News
GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. — Want to laugh?
Then, the Grand Junction High School drama department has something for you. But only if you want to laugh.
The thespians are transforming the auditorium into ancient Rome for the musical farce “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum.”
Now, if you only want to chuckle, don't come. A polite smile won't do it either.
“What we're dealing with is a fast-paced, colorful drop-dead funny show,” said Shawn Clingman, theatre director at Grand Junction High School. “This is such a fun show. The kids laugh every day. I laugh every day. It's been a fun, light-hearted show to work on.”
The show will be performed four times between Feb. 23-25 at the school. There will be three evening shows beginning at 7 and a matinee Feb. 25 at 2 p.m.
If you want to see a show that has a moral, social commentary, search someplace else, because this isn't it.
But if you want to laugh out loud and not be embarrassed about it, get in line for your tickets now. Tickets are $12 for adults and $8 for senior citizens and students at the box office.
The plot has many classic elements of farce, including puns, the slamming of doors, cases of mistaken identity (frequently involving characters disguising themselves as one another), and satirical comments on social class.
The musical weaves together several stories over one frantic day in Rome. And at the center of it all is a rascally Roman house slave named Pseudolus, who dreams to be free. He sees his chance through the love-sick eyes of his young master, Hero, who has fallen hard for Philia, a beautiful virginal courtesan who lives in the house of ill repute next door.
Complicating the plot is that Philia has already been sold to the frightening, bull-like Roman Captain Miles Gloriosus. And further complicating Pseudolus' plan is Philia is also being chased by Hero's philandering father, Senex. Pseudolus must use all of his guile and cunning to win the day and his freedom.
Can he do it? Come and find out. But be prepared to laugh, said Shannon Reeve, a freshman with a fresh face and a warm smile who plays Philia.
“The show is risqué. Mr. Clingman, the director, is certainly taking the some risks,” she said with a smile. “I don't think it's going to appeal to everybody in the Grand Valley, but it's certainly going to be really, really funny,” she said.
Logan Shirley, a junior, plays the role of Pseudolus while Tate Hegstrom plays the love-sick Hero. Hunter Whaley plays Senex and Zac Barger is Miles Gloriosis.
The rest of the cast features about 40 students. And the music will feature a live orchestra of about 30 musicians from the band department.
“What's cool about this is everybody on that stage is a high-schooler. We put in two hours a day, our cast does. We work our butts off. It's not for us. We do it for the audience that comes,” Hegstrom said. “It's very cool to see young people entertaining a big audience.”
And even during rehearsal, laughter booms through the cavernous auditorium.
“I'm having a great time,” said Shirley. “I've always loved musical theater. There's just something about this show, something about farce in general that really have this air of pent up energy that builds and builds until it finally just explodes.”
That has been the key to the show success, which is based on the book by Burt Shevelove and Larry Gelbart and music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim. The musical's won a pair of Tony Awards in 1962, including Best Musical.
“It's a show I've done two times before, once at Mesa State, or now CMU, and once at the now defunct Empire Theater. I've always enjoyed the show. It's been one of my favorites. So I'm happy to be doing it now, here,” Clingman said with a smile.
Then, the Grand Junction High School drama department has something for you. But only if you want to laugh.
The thespians are transforming the auditorium into ancient Rome for the musical farce “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum.”
Now, if you only want to chuckle, don't come. A polite smile won't do it either.
“What we're dealing with is a fast-paced, colorful drop-dead funny show,” said Shawn Clingman, theatre director at Grand Junction High School. “This is such a fun show. The kids laugh every day. I laugh every day. It's been a fun, light-hearted show to work on.”
The show will be performed four times between Feb. 23-25 at the school. There will be three evening shows beginning at 7 and a matinee Feb. 25 at 2 p.m.
If you want to see a show that has a moral, social commentary, search someplace else, because this isn't it.
But if you want to laugh out loud and not be embarrassed about it, get in line for your tickets now. Tickets are $12 for adults and $8 for senior citizens and students at the box office.
The plot has many classic elements of farce, including puns, the slamming of doors, cases of mistaken identity (frequently involving characters disguising themselves as one another), and satirical comments on social class.
The musical weaves together several stories over one frantic day in Rome. And at the center of it all is a rascally Roman house slave named Pseudolus, who dreams to be free. He sees his chance through the love-sick eyes of his young master, Hero, who has fallen hard for Philia, a beautiful virginal courtesan who lives in the house of ill repute next door.
Complicating the plot is that Philia has already been sold to the frightening, bull-like Roman Captain Miles Gloriosus. And further complicating Pseudolus' plan is Philia is also being chased by Hero's philandering father, Senