Graduation Speech: Jay County High School Musicals

Improved Essays
“Gee the whole crowd’s together again. I could cry.”
That’s one of the final lines, spoken by the character Frenchy, in the musical “Grease.” The characters Jan and Sandy respond before the teens in the story about young love and fast cars sing a verse of the song “We Go Together” as they dance their way off the stage.
When Jamie Valentine, Alec Hutchison, Jenna Blount, Alex Denton and the rest of the cast perform that scene Sunday afternoon, we hope it marks the rebirth of musicals at Jay County High School rather than the swan song.
Attendance at and participation in JCHS musicals has been down for years. Ticket sales have not been able to provide the funding needed to secure rights to scripts and music necessary to put on the shows.
This year’s production, in which choir students are joining the
…show more content…
Friday and Saturday as well as 2 p.m. Sunday.
So pick a day and come take in a show. Or better yet, see all three. One of the special aspects of stage productions is that no two are exactly the same.
There are some out there who may object.
“But I don’t like musicals,” they’ll say.
We’d question that statement.
Did you grow up watching Disney movies? “The Lion King,” “Beauty and the Beast,” “Aladdin”? They’re all musicals on the big screen that have later translated to the Broadway stage.
So maybe musicals appeal to you more than you realize.
But even if they don’t, even if “Grease” would not be on your list of favorites, buy a ticket anyway. This weekend’s show is about more than just about entertainment.
It’s about keeping a program going, not just for the members of the current cast but for generations of thespians to come.
One of the great benefits of the consolidation of all of Jay County’s former high schools into a single facility is the ability to offer so many programs in such vast variety. Musical theatre is one we can not afford to lose.
The show must go

Related Documents

  • Decent Essays

    In this essay, Gould describes the performance of "Madam Jeanette" conducted by Wilhousky. Returning to his old high school chorus after thirty years, Len and Gould reminisce in their diverse and musically-talented childhood. Comparing his chorus to the one in that time, Gould recognizes that at a young age, students cannot put the right amount of emotion into the music. Along with this, the number of male participants has dropped drastically, and try-outs may no longer be necessary as the ratio of girls to boys is outrageously uneven. With these setbacks, Gould wonders if the students have put the excellence of Wilhousky aside.…

    • 236 Words
    • 1 Pages
    Decent Essays
  • Improved Essays

    The people have sung and Annandale’s production of Les Misérables School Edition is a hit! This well-known and beloved musical has now been adapted for High School students, only verging slightly from the original production of Les Misérables. Based off of Victor Hugo’s book, the musical adaptations of Les Misérables have swept numerous tony awards and also have the honor of being Broadway’s second longest running production. Set in early 19th-century France, Les Misérables School Edition tells the story of Jean Valjean, and his quest for redemption after serving nineteen years in jail.…

    • 495 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Decent Essays

    At their core, the mere concept of musical films is utter genius; seamlessly combining cinema and song, two of the most formidable, emotionally stirring art forms, is a recipe with colossal creative potential. From the inception of musical film with the Alan Crosland directed 1927 motion picture “The Jazz Singer”, to modern box office triumphs such as 2016’s “La La Land”, and 2017’s “The Greatest Showman”, the genre has resonated phenomenally with its audience -- seldom fading out of fashion’s spotlight, consistently producing waves of extravagant displays of story, song, and dance. Regardless of the countless advantages they may hold, similarly to any other high profile genre of art, the musical’s fame and fortune has regrettably spawned numerous…

    • 204 Words
    • 1 Pages
    Decent Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Leah Mueller traces her interest in singing back to fourth grade, when she started taking voice lessons. That same year, Mueller was a student at Boalsburg Elementary in David Rockower’s class. Today, she and Rockower are colleagues at Delta Middle School, where Mueller teaches music and theatre. Unlike most schools, including those within the district, Delta Middle offers a curricular theatre program. “We are very fortunate,” said Mueller.…

    • 600 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Elf The Musical Analysis

    • 773 Words
    • 4 Pages

    There was no life, energy or enthusiasm portrayed by most of the actors, the plot was all over the place, and everyone and everything was out of sync and off-key. This production was definitely not the best, but even though it was pretty terrible to sit through and watch, the audience was very supportive to their kids that were part of this production and the little kids that attended the show loved it. The older people that were there did not enjoy it at all, they were constantly shifting in their seats, and even a few walked out because they were so bored with the show. I was not impressed at all and I do not blame you if you don’t want to go waste $15 on this show, because it’s not worth your time or…

