The Not So High School Musical: Middle schoolers were able to audition for East’s musical for the first time this year due to falling tryout numbers

“There are going to be middle schoolers in this year’s musical.”

Senior Ava Black wasn’t expecting to hear those words from musical director and English teacher Brian Cappello after he pulled her aside during passing period. She’d never heard of middle schoolers being in the musical, and her job as assistant choreographer was about to take on new meaning.

How will they react to a high schooler being the person to teach and choreograph their dance? Will they think they’re too cool for me? 

These thoughts flooded Black’s mind as she watched YouTube videos of the Broadway version of Spongebob, scouring for inspiration.

“I was pretty surprised because, as the assistant choreographer, I wasn’t quite sure what I would be doing,” Black said. “I thought I’d be helping choreograph, or go over dances [but this responsibility was] just thrown at me, and I wasn’t really aware of it.”

Capello chose to bring in middle schoolers for “The Spongebob Musical” in order to combat the falling tryout numbers from years past. As an added perk, Cappello brought in middle schoolers to give them early experience in East theater East theater and increase interest in joining the theater department when they get to high school.

“I wasn’t sure how many would audition,” Cappello said. “I thought we’d have four or five, but we have 18, so that’s a good number and they seem to be excited.”

Each middle schooler was cast as a “dancing pirate” — a part that consists of only dancing. Black started working with the middle schoolers in the beginning of December, teaching the dance “Poor Pirates,” a number at the beginning of act two.  

“I can tell that the middle schoolers are trying really hard because they want to have a good impression for their next four years in high school,” Black said. “I really appreciate that [the middle schoolers are] taking time and consideration to go over what [choreography] they’ve learned.”

Black worked with the middle schoolers separately teaching them the dance until they joined the rest of the high school cast for their first joint rehearsal on Jan. 26. From four to seven, the middle schoolers danced under the hot stage lights of the Dan Zollars theater.

Eighth grader Catherine Carr had one thing on her mind that night — making a lasting first impression.

“[The middle schoolers] don’t know most of [the high schoolers],” Carr said. “And it’s this added level of stress when you’re performing not only for a big audience, but you’re showing both the directors and [high schoolers] what you can do as an actor.”

While the two age groups worked separately most of the night, this experience has created new friendships for the middle schoolers. Carr went from beelining to her next class to waving at her castmates in the hallway.

Whether middle schoolers make a return to the cast next show will depend on the production East decides to put on next year, according to Cappello. Nevertheless, the middle schoolers have brought a newfound excitement for theater at East.

“I think it’s a good opportunity that, as middle schoolers, we get to see what [East theater is] all about,” Carr said. “It makes me very excited for next year.”