Pazaryna was a highlight of the cast as Christine’s love Raoul.  Notably in “All I Ask of You,” he convincingly played a dapper lad in love.

Severna Park’s orchestra started out superior for this level.  The chorus came off strong and even a little threatening as an angry mob seeking out the murderous Phantom.  Elizabeth Embser as dance teacher Madame Giry was the epitome of a well-acted supporting role.  She was great matron to the opera house, both loving and harsh, with a spot-on French accent.  Her singing in Act II came as a very pleasant surprise.  Her daughter Meg, played by Meredith McBroom, danced with the grace and poise that she ought to.  The ballerinas were completely captivating, at times distracting, to the eye.
 
Sound was troubling in spots, but that is nothing unexpected.  Sets, particularly the Phantom’s boat and lair, were fantasy thrust onto a stage.  Lighting had its ups and downs, but the touches of red light were great in scenes with a flair for the dramatic.  At times, there was smoke lapping mysteriously at the edge of the stage.  Generally, tech brought out the best in the show’s dark themes.

In the end, “Phantom” made its audience very, very happy.  Their standing ovation, quite deserved, is a testament to that.


by Meg Cavanagh of Catonsville High School

--------------------------------------------------

Lurking below the successful Paris Opera is a mysterious masked man who spends his time teaching choir girls how to sing, seducing them into the depths of his lair, and murdering anyone who threatens his plans for “his opera house.”

“The Phantom of the Opera” tells the story of Christine Daae, a young choir girl who rises to fame thanks to the teachings of her Angel of Music, a mysterious man she has never seen, but who she thinks was sent by her late father. The Phantom is a disfigured genius who has become obsessed with Christine because of her beautiful, emotional voice. However, Christine does not return his affections-- she has recently been reunited with a childhood friend, Raoul, and the two have fallen in love. The musical chronicles the growing tensions within the theater and the love triangle between Christine, Raoul, and the Phantom.

Severna Park High School, one of the first high schools to produce the Broadway mainstay, was able to pull of the show impressively, with strong vocals, magnificent costumes, and a multitalented cast. 

The show was anchored by the beautiful voices of the female leads--Christine (Jenny Judd) and Carlotta (Rachel Buxton).  The two actresses had very different voices, but both of them preformed their parts excellently. Jenny Judd was able to portray the wide range of emotions that Christine experiences throughout the show--in every number she created chemistry with the other actors and entranced the audience. Rachel Buxton played her part with perfect technique--she had incredible, consistent control of her voice throughout every scene and completed her character with an excellent French accent.  The male leads, the Phantom of the Opera (Joshua Mooney) and Raoul (Henry Pazaryna), complemented the girls with strong acting skills and impressive voice acting abilities.

The four leads were supported by a strong cast of supporting characters, including the Meg Giry (Meredith McBroom) and Madame Giry (Elizabeth Embser). Elizabeth Embser played the controlling dance teacher with surprising emotional variety and a perfect French accent, and Meredith McBroom gave the uninspiring role of Meg a genuine and interesting character. McBroom was also a member of the very talented ballet ensemble. The group of seven graceful girls were able to bring lightness and beauty to even the most dark and intense scenes of the shows.

The excellent actors and dancers were highlighted by beautiful costumes, collected and organized by Ali Duca, that were both time appropriate and extremely detailed. Each character underwent a number of costume changes that showed the passage of time and changes in character. Perhaps the most impressive scene, costume-wise, was the masquerade ball, where each cast member had an elaborate mask and a beautiful dress (or suit).

Severna Park High School Stage Company created an impressive and beautiful production that showed off the voices, dancing abilities, and acting skills of all of their actors. When the audience left the theater, they were fully entranced by the music of the night.



by Sophie Adams of Catonsville High School

--------------------------------------------------

Throw together a beautiful young singer, a handsome viscount, a prima donna, a faithful dancer, stressed managers, a scarred man and a ballet teacher with a secret and you’ve got “The Phantom of the Opera.”

“The Phantom of the Opera” is a story of first love, unrequited love, and opera. A mysterious man haunts an opera house and leaves notes for the managers, most notes describing a beautiful, shy background dancer named Christine (Jenny Judd). The man has been training Christine to sing and has fallen in love with her; however Christine is in love with childhood friend Raoul (Henry Pazaryna).

Severna Park’s production of “The Phantom of the Opera” was executed well for a high school production of such a high profile and complicated play. There was occasionally confusion of plotline, but all three leads delivered wonderfully. All songs and lines were enunciated well.

Jenny Judd played Christine, the young heroine, beautifully. Her strong voice was especially clear in “Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again.” Joshua Mooney delivered as the Phantom, displaying both his emotional depth and singing range in various numbers such as “The Music of the Night.”

Henry Pazaryna brought character and charm to an otherwise bland Raoul. His melodic voice stood its own and when partnered with Jenny Judd, their voices soared together—good chemistry especially in “All I Ask of You.”

With impressive posture and graceful dancing, Meredith McBroom was amazing as Meg. Elizabeth Embser shone and commanded the stage as Madame Giry. The entire ensemble could was especially enthusiastic during “Track down this murderer.”

The costumes for the production were intricate and true to the time period. The masks during the masquerade were beautiful and sparkly. The set was not intricate but still worked well for the show.

“The Phantom of the Opera” is a difficult show for a high school to tackle, but Severna Park did a fine job.


by Alexandra Duncan of Glenelg Country

--------------------------------------------------

Have you ever been to a haunted opera house? Well that is where Severna Park’s production of “The Phantom of the Opera” took the audience. The production is about a man who “haunts” the opera house in pursuit of a love interest. The production takes the audience to the opera theatre and the underground hidden lair where the phantom lives.

“The Phantom of the Opera” was originally written by Andrew Lloyd Webber, who also wrote the music for it. The musical has been shown on Broadway for many years and still is currently today, and has become widely popular. The play focuses on troubled man who becomes the Phantom of the Opera (Joshua Mooney), and his competition with Raoul (Henry Pazaryna) over who will receive the love of the beautifully, talented singer Christine (Jenny Judd). The Phantom takes Christine on an adventure to a world one never would have imagined.

The whole cast did a wonderful job. They had amazing singers that fit their roles perfectly. They were able to capture each character’s emotions and their voices. The costumes for the most part fit the time period that the musical was suppose to be in. The musical had some aspects that really stood out like the boat that the Phantom and Christine took to his lair. The cast had great dancers and singers throughout the performance. The musical as a whole was filled with amazingly talented singers and well performed songs.

There were three main leads in this musical. First there was the Phantom. This actor had a wonderful and powerful voice. He really brought out the character with his shifting emotions and the phantom’s pain that was hidden inside him. Next there was Christine. No matter who she sang with the number was beautiful because she had an amazing voice. She hit a lot of the really high notes and kept her own against the powerful voice of the Phantom. Whenever they sung together their voices meshed together to make their pieces magnificent. Finally there was Raoul. Raoul also had an amazing voice. He harmonized perfectly with Christine in “All I Ask of You.”

The main supporting actors and actresses were the managers, André (Tommy Minter) and Firmin (Justin Binnix), Madame Giry (Elizabeth Embser), and Carlotta (Rachel Buxton). André and Firmin were the most comedic in the performance because they let their emotions really show in their characters. When they were scared or frustrated it really showed in the way they acted. Madame Giry was the ballet teacher who knew more about the Phantom then she let on. She was really intense when she was on stage or talking about the Phantom. Finally there was Carlotta, the diva of the opera house. She had a voice like no other. She was able to really belt out her voice; she has an amazing voice that really made her stand apart from the other cast members.

The costumes were also really good. They all fit each character and the time period the musical was to take place. The lighting was well done because the lights reflected each of the moods that each scene set. When there was anger there was red, when sorrow there was blue, and happiness the lights were white. There were a few props that stood out, but mainly the boat that was used to transport Christine and the Phantom stood out the most. The boat was really creative and made the musical unique.

“The Phantom of the Opera” was really well done with a really talented cast. They left the audience in awe because of some of the character’s wonderful voices. Severna Park put in a lot of effort into their showed and it really showed in their production.


by Jessica Wooleyhand of Glenelg Country

--------------------------------------------------

Imagine being the love interest and obsession of a mysterious man in a mask.  Now imagine him blackmailing you into a commitment with him. Severna Park High School examined this unfortunate situation of Christine Daaé in their performance of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s “The Phantom of the Opera.”

The musical follows Christine Daaé, a backup dancer at the Paris Opera House; Christine is chosen to replace the lead singer, having been given anonymous voice lessons by her “angel of music” who is really a disfigured man living in the opera house who calls himself the Phantom. When the Phantom becomes jealous of her fiancée Raoul, it seems Christine must ultimately live a life of unhappiness, either with the Phantom or without Raoul.

Severna Park’s rendition was carried by the supporting actors of the musical. In particular, the duo of Monsieur André and Monsieur Firmin, managers of the Opera House, provided the audience with comic relief from the dark, haunting storyline. Despite some prop difficulties, the two actors successfully improvised and maintained their composure.

In her portrayal of Christine, Jenny Judd chose to focus more on surveying the audience while singing than creating a connection with her fellow cast members. Though she could have focused more on her acting, Judd demonstrated her wide vocal range as her clear, soaring voice filled the auditorium, particularly in her flawless delivery of the duet “All I Ask of You.”

The obnoxious character of Carlotta, former lead opera singer and competition to Christine, was expertly portrayed by Rachel Buxton. Even when purposefully singing off-key and with a spot-on Italian accent, Buxton illustrated her stunning vibrato and range. The ensembles as well demonstrated their vocal talents, although overcoming a few sound difficulties.

The set, in a sort of elegant simplicity, left many aspects of the scene implied; for example, the managers’ office consisted of merely a desk and image of a bookcase. Rather than having various detailed sets, Severna Park utilized the same set throughout the musical with a few minor differences, creating smooth transitions between scenes. In a unique interpretation of Christine’s first venture into the Phantom’s home, the school used the whole auditorium, cast members dressed as statues, and a rolling boat to illustrate her journey.

The cast pressed on through microphone difficulties, a somewhat overpowering orchestra, and unexpected set glitches to deliver a stable and enjoyable show. Ultimately, it was the show’s comedic instances and occasional powerful moments that kept the audience in their seats until the curtain call.


by Tara Hutchinson of Glenelg Country

--------------------------------------------------

Transport yourself to the Paris Opera of the 1880’s in Severna Park High School’s performance of “Phantom of the Opera” as you experience the thrills of romance, mystery,and passion.

Placed as the leading soprano of the opera after the resident soprano prima donna refuses to perform, Christine Daae quickly gains the attention of the feared Phantom of the opera. Believing the rumored Phantom to be her “angel of music,” Christine is lured into his lair, where she discovers the musical and technical genius he holds. The Phantom seeks to make Christine the opera’s permanent star, but when the owners do not comply with his demands, the Phantom’s might is released upon the opera house.

Taking on the challenge of Andrew Lloyd Weber’s production, Severna Park’s cast artfully portrayed their characters. The cast was able to keep the performance unique and fresh, while still embodying the script’s original intentions. Thought was put into every line and movement, as expressed by the success of the show.

A dark and mysterious Phantom was played by Joshua Mooney, whose powerful voice brought vivid emotion to his character. Jenny Judd played Christine Daae, wowing the audience with the strength and versatility of her beautiful voice. Playing Raoul was Henry Pazaryna, who hushed the audience with his strong vocals. An impressive Carlotta played by Rachel Buxton commanded attention with her operatic voice and comical acting, showing her vocal prowess in “Prima Donna.”

As Christine’s friend Meg, Meredith McBroom’s graceful dancing and soft voice brought depth and emotion to her character. Elizabeth Embser’s extraordinary French accent as Madame Giry added to her masterful characterization, capturing the attention of the audience, despite her role not being especially vocal. A whimsical team of Tommy Minter and Justin Minnix played the roles of Andre and Firmin respectively, working off of one another to form a hilarious comedic team.