    • 773 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Avenue Q Analysis

    • 828 Words
    • 4 Pages

    It sucks to be me or anyone else sitting in the Gates Abegglen Theatre. Entertainment and acceptance may be the ineffective purpose of this disturbing, bad acting Broadway musical. But maybe the most noticeable part is that it is not easy sitting through a musical full of bad acting and scenery that fails at telling a scene. There are irritating puppets, overly animated characters and actors that forgot how to act, but the musical truly soars on rare occasions when the costumes portray the character to a tee. On Thursday, April 16, 2015 Miami University’s “Avenue Q” directed by Saffron Henke left me on the edge of my seat—wanting to leave.…

    • 828 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Enjoy a fabulous evening of Broadway magic with the Role Players Ensemble’s unique fundraising event. Begin the evening with hot and cold hors d’oeuvres, wine and a silent auction. Then enjoy a performance of beloved show tunes and receive a behind-the-scenes look at how some of your favorite musicals go from the page to the stage.…

    • 56 Words
    • 1 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Decent Essays

    Why I Hate Marching Band

    • 456 Words
    • 2 Pages

    I hate marching band. Leaving that trap of a class was the best decision I made in my entire high school experience. Once I had had enough of band, I joined theater. Joining theater fit my schedule well, introduced me to new people, and opened my mind to possibilities I hadn't considered before. The time I wasted in marching band was grueling.…

    • 456 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Decent Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Music Analysis: Hair

    • 777 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Counterculture is a set of values and norms different compared to the rest of society. This culture was first introduced in the United States and United Kingdom around the 1960s. During this time, the generation of adolescents dealt with homosexuality, the use of drugs, opposition to the Vietnam War, women rights, as well as African-American rights. Playwrights, James Rado and Gerome Ragni proposed a play called “Hair”, which is based on a group of hippie friends living during the revolution of the counterculture. The main character, Claude struggles to live the life of young teenager living in New York City with conservative parents.…

    • 777 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Cirque De La Symphonie

    • 1502 Words
    • 7 Pages

    The kind of music that we have been going over these past five weeks or so in this class is not new to me, but at the same time I am not totally comfortable with the different styles and how each are unique. When deciding what concert to go to o I could write this report I was unsure which one to pick. I was unsure of what each concert had to offer me with what pieces of music that would be played. After much debate and deliberation I came to the determination that the best concert for me to attend would be Cirque De La Symphonie Goes Broadway! Presented by the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra.…

    • 1502 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    The creation of musicals into movies may not accurately depict the story of the musical and important details may be lost. Movie directors often prefer popular and well-known actors over those who bear the proper talent for a given role. In a movie version of a musical, you often miss the small subtleties that vary between performances, be it a dropped line, an interesting recovery, or a prop malfunction. You also tend to miss the small modifications brought on stage by the director. In addition, there is a loss of catharsis between the actors and the audience in a movie musical.…

    • 468 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Thinking of high school plays and musicals, not much thought goes into the similarities and differences between the two people tend to think they are pretty much the same thing. Although in reality they are not, even when I start a play or a musical the audition process is different. Being part of the cast and crew can also be different depending on if a play or a musical. In the end, the performances are pretty much the same with slight differences in the preparation for the show.…

    • 922 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Superior Essays

    Grease Live Analysis

    • 1536 Words
    • 7 Pages

    Grease Live is a fun filled musical about a teen couple in love around the 50s. Danny Zuko and Sandy Olsson are the couple in love, they hang at the beach, and unknowingly then attend the same school, Rydell High. One the first day, Sandy becomes friends with the Pink Ladies group. Danny, is in charge of the T-Birds group. The live show adds an extra pop to all the many musical numbers.…

    • 1536 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Theatre is one of the more creative, opportunistic fields to choose a career in. As a theatre technician, I am aware a large portion of being successful in the theatre industry is to get your foot into the door by taking advantage of any opportunity that can showcase your skill. Like every other theatre tech, my dream job would be to be able to work production on a Broadway show. What may sound impossible for most schools does not with the New School. Located in New York City with an approach to education that is designed for this upcoming generation,The New School of drama is a target university for me.…

    • 256 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Wicked Musical Analysis

    • 757 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Two of Broadway’s most talented voices emerged from the hit musical, “Wicked.” Idina Menzel and Kristen Chenoweth both had been in broadway shows long before but wicked was the one that blew them into stardom. The musical displays numerous singing acts that tell the story of a girl who grew up slightly different from the rest and a stereotypical popular girl that tried to help her gain her confidence. Idina and Kristen’s voices are like no other in the musical because their voices bring our qualities in their character that complement the character so well. The dark alto tones of Idina plays off of the envy and awkwardness her character constantly lives with.…

    • 757 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays