Cast:

Justin Armer (9) – Harold

Vince Parsons (12) – Doctor

Matti Hayes (10) – Lovey and Mumsy

Five teenage kids dressed in all-black ninja outfits run through the Plaza yelling “NO! The naked mermaid is this way!” Finally spotting the elusive fountain, the group bunches in front of it, posing for the camera.

Emily Donovan hoped that this year’s Theatre Scavenger Hunt, on Nov. 20, would leave impacting memories with freshman and theatre newcomers as her hunt did.

“My favorite part is the frenzy,” Donovan said. “There’s so much energy and running; I’m pretty sure I could have joined cross country afterwards!”

Every year, thespians gather to partake in the scavenger hunt, following clues all the way to  the Plaza, Westport, Town Center Plaza and Prairie Village. About 65 students divided into 13 groups, the highest number of participants ever according to Donovan, competed for glory in categories such as most points, most spirited and best dressed.

Participants dressed as everything from cavemen to cowboys joined together for the themed “Hunt Throughout the Ages.” The hunt list this year included many strange requests from getting tattoos to sipping tea in Westport. However, this didn’t deter any theatre students from pursuing these clues like they were a spot in this year’s limited musical cast.

View Theatre Scavenger Hunt in a larger map

Stop #1- Westport

Pull a Ke$ha in a dumpster. (3 pts.)

Like the outrageously “fashion-forward” Ke$ha, the different groups also dressed to turn heads. With the “Middle Ages” group consisting of a fully robed wizard, a dragon and a potato sack-wearing peasant, the “Soul Train” group fluffing ridiculously huge afros, and even a Britney impersonator from the “Bubble Gum Pop” group, the competition for Best Dressed was intense.

“We don’t kid around with our costumes,” Donovan said.

Stop #2- Plaza

Find a pair of Chinamen (2 pts.)

The Stone Age group was confused by this clue for the Plaza. So, like any well-trained thespian, they improvised.

“You see, there are these two statues of Chinese soldiers on the edge of the Plaza,” said Donovan. “Apparently, they weren’t aware of any such thing and photographed themselves with some unsuspecting Asian tourists. Needless to say, we gave them full points.”

Stop #3- Town Center

Take a photo with two or three execs somewhere in Town Center without them noticing. (5 pts.)

New to the list this year, the “Spot the Execs” section allowed everyone to join in on the fun, as the seven theater execs positioned themselves throughout the Plaza, Westport, and Town Center.

“I was both creeped out and impressed when an unassuming underclassman asked me, ‘Did you see us getting a picture with you when you were getting into your car in Westport?’” Donovan said.

Stop #4- Prairie Village

We are in no way above bribery. Bring the execs some chocolate milkshakes. (5 pts. + our love)

Food bribery was a huge hit among the theatre students and execs alike. Theatre execs enjoyed delicacies from all over the KC Metro including, but not limited to, leftover Chinese food, a baguette, a fudge brownie, a bag full of chocolate, and more milkshakes than you can count.

“I found it particularly delicious to allow these few points,” Donovan said. “I had four [milkshakes] just myself. Four milkshakes. That’s just so many milkshakes!”

The Theatre Scavenger Hunt mainly serves as a way for theatre students to get to know each other; the excitement is just a perk.

“We create age-diverse groups, pairing freshmen and sophomores with junior and senior drivers,” theater president and senior Polly Mytinger said. “When you’re forced into a situation with a bunch of people you don’t know, you have to make friends to get the job done.”

Sophomore AJ Orth found this event to be a superb bonding experience.

“Last year, and this year as well, I went and met so many new and interesting people,” Orth said.

From the standpoint of the execs, their goals for inter-theatre bonding and fun were successfully met.

“Overall, the scavenger hunt this year went off really well,” Donovan said. “Fun, silly, and awkward: It’s what being a theatre kid is all about.”

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Emma Marston, 12

Before

Senior Emma Marston had never considered not trying out for the musical. After all, this was her ninth production through East, and she was already a certified thespian.

Before The Musical Revue in October, she already knew she wanted to sing “No One is Alone” from the musical “Into the Wild” for her audition.

Marston really enjoyed the role of Mrs. Potts in “Beauty and the Beast.” The kind, motherly figure. Marston liked to think of herself as the motherly figure when it came to productions.