Costumes for the show were stunning, featuring a diversity of colors and fabrics. Most notable were the costumes and props of “Masquerade,” which included extravagant gowns and suits -- no two were the same. Each costume was unique in its own way, artfully made and designed.

Successful in their performance, Severna Park’s passionate and effective cast managed to capture the magic that is “The Phantom of the Opera,” stunning the audience with their attempt at Weber’s difficult score.


by Hudson Imhoff of Hereford High School

--------------------------------------------------

A phantom weaves a mesmerizing story throughout Severna Park’s production of “The Phantom of the Opera” to captivate the audience. Originally published as a novel by Gaston Leroux, “The Phantom of the Opera” was later transformed into the longest running production on Broadway by Andrew Lloyd Webber.

Tracing the story of a young prodigy’s conflict between the enchanting and dark Phantom (Joshua Mooney) and her childhood friend, the rich Vicomte de Chagny, Raoul, (Henry Pazaryna), Webber’s music transports the audience back into the France of the late nineteenth century. Rife with poignant characterizations, like the haughty Carlotta (Rachel Buxton) and stern Madame Giry (Elizabeth Embser), the show comes alive with the music of the night.

Gripping emotional intensity emphasized the mental agony of Christine (Jenny Judd) – to choose her noble rich suitor or let her sympathies overcome her aversion to the disfigured and murderous Phantom. Each actor was fully in character, never once breaking, despite minor costume or facial hair mishaps.

Rachel Buxton’s portrayal of Carlotta receives tremendous accolades for her ability to sing the operatic, vibrato-filled, and mature part with an accent and an exaggeration of face and motion well-befitting her character. Her haughty mien was carried off excellently in such moments as calling Christine a toad during “Il Muto” in Act One and storming out after “Notes” in Act Two.  Jenny Judd likewise astonished the audience with her ability to hit the high notes in “Think of Me” demanded of Christine’s character. In addition, “Angel of Music” was sung so purely and gracefully that one could easily have believed an angel had inspired it.

A bright spot on the stage for comedic timing, facial expressions, and energy was Monsieur André (Tommy Minter). He brought relief to tense scenes, such as when the Phantom invaded the opera house’s masquerade to deliver a musical score. André hid behind ensemble members, only dashing out once to covertly grab the score before tremulously returning to shelter.

The unity yet individuality of the principal characters were evident in “Notes” as each character sang the same words in unique ways – Carlotta with arms poised and voice rich with vibrato, Messieurs Firmin (Justin Binnix) and André harmonizing in relief, Christine tense with anxiety, Raoul with a comforting look towards Christine, and Meg Giry’s (Meredith McBroom) face full of wonder.

Vibrant and shimmering costumes lit up the stage with life and energy. Evident especially during “Masquerade,” the color match between characters, such as Christine in a gold dress and Raoul with a gold sash around his waist, allowed relationships to be displayed through apparel. The glittering and wildly varied masks were fascinating, from one fluffed out with feathers like a black mane to the subtlety of plainer, glitter-edged masks.

Carried by music and vocals, “The Phantom of the Opera” by Severna Park was well done, especially with the pressure of producing a hit Broadway production. By the end, the audience was fully drawn into the music of the night.


by Jessica Kim of Hereford High School

--------------------------------------------------

The organ blares through you; your bones shake with every note turning your senses away from your body and into the opera's cold hands. The actor's are all in place ready for another production but a fear haunts them; a misty fog that constantly nags their mind's like the bogeyman taunts a child. It is not a fear that haunts them but a man known only as the opera ghost. A ghost has come to Severna Park’s high school in their production of “The Phantom of the Opera.”

Broadway's longest running show has now come to high school and still upholds its phenomenal reputation as being one of the greatest pieces of entertainment. “The Phantom of the Opera” is a thrilling musical composed by Andrew Lloyd Webber that portrays the classic conflict love triangle. A young woman, Christine Daae a simple ensemble member working in a local opera house has a secret tutor; a crazed genius who is known for always wearing a mask hiding his face. He is called the opera ghost. The beautiful Christine during a performance finds a long lost friend from childhood, Raoul. As the young and innocent often do, they fall in love but the opera ghost is a jealous master and wants Daae for himself. The opera ghost terrorizes the theater for his bidding but his love for Christine is not so easily obtainable.

Severna Park high school took a huge risk by choosing a musical that has been done by professionals on Broadway since before I could remember. The amount of talent needed to perform this show is immense but well met by Severna Park's theatre program. The vocals alone were enough to blow the crowd's away. There was a constant level of fear in the auditorium every time the phantom(Joshua Mooney) was onstage or even mentioned and his performance especially vocals really carried the show to astounding heights rarely met by high school.

Mooney's version of the phantom incorporated a very frightening and crazed aspect to the musical. His voice boomed across the stage and gave a wave of fear that was shown through everyone's face both actor and audience. Christine Daae (Jenny Judd) had great chemistry with the phantom, in love and fear. Mooney's voice seemed to light the energy with a crazed rage and Judd cooled it with her sweet voice calming the phantom's spirit. The two characters were exceptionally performed and worked well off of each other and in every scene it seemed as if their souls were connected.

The connection between Raoul (Henry Pazaryna) and Judd was very naive and innocent and showed greatly in “All I Ask of You” which is cute as young couples tend to be but I found an excess of hugging rather than kissing to be unrealistic. Raoul's companions Monsieur Firmin (Justin Binnix) and Monsieur Andre (Tommy Minter) were a fantastic pair, playing off of each other flawlessly. Binnix and Minter despite a minor mustache massacre held the play in a playful manner and kept the comedy coming which is difficult in a show like this where death and heartbreak are always right around the corner in this local opera house. Carlotta (Rachel Buxton), diva and lead soprano in the opera house brought a level of playfulness that relaxed the audience and made the dramatic and more devious scene so much more terrifying. Her rendition of “Think of Me” was amazing almost too amazing.

To jump right into it the lighting showed the mood in each scene greatly and many of the effects in Mooney's scenes “wow”-ed the audience such as the rhythmic dimming of the lights when the Phantom spoke from the shadows. Though in respects to the lighting there were a couple basic techniques and etiquette lost such as lights that bleed onto the ceiling or proscenium arch, and other lights that needed to be blurred as to not leave a noticeable circle of light. The tech overall was incredible, the stage crew for instance were at some transitions completely silent, but others there were some noise heard. The crew walked with a calm confidence and showed great professionalism though the jeans did distract the audience a bit more than if they had instead worn all black.

The show overall had many moments that brought chills to the spine and is not for the weak of heart. “The Phantom of the Opera” is one of the most difficult plays to produce and demands a lot from its cast. Severna Park did an incredible job and really stepped up to the challenge and took it on head first. The cast did an amazing job and kept the audience at the edge of their seats but illusion is a key part of Phantom and many times the movement or touching of the curtain took the audience out of the illusion, yet shortly after they'd be brought back in. I still have the image in my head of the mask seemingly floating in air, alone calling out to the world for compassion.


by Alex Readmond of Liberty High School

--------------------------------------------------

“The Phantom of the Opera” is in your mind and on the stage at Severna Park High School! This famous Broadway musical tells the tale of a distorted circus run a way, trying to win the love of an up and coming theatre star named Christine, who has battles of her own. When the lead in her show drops out, and Christine is forced into the spotlight, she wins the attention of a long lost friend, and her angel of music, the Phantom. Then the Phantom’s demands conflict with the new owners of the theatre’s plans, and when they don’t comply? All hell breaks loose!
       
As the story progresses, Christine is challenged with deciding whether the Phantom is the angel of music that her father was supposed to send her, or something evil and blood thirsty. Along with the fact that her fiancé Raoul will not believe that the Phantom of the Opera exists. The Phantom reveals himself at the extravagant masquerade, and is immediately despised by the public. Christine is the only one who sees good in him, which is why the Phantom takes her for his own.
       
The Severna Park stage company took on a big endeavor by being some of the first people to perform “Phantom of the Opera” off Broadway. As the lights dimmed, and the orchestra began to hum, and the mystical mood was set. The first singer to be heard was Carlotta, the prima donna of the show, performing her rendition of “Think of Me.” After Carlotta throws a hissy, and Christine and Raoul continue on with the song, they set the bar for vocals. The vocals overall from the leads was very impressive for high school students, and that really anchored the show for me. This of course is important to any production. The energy was lagging at some points in the show, and it gave the show a slow pace. As well as some simple choreography, that didn’t quite impress me. However, their set design for the Phantom’s lair gave a really good mood to the eeriness of the plot.
       
The first of the leads to make an appearance is Carlotta who was performed by Rachel Buxton. I thought her operatic voice was well beyond her years, and her comedic timing plus her accent gave her a memorable character. Next would be Henry Pazaryna, who played Raoul. The hopeless romantic of the show cast an impressive shadow with his acting and vocal skills, which made him a very impressive lead. Next would be the leading lady Christine, played by Jenny Judd. Jenny was a beautiful, sensitive character, who had a gentle and pleasant voice, which was a joy to listen to throughout the show. And lastly, our title man was none other than “The Phantom of the Opera”. One of the more impressive actors I’ve seen, Joshua Mooney was more than perfect for the challenge of the Phantom. He sung beautifully despite some tiredness, and he played a crazed and depressed man so wonderfully, I got chills.
       
There were lots of minor roles throughout the production, but there were four main people supporting the cast. The first would be the daughter of the Ballerina coach, Meg Giry, played by Meredith McBroom. Her character seemed sweet and like a good friend to Christine, not to mention her wonderful dance skills! I thought her voice wasn’t very powerful, but she had a flawless dance solo. The next supporting lead would be the Ballet teacher herself, Madame Giry. Her clever speech, and funny, yet serious character was a perfect fit for Elizabeth Embser. There were two owners of the Paris Theatre named Monsieur Firmin and Monsieur Andre, or Justin Binnix and Tommy Minter. Together they were the comedic relief to the show, and the headstrong business men who had no real respect for the art, but for the money. Andre at times had a bit more comedic timing than Firmin, but they still made a wonderful duo with average vocals. There were few ensembles in this show, but when they were us
 ed, they felt out of place and unenergetic. The angry mob at the end and the ballerina’s were the only few good parts regarding the ensemble. 
       
My overall experience with the show was relatively good. It was a bit above average for a high school production and did justice to this classic tale. The singing in this show was fantastic by itself, and the acting was spine-tingling. I had a great time watching this classic tale, and commend Severna Park for a job well done.


by Aly Julian of Liberty High School

--------------------------------------------------

Commotion, the sound of shattered glass and then; Silence. This One of the most dramatic scenes in “The Phantom of the Opera” performed by Severna Park High School. This being one of the first high schools to perform this show makes for a fairly successful and entertaining test drive.

“The Phantom of the Opera” is a classic when it comes to Broadway, set at the Paris Opera House in the late 1800’s the story if timeless. The plot starts with there being a superstition of a Phantom in the opera house, and with him there he causes all kinds of chaos. The main conflict is him putting the main character, Christine, under a trance to fall in love with him and for her to sing music to him. When his plan doesn’t go as planned he rebels killing people and causing all kinds of havoc. The climax of the show is when the chandelier during one of the performances falls on stage, that’s when the phantom makes sure everyone is aware of his presence.
 
This show was a lot to take on for a high school theatre production, but considering that they did a fairly good job. The lead characters definitely had the most energy but also seemed to be the ones carrying the show. The dancing was nicely done and put well together but the ensemble were the ones really bringing down the show with their lack of energy and attentiveness. With the technical aspects, they were very minimal, from the lights to the set nothing stood out to me personally so I’d rate it average for high school theatre from a technical point of view.

The leads I felt really made this show worth seeing, from their wonderful voices to the characterization it was just very nicely done. Two leads stood out to me the most and that was The Phantom and Carlotta. Carlotta had a beautiful voice, she characterized it to be a little more obnoxious than her usual but her technique was flawless. And for her acting, she was always reacting to what was going on and had the most amusing character out of the whole show. As for the Phantom, I personally feel that he did not have the strongest vocals out of the show but he made up for that with his character, even when he was singing I could feel all of his emotion just by the way he was saying his words; and he was by far one of the most talented high school actors I have ever seen.

In this production of “The Phantom of the Opera” there were many of the smaller actors that possibly grabbed my attention more than some of the leads. For example Elizabeth Embser who played Madame Giry I always found myself watching just because of the humor she gave her character also mixed with the realism of it. All of the supporting actors seemed to have this quality to them, and this helped take some of the pressure off of the leads.

The Phantom of the Opera performed by Severna Park all together was an enjoyable performance. From the strong leads with their characterization and vocals to the supporting and comic actors that also helped carry the show. Overall, it made for a fun performance.


by Charlotte Duggan of Liberty High School

--------------------------------------------------

It’s a love triangle involving a young and beautiful singer, an old childhood friend and a twisted, freak of nature. This past weekend Severna Park High School was one of the first high schools to put up the renowned musical, The Phantom of the Opera. The Andrew Lloyd Webber musical is one of the most famous musicals ever, performed in over 149 cities across the globe.

It’s the late 1800’s in France, at the historic Paris Opera House. Christine Daae is thrown into the spotlight after Carlotta Giudicelli leaves the opera due to a narrow escape from death that is blamed on the mystical Phantom of the Opera. After Christine performs, her childhood friend, and love interest, Raoul, shows up and asks her to dinner. But then, Christine is taken by her teacher, her Angel of Music, otherwise known as the Phantom, and is held in his lair in the catacombs.

The difficulty of the vocals in Phantom could have posed a challenge, but the leads in the cast made the songs look easy by effortlessly conveying the emotions and hitting even the highest notes beautifully. The cast was complemented delightfully by the student directed orchestra, and there were ballerinas that gracefully danced their way across the stage.

Jenny Judd portrayed the talented ballerina, Christine Daae, who was boosted into stardom. Her vocals were outstanding and the chemistry between her and her co-starts was illustrated very well. Opposite Jenny was Henry Pazaryna, as Raoul, who impressed with rich vocal tone and wide range. Joshua Mooney, who played the Phantom, was able to showcase his acting skills, by successfully portraying a wide range of emotion from love, to happiness to anger. Finally we have Rachel Buxton as Carlotta. Her vocals soared, and she had great overall characterization, which made her stand out as a very amusing individual. Rachel was a force to be reckoned with by showing her great talents in and both singing and acting.

Elizabeth Embser played the strict yet wise Madame Giry. Elizabeth had one of the strongest characters in the whole show, and successfully executed a very authentic French accent throughout the duration of the show. Perhaps the most comic actor in the show was Tommy Minter, who played the opera co-owner, Monsieur Andre. Tommy added a great comedic essence to everything he did. In the show there weren’t many actors who possessed great singing and acting talent, but their strengths complimented each other well.

The talent of the actors was exceptional for a high school but the technical aspects left you wanting more. The stage crew didn’t strive to make changes flawless, but the actors were able to keep focus on the scene. Some microphone issues arose, but the actors adjusted well so that the audience didn’t miss a beat.

The lengthy show is a large production for a high school, but the immense talent of the leads made this production memorable and got the audience to their feet for a standing ovation.


by Kristen Luther of Liberty High School

--------------------------------------------------

“Softly, deftly, music shall caress you,” as you get lost within the Paris Opera House and the dark love story that haunts its halls.  “The Phantom of the Opera” follows the path of a scarred man who longs for a young girl, Christine, who will become a new star with the help of the Opera Ghost, even if it means setting terror upon anyone who tries to get in the way. A sensational score meets a cast of beautiful ballerinas and talented young singers in Severna Park’s production of this famous musical.

The longest running musical ever to hit Broadway, and possibly the most well known show to ever come our way, putting up “The Phantom of the Opera” is an incredibly hard task for any high school. However, the attention given to the complexity of the vocal as well as orchestral score was much appreciated. It was especially nice to see this musical talent combined with the acting ability of such a young cast.

The love triangle between Christine, the Phantom, and Raoul, her childhood sweetheart takes over the stage. Joshua Mooney delivered the heartbroken and terrorizing character of the Phantom like the most mature of actors. The role asks for nothing less than extraordinary talent in vocals as well as acting, which Mooney truly excelled in. Jenny Judd portrayed the innocence of Christine wonderfully as her voice floated effortlessly through the complex score. Henry Pazaryna conquered the role of Raoul as an incredibly talented high school tenor. Together these three young actors lead the play through love and tragedy.

No musical would be complete without dancing. The ballerinas of the opera bring pure grace and beauty to the stage as they are directed by Madame Giry. Elizabeth Embser showed extreme maturity as she embraced her role as this strict French teacher. Rachel Buxton also brought maturity to the stage with wonderful vocal technique as well as comedy with her heavy accent and sassy attitude as she took on the role of Carlotta, the star of the opera until Christine came along.

The entire auditorium is absorbed within the setting of the play. Every wall is covered in stone, spiraling down into the Phantom’s lair which is elaborately decorated with curtains and candles. The statues doubled as ushers while the tech crew offset the normal idea of techie attire as they traded in their all black for a more casual jeans and t-shirt look. Although many challenges were heard within the sound system, the actors overcame them. The Phantom’s echo as he lurked offstage was especially well done.

“It’s over now, the music of the night.” The show ends leaving the crowd pleased and stunned, an incredibly difficult task. The accomplished high school cast exceeded every audience member’s expectations with such an impressive portrayal of a classically professional show.


by Lauren Rife of Liberty High School

--------------------------------------------------

Two loves from two different worlds; one dark, dangerous and mysterious, and the other light and happy.  These are the options Christine Daae has to choose from.  This story, “Phantom of the Opera,” was formed impressively by Severna Park High School. “Phantom of the Opera” is the longest running show in Broadway and now it is Severna Park’s turn to interpret this masterpiece. 

Paris Opera House is being haunted by what is called the Phantom of the Opera.  He demands a chorus girl, Christine Daae, to be the leading roles in the shows instead of the boisterous Carlotta Guidicelli. If things do not go his way, then disastrous events will happen in the opera.  Christine’s teacher, her angel of music, the phantom of the opera wants her for him alone.  However, she loves her childhood friend, Raoul. 

The talented cast of this challenging musical pulled of a spine chilling performance. Severna Park brought new aspects to the show such as living statues that brought emotion to the scenery.  Parts of the performance also kept the legacy of the show especially with the beautiful ballet dances.      

On stage Joshua Mooney was not an actor playing the Phantom, he was the Phantom. It was easy believing he was a tortured soul, shunned for his birth defect and living in eternal night.  Jenny Judd played a sweet and elegant Christine.  Her movement and facial expressions showed so much passion as she effortlessly sung the difficult numbers. Henry Pazaryna portrayed Raoul as strong hearted and loving.  He, along with Rachel Buxton sounded like professionals.  Buxton made the audience laugh almost every time she opened her mouth. 

Tommy Minter had great stage presence in the role of Monsieur Andre.  His character was an ignorant businessman and he contrasted well with the dark mood of the show. Meredith McBroom brought to life a caring and loyal friend to Christine. 

The most captivating set was the underground layer. The candles, the organ, and then bed were beautiful.  At some points the tech crew was distracting and they were not dressed in traditional attire, however they were able to transition set pieces fast and efficiently. 

Severna Park’s production of “Phantom of the Opera” overflowed with talent and produced a very trying show that turned out spectacular.


by Rachel MacGregor of Liberty High School

--------------------------------------------------

        On November 12th, 13th, 14th, 19th & 20th, Severna Park High School’s Stage Company will unmask the true identity of talent in the production of the Phantom of the Opera, the history-breaking Broadway show that tells the story of choice, infatuation and love. As the iconic melody reverberates through the audience and the ancient chandelier rises, catching light and ricocheting over the jaw-dropped faces, the show shortly unfolds the mystery of the Phantom, a man who lives in the shadows guiding the young Christine in the spotlight of fame.
        The Phantom of the Opera begins during an auction at the Paris Opera House, which once was the center of the social life and is now only another deserted building. But when the man (later to be known as Raoul)  marked by the terrors of the past that lurk this ancient building arrives at the auction, his memories take us back to the terror. The time of when the innocent ensemble dancer Christine receives her father’s promise the angel of music and the tale of how this mysterious man falls deeply in love to the point of obsession. While this man’s utmost objective is to be with Christine, he vocally trains her to become an opera sensation. But as obstacles such as the sensational diva Carlotta and the charming Raoul stand in his way, this angel of music transforms into the complete opposite –a phantom: an unseen man who haunts and torments the opera in hopes of seeking his wants. As his rage only proceeds to grow, emotions heat up when Christine must make the excruciating choi
 ce whether she is to be with her childhood sweetheart Raoul and risk the jealous actions of the Phantom to only worsen or give herself to the Phantom and put a stop to the massacre.
        Overall, the Stage Company’s production of The Phantom of the Opera was anchored by the incredible vocal and instrumental technicality presented. These performers truly give justice to the mascot of Broadway, showing a well classical trained presentation of a difficult score –and to think that student Tyler Wilkinson conducts the enchanting orchestra every night only raises the bar of professionalism that the Stage Company contains.
        By far it was the command of the leads that is steering this production to success.  The mesmerizing vocal performance of the gentle Christine played by Jenny Judd and the comic Carlotta played by Rachel Buxton who outshined and achieved the demanding vocal of this one of a kind show. On top of the hill with these talented ladies was Joshua Mooney who played the man of the show –The Phantom of the Opera. Mooney showed great dynamics and objectives through out all interpretations of the songs –proving he has no fear of fully committing to the complicated character he earned. And last but not least the warmth and justice that Henry Pazaryna brought to the stage was simply irreplaceable showing true talent and passion through each note and action he performed.
        Continuing in the path that these leads have created, supporting leads such as Elizabeth Embser playing Madame Giry, quickly reengage the audience back to the performance during dull and flat moments. Embser showed incredible characterization and an exceptional French accent that even upstaged the leads. Not only was Carlotta an exceptional lead, she truly stood out as the comedic actress of the show. Also adding some spice to this production were the graceful ballerinas led by Meredith McBroom who played Meg, and the entertaining cohesive play of Justin Binnix who played Monsieur Firmin and Tommy Minter who played Monsieur Andre.
        Despite the lack of participation in the sound, set and lighting of the Stage Company, costumes for scenes such as the Masquerade are simply eye popping and the props showed well consistency and relevance for most of the scenes such as accurately dated lighting devices and cups. With the determination this stage crew has, they make it their duty to make sure everything is cleaned and set accordingly even if it requires to be on stage during live scenes showing good quality in the crew however when note wearing all black and walking in between characters during scenes a problem is presented.
        So, who said Broadway worthy performances have to be on the busy streets of New York City? With all Severna Park’s Stage Company of The Phantom of the Opera has to offer there simply is no regret in tarring that Mega Bus ticket. Because everything you can ask for is simply right here in the local high school of your town.


by Shane Moran of Liberty High School

--------------------------------------------------

Boasting operatic arias, challenging solos, and the iconic crashing chandelier, "Phantom of the Opera" is one of the most difficult shows of the modern musical theater. To perform this show, particularly as a student, requires an insane amount of courage. Fortunately, Severna Park's cast had it in their performances on November 12th, 13th, 14th, 19th and 20th. What's more, they pulled it off.

"Phantom" is the longest-running show on Broadway, beating out composer Andrew Lloyd Webber's other most-famous show, "Cats" on January 6th, 2006. Based on Gaston Leroux's novel of the same name, it debuted in London in 1986, and on Broadway in 1988. Sporting three Oliviers and seven Tonys among other awards, "Phantom" tells the story of young soprano Christine Daaé (Jenny Judd) and her childhood friend, Vicomte de Chagny Raoul (Henry Pazaryna). The two are reunited after Raoul becomes patron of the Paris Opera, the same night Christine takes over for the opera house's resident diva, Carlotta (Rachel Buxton). Of course, Christine is being taught by an obsessive man she calls her "Angel of Music" after the stories her father told her as a child. He's better known as the Phantom of the Opera (Joshua Mooney), who will go to any lengths to keep Christine the star in "his" opera house.