“I like being a mama,” Marston said. “I like nurturing and being a leader.”

She wants to encourage the underclassmen to do theater, and to be confident about it. Marston learns a lot from the underclassmen, and she feels confident leaving the theater program behind to them.

Going into auditions, Marston had a positive attitude. She just wanted hoped for the best.

During

Marston sets her Best Choice strawberry-flavored water next to her, put in her headphones, listenes to “For Emma” by Bon Iver, trying to get focused.

It was yet another audition for Marston, but the nerves were still there. She wanted to show them how hard she worked to get to this point in her musical career. How hard she will work if she gets cast in this musical.

Finally, it was her turn. Walking into the room, the nerves started to disappear.

Choir teacher Mr. Foley, drama teacher Mr. Cappello, and technical director Mr. DeFeo sat in front of her like a panel of judges, but not as intimidating.

“Eww!” Cappello joked as Marston walked in.

Singing auditions went by in a flash. It was as if she hadn’t even been there, but she felt confident and was ready for dance auditions the next day. The audition dance was to “Be Our Guest” from Beauty and the Beast, which got Marston even more excited for as the show approached. After the audition, all she could do was hope that everything went well.

Many auditions had ended, as some kids didn’t get called back, but not for Marston. Callbacks had been posted the next day and her name had made the list. Filing into the room, Marston and the other students prepared for auditions. While some sang traditional warm ups such as ‘Do, Re, Mi’ Marston and a few others belted out “Don’t Stop Believing” by Journey to get prepared.

It was a fun, relaxed environment that Marston was happy to be a part of.

After

All through the Frequent Friday, Marston couldn’t stop fidgeting. It was only a matter of minutes before she would know whether or not she would be spending the next four months onstage. Finally, the list was posted and a sea of emotions filled the hallway. Slowly walking up the list, Marston scanned the names for hers, which she eventually found. Tracing it over to Mrs. Potts, she tried to contain her excitement.

“I’m absolutely over the moon, I’m so excited.” Marston said.

_____________________________________

Abby McNitt, 12

Before

Junior Abby McNitt sits on the choir room hallways steps, reading the mandatory play audition questionnaire. What can you specifically bring to the cast?

She thought of Jasmine and the Queen of Hearts: two Disney-based characters she had portrayed in other shows. Seven years of voice lessons. Rehearsals for another production every night this week. Experience. But in the end, McNitt wrote about her ability to endure the time-consuming needs of the play.

“I don’t think I’ll have trouble making rehearsals,” McNitt said. “The play always comes first.”

Her thoughts scattered as student director Devery North approached.

“Abby, you’re next,” North told her.

McNitt felt herself begin to breathe heavily. She struggled to recollect her thoughts. Why was she nervous? She had prepared her piece for two weeks; she knew “How Could I Ever Know” like she knew her own birthday. Earlier that day, like she had the night before, McNitt had watched “Beauty and the Beast” as she scooped honey into her mouth.

“It helps relax the throat,” McNitt explained. “Well, I think it does. Maybe it’s all in my head, but it still helps.”

But the comfort of honey had worn off. As McNitt posed for a photo, her smile did not reflect her mood.

“At least I wasn’t shaking,” McNitt said, “but still.”

North again confronted McNitt. This time it wasn’t a warning.

“You’re up.”

During

Everything was a blur. Move through the doors, one of them with a “Break a Leg” sign attached to it. Greet the four judges. One thought: don’t look at them. Sing. Back out the door. Done.

Two weeks of preparation, and the audition flew by faster than summer break.

How’d I do? I missed a breath, didn’t take a big enough one at this one spot, but other than that it was OK, I guess. I just want whatever role is best for me and the play. Just glad it’s over!

But it wasn’t over. The next two days featured dance auditions and callbacks. Like the singing audition, they both flew by in a rapacious sprint.

“I wasn’t too nervous during either of those,” McNitt said. “You’re with a group then, and it’s fun to see your friends sing solos.”

Then the sprint screeched to a lagging crawl. Nervousness and anxiety quickly replaced comfort and confidence.

After

Despite her efforts, McNitt’s thoughts were not comprised of Jacksonian Democracy and Van Buren during seventh hour AHAP; instead, she thought of 3 p.m. That’s when the cast list would be posted.

After school, McNitt along with other choir members approached the list. Then, she saw it.

With the laughs and hugs that followed came feelings of relief and excitement. She would be a chorus member, and that’s just what she wanted.

“Whatever is best-suited for me.”

_____________________________________

Olivia Rogers, 10

Before

“Mic check, mic check.”

“Close the left curtains.”

“Stage left enter now.”

“QUIET.”

Direction and organization filled sophomore Olivia Rogers head. It was eighth grade and she was stage left manager. The curtain, the people, the show. She watched the show. But only from stage left.

That was the only theater experience Rogers had ever had, until this year when she heard East was doing her favorite musical — “Beauty and the Beast” — so she decided to audition. Rogers just wanted to audition for fun, for the heck of it.

Rogers wasn’t expecting to make it, and she just wanted to be in the chorus if anything. She attended a few voice lessons in preparation for the audition. Her vocal coach helped her prepare her audition piece “I Whistle a Happy Tune” from the King and I.

The second part of audition was dancing. Olivia had experience with dancing and was confident with her dance. She had taken multiple dance classes growing up, and she enjoyed dancing. After two weeks of voice lessons and years of wanting to be in “Beauty and the Beast,” Rogers was ready for her audition.

During

Walking into the choir room, nerves were no where to be found. Rogers just wasn’t nervous, she was ready. Coming straight from a voice lesson, Rogers hummed the tune in her head trying to keep her voice warmed up.

She entered, sang, and left. It was as easy as 1, 2, 3. It wasn’t the biggest deal in the world for Rogers and she was just happy with her audition.

The next day were dance auditions, the area where Rogers was experienced and confident. She entered the dance room not knowing what to expect. What she thought was going to be easier than singing auditions turned out harder.

“The dance was more complex than I thought it was going to be.”

Nevertheless, Rogers used her past dance experience and stayed after to show her leaps and turns. Leaving she felt indifferent, it didn’t go great, but it could have gone worse.

She went home and didn’t think too much about the musical. She was happy to be done with auditions, now all she could do was wait.

After

She scanned the computer for her name. Nothing.

“I guess I was a little disappointed, I just really wanted to be a part of ‘Beauty and the Beast.”

Rogers had friends over that night, fellow friends who had tried out and not made it. She was consoling them, bringing their spirit back up along with her own.

This wasn’t going to be the end of her theater career though. Rogers has already signed up to a part of House Crew, where she will make posters and decorate the auditorium for the show. It is her favorite musical, so she wants to stay involved.

_____________________________________

Alec Armer, 9

Before

As he awaited his audition, freshman Alec Armer reviewed what had led him to this place. He recalled Footloose: the energy, the excitement, the greatness of the whole production. He also looked forward to the enhanced focus of this year’s smaller cast. Armer had always wanted to be part of an East musical, and this was his first chance.

But this was far from his first chance at being cast in a musical.

Band and orchestra in grade school, “High School Musical” and “Cinderella” the past two summers in Theater in the Park, weekly voice lessons—Armer “loves theater.”

“Plays usually have one theme, either a total comedy or major drama,” Armer said. “But musicals can be as dramatic as possible and still have comedic characters.”

During

What can you specifically bring to the cast?

Armer regarded the audition form.

“I was kind of a suck up. I wrote that I have a good work ethic and know when to be serious,” Armer said. “I should have wrote that I can eat a whole large Pizza Hut pizza.”

Then, five minutes before his time, Armer’s nerves “crept up and blasted” him. He began running around, jumping in place, bouncing off walls. Anything to force out the energy—that’s what’ll calm the nerves. Especially with the knowledge that he’d spent only an hour preparing his audition piece.

“Half-hour voice lessons every week, and I worked on it for about five minutes during each one,” Armer said. “I was nervous.”

And yet Armer felt his audition went smoothly.

“No voice cracks,” Armer said.

After

Armer stared in disbelief at the callback list. His last name was printed on the list, only it wasn’t him.

He approached Mr. Cappello.

It’s a mistake, right? Tell me it’s a mistake.

Nope.

“Three options ran through my mind,” Armer said. “One, they had the wrong twin. Second, they only wanted my brother Justin because we’re both so similar. Third, I sucked and they hated me.”

Then another thought: he was already pegged down for a role.

The next day, Armer learned that this latter hunch was true. He was to be silverware, and he, along with his brother, was one of only six freshmen to earn a spot.

“When I saw my name on the cast list, I had mixed feelings. I was unhappy and shocked that certain people didn’t make it,” Armer said. “But it was still a good moment.”

Written and Directed by Riley Watson

Starring:

Alexandra Felman (10)

Jacob Pillman (9)

Alex Lamb (11)

Josh Light (10)

Jon Mytinger (10)

Spencer Davis (11)

The Auditions

As I walk in I first notice the seating; an assortment of urban couches to the right and mismatched chairs to the left. Right next to me is a bar serving cold beer and other assorted drinks and a little farther ahead is the stage. A quaint, dark stage with an ascending staircase. The theatre is filled to every corner. I am greeted by Ron Megee, the director, who then leads me through the crowded room to a large comfortable chair three rows up. Just far enough away from getting splattered by any false blood and guts making their way into the audience.

The lights slowly start to fade from a dull dim to pitch black as the audience anxiously awaits the performance written by Mitch Brian to begin. Within the first ten minutes of the show a chainsaw had already been put to use and phony blood had been spilt. Three wannabe sorority girls are cordially invited to a sorority house party accepting newcomers. Little do they know that the party they are attending is run by bloodthirsty babes.

Deb, (Zoe Brian) a sophomore, plays the role of a negative Nancy looking to find her place in this world. Tonya, (Molliann McCulley) is a brace face full of energy that dreams of one day being with Greg (Jeff Smith), her school crush. Janet (Rachael Rodgers) fills as “mother” of the threesome. Nothing but utter chaos comes from the visit to the sorority house on Sorority Hill.

The show is full of raunchy jokes, loud screams, an assortment of mockery violence, false blood and guts. Holly (Hannah Ashcroft) and Brenda (junior Anna Dancinger) are the first two of the soon to be many blood sucking sorority sisters that warmly welcome each newcomer at their own risk. The immortal house mother, known as Mrs. B (Kimberley Queen), does an incredible job of consistently making the audience laugh. All jokes aside, the love trance between Greg, every girl’s dream boy, and Tonya the loser was unbearably funny and easily my favorite part of the show. At one point the two love birds were magnetically drawn together across the stage which had the crowd in tears from laughter.

In order to frame specific scenes a letterbox would drop from the ceiling making it easier to catch the moment. Stobe and black lights were used frequently throughout the performance to show for lightening. As for the thunder, a gruesome sound system was in action for every bang, boom, crash and squeak.

With only three weeks of rehearsal for the show, the cast did a wonderful job portraying the bloodthirsty 80′s. According to Brian, the entire cast has worked for nonstop hours on end to perfect and it paid off. Although the cast may have put on a spectacular performance it couldn’t have been done without the help of gruesome sound effects, phony blood and guts. The false blood squirting into the audience had the spectators in an uproar of laughter as well as the many Regan jokes told and references to Patrick Swayze and other 80’s stars.

‘Sorority House of the Dead’ is part of a series that The Coterie at Night has put together. Their final show will be October 31 at the Living Room.

Directed by Polly Mytinger

Starring:

Hannah Bautz – 10 – Norma

Jon Mytinger – 10 – Roy

Karl Walter – 9 – Borden

Emma Calvert – 9 – Mimsey

Color Clown Comes to Town
Adapted by Sean Bailey

The Rainbow Fish
Adapted by Amy Cosgrove

The Kissing Hand
Adapted by Melanie Fletcher

Bedtime for Frances
Adapted by Alex Dressman

The Honest Woodcutter
Adapted by Mallory Harrington

The Polar Express
Adapted by Eli Mitchell

Lilly’s Purple Plastic Purse
Adapted by Duri Long

Bedtime for Mommy
Adapted by Isabelle Ciaramitaro

The Frog Prince
Adapted by Emily Donovan

Action Jackson
Adapted by Spencer Davis

Three Billy Goats Gruff
Adapted by Jack Dee

Part-Time Dog
Adapted by Sara Cooper

Miss Suzy
Adapted by Jordan Davis

Guess How Much I Love You
Adapted by Camille Breckenridge

The Sun and the Wind
Adapted by Angelica White

Today I Feel Silly & Other Moods That Make My Day
Adapted by Devery North

Madeline’s Christmas
Adapted by Maddy Pigeon

Dr. Dog!
Adapted by Nathan Simpson