From a technical standpoint, this show was a success. Set pieces like the elephant in Hannibal were lovely, and special effects went off well. Particularly memorable was the boat scene in the title song, which went off the stage and around the auditorium. The boat itself was quite well-made. While the stage crew occasionally lingered, delays were understandable considering how many set pieces had to be moved. The most impressive technical point, however, was their orchestra, conducted by student Tyler Wilkinson. Wilkinson skillfully led the pit through a difficult score, bringing the songs to life.

Among the most surprising things about the production was the quality of its vocalists. The role of Christine is difficult, but Judd's graceful soprano left her more than capable in the role. Pazaryna, meanwhile, was a passionate Raoul that gave the Christine-Raoul romance in "All I Ask of You" real chemistry. Among the strongest was Buxton as Carlotta, who stole nearly every scene she appeared in with an operatic voice that commanded attention. And of course, no mention of the show would be complete without its titular Phantom. Mooney was a phenomenal singer, carrying some of the show's most beautiful pieces even when the sound system had interference. "Music of the Night" in particular was mesmerizing, while his reprise of "All I Ask of You" reminded audiences why the creepy Phantom who always seemed to be lurking just offstage is so sympathetic. And while the ensemble sometimes lacked energy, they provided a strong finish as the mob.

In conclusion, Severna Park's production of "Phantom" was evidence that the show can be successfully performed by students, and left the audience singing under their breath to the "music of the night.”


by Alexa Appel of Old Mill High School

--------------------------------------------------

A tale of darkness, romance, death, and desire is the basis for an experience to send chills down the spine. In Severna Park High School Stage Company’s portrayal of “The Phantom of the Opera” as a musical, the representation grabs the attention almost immediately as it plays the drama out before the audience’s very eyes.

To never know the warmth of somebody else’s love directed toward you; to yearn for perfection when you yourself are seemingly so far away from that reality; to love someone, to the point of obsession, as they love another. These are the raw emotions that the Phantom is feeling as his love, Christine (played by Jenny Judd), instead loves Raoul (played by Henry Pazaryna). Joshua Mooney effectively acts these emotions out as the Phantom with superb singing and performance skills. Sending chills throughout the audience, he captured the turmoil of emotional pain that the Phantom feels throughout the complex story.

As a comedic relief from the sobering mood of the situations there were a number of actors that managed to make their characters known. Among them are the characters Carlotta Giudicelli (played by Rachel Buxton) and Monsieur Firmin(played by Justin Binnix). Rachel Buxton was almost too good at singing for the character of Carlotta, who was supposed to have been replaced by Christine partly because of Christine’s astonishing voice. While playing with the pitches of her voice and physical mannerisms, it was noted that Carlotta managed to gain many laughs from the crowd. Also, Monsieur Firmin, along with his co-manager, Monsieur Andre (played by Tommy Minter), provided comedic aspects with their facial expressions and whacky lines while singing. Something that ought to also be acknowledged is that when Justin Binnix started to lose his mustache while on stage, it was hardly noticed as he played it off so well by improvising and adding to his characters’ emotions at that particul
 ar moment in the storyline.

Though the crew was easily seen at times and at other times making noise or moving too slow, the props were quite impressive. Some notable ones were the very ornate golden mirrors in the Phantom's caverns and the musical monkey with symbols. These are difficult props to find and the effort put into this aspect of the musical is well appreciated as it added a more virtual feel to the entirety of the show.

The orchestra was surprising with the talent of bringing the original soundtrack to the auditorium. The student conductor proved to be well-known in the practice as he led his orchestra to hit every note at the right time and be as professional as they were.

This musical by Severn Parks High School Stage Company tells the complex nature of good versus evil and gives insight to the fact that we all long for something and these desires give us motivation to do whatever we must for the things we strive for.


by Brooke McBee of Old Mill High School

--------------------------------------------------

A procession of bright, colorful dancers prance across the stage in preparation for the upcoming opera, there is only one problem, a terrifying inhabitant of the underground opera house. “The Phantom of the Opera” by Severna Park took the longest running Broadway play and made it fit a high school stage.

An Opera House in Paris comes under the siege of a mysterious phantom. The deformed phantom hides behind a mask and is devoid of human contact except for an upcoming opera singer. With whom the phantom falls madly in love with. A love triangle between the singer, the secluded phantom, and the outside world ensues until the final scene in the lair awash with red.

Severna Park High School’s production of “The Phantom of the Opera” proved to be an excellent showcase to the student’s operatic singing voices and wide range of emotional acting. Backed by a strong orchestra the play handled all phases of the dramatic story well.

Leading the play was Jenny Judd who played Christine Daae, the young musical prodigy and obsession to the Phantom. In every song she was involved in her voice rang clear and emotional. Joshua Mooney played the Phantom and interacted with the cast very well with a voice that could travel throughout the whole auditorium. Another one of the top performers was Carlotta Giudicelli played by Rachel Buxton who sang with the most inflection and precision.

The play got some added dimension from the ensembles that brought life to the musical numbers and various scenes. The ballerinas all had phenomenal dancing talent and commanded attention while on stage. Also the angry mob worked because it was one of the best times for the ensemble to showcase their vocal ranges without the overshadowing of the lead vocalists.

Most of the time, the scene changes occurred swiftly, but there were a few times when the transitions took too long. However that was overshadowed by the orchestra playing during transitional phases. Scene lighting of the show really set a noticeable mood. For example the flash of red after Christine falls asleep in the Lair broadcasted great emotion.

“The Phantom of the Opera” is a timeless tale of obsession and love in Parisian opera and Severna Park captured that feeling through strong vocal and acting performances.


by Kaylea Forsythe of Old Mill High School

--------------------------------------------------

‘You’ve past the point of no return.’ “The Phantom of the Opera” is the story of a lonely soul trying to connect with another. The Phantom is a reclusive human being who trains a girl by the name of Christine to sing in hopes of convincing her stay with him forever. Things don’t quite go as planned when Raoul, an old childhood friend of Christine’s, comes back into the picture. A love triangle forms between the three of them and an epic struggle for Christine’s heart ensues.

Perfect is the only way to describe this show. It was a perfect blend of creepy stalker like scenes from the Phantom and beautifully done light and airy love scenes between Raoul and Christine. “The Phantom of the Opera” is an exceptionally hard show to pull off and a giant tip of the hat is needed for the cast and crew of this phenomenal production.

Joshua Mooney cannot go unnoticed as the Phantom. Not only was he an extraordinary singer, but also his acting was amazing. He portrayed his character with deep emotions that it felt real and not forced like some of the other actors. While it was hard to understand him in some of his songs because of microphone issues, he plowed right on through and wowed the audience with his higher range. In addition, his co-star Jenny Judd as Christine Daae was also well done. Her voice was clear and beautiful and she hit every requirement that is needed to accurately depict the role. Applause to both of them on the fantastic performance!

One group that was always present that didn’t seem to be noticed a lot were the Statues. They helped a lot in the allusion that the audience itself was present in the old opera house in France and were the perfect people to move some of the set pieces while still being inconspicuous. Major congratulations on a job well done for that group of students. Everyone in the production had high energy and seemed to be into their character whether it was the prima donna Carlotta (Rachel Buxton), the ever helpful friend Meg Giry (Meredith McBroom), or even one of the pristine ballet dancers (Leah Channas).

“The Phantom of the Opera” is such a well known show and that makes it hard to inject a little bit of your personality into the production. Severna Park High School Stage Company deserves an enormous round of applause for their undertaking of this musical and because they pulled it off quite well.


by Kelli McCoy of Old Mill High School

--------------------------------------------------

What would you do if you were not wanted? A man with an interesting past, present “…and in his eyes all the sadness of the world” is what the Phantom of the Opera holds in Severna Parks marvelous production of “The Phantom of the Opera.” A talented group of actors and actresses took on this legendary tale of a deformed man and his quest for human love.

The Phantom of the Opera is a strange phenomenon to the Opera House; everyone believes it to be a ghost. One girl, Christine Daaé finds him and he expresses his musical talent to her, while she believes him not to be a ghost, but her father’s “angel of music.” After Christine spends time with this Phantom, things start to happen if The Phantom of the Opera doesn’t get his way.

Jenny Judd played the Phantoms only love, Christine Daaé, with charm, and matched the energy Joshua Mooney put forth as The Phantom of the Opera. They complimented each other’s style and skill throughout the show, and it was incredibly haunting and gave the audience chills.

Throughout the production the leads confirmed all their skills and put their whole heart into becoming their character. They preformed the show with the skill the writer intended, and it came together beautifully.

The Phantom of the Opera was known by all actors and actresses of the Opera House, merely as a ghost. Madame Giry (Elizabeth Embser) however, has seen his face before, only without the mask. Monsieur Firmin (Justin Binnix) and Monsieur André (Tommy Minter), the owners of the Opera House keep getting demands on what to do for Christine and idolizing her carrier.

The tech was balanced throughout the show, and matched the scenes. At some points you could hear the stage crew behind the curtains and see them at points, but overall it was good. The lighting during The Phantom scenes complimented the Orchestra and the scenes themselves.

Well “gossips worth its weight in gold” for the Opera House, but how would you feel if you were behind The Phantom of the Operas masquerade? For only The Phantom of the Opera himself knows what it’s like.


by Morgan Miller of Old Mill High School

*Note to anyone who did not make One Acts: There will be a meeting of all interested actors who did not get cast to prepare a one act/scenes for performance during the judging of the other one acts. Miss G will meet with anyone interested at 2:15 in G-151 on Thursday Nov 18.

Prima Donna By Michelle A

Rehearsal Tuesday (TODAY) Meet outside Ms. Germanos’ room

rehearsal’s in the "secret stairwell"

Jenny- Michelle M

Tori- Natalie D

Marina-Elizabeth E

Collin- Justin B

Sarah- Trish H

Thomas- Jesse I

Bram- Vince Z

Young Collin- Ben W

Young Marina- Kiley P

Young Sarah- Taylor Si

Director- Madison S

Judge #1- Lexi W

Judge #2- Lindsay T

Judge #3- Sarah JScars by Alice D

Dr. Robert Dixon: Ethan R
Roberta Dixon: Abbey W
Laura Campbell: Kate McC
Jeff Campbell: Nate H
Mindy: Leah C
Dawn: Erin P
Practice will be at 2:15 in G-151 for Thursday Nov 18.
"STUCK" by Jacob L
Declan - JOSH MAAmanda - LYLA D
Troy - CHRIS H
Holly - TAYLOR SA
Julie - KOLBY C
Wilbur - DAVID R
Otis - ANA M
Our first rehearsal is Thursday Nov. 18th in the Auditorium at 2:15

 Seven Wives for Dracula (Fred F-J):
Mrs. Half-Nelson: Hannah M
Miss Hearse: Emily S
Renfield: Claudia F
Lily: Jessie G
Odd Sisters: Lindsay K and Sophia B
Dr. Seward: Sam M
Jonathan: Solon S
Van Helsing: Drew B
Lucy: Bronwyn van J
Dracula: Josh Mo
Countess: Casseia T
Wolf-Creature: Luke H
My first practice will be on Wednesday at 2:15 in G-151

Politics, Religion & Bob by Elyza H

Bob: Matt D

Frannie: Jocelyn O

Lisa:Cristina B

James: Ben S

Abe: Wesley O

TV Journalist: Rachel T

Cameraperson: Jack R

Smallest Churchgoer: Ashley B

Churchgoer#4: Monica L

Churchgoer#3: Taylor B

Churchgoer#2: Hannah K

Churchgoer#1: Reagan G

Walk-on angry woman with featherduster: Olivia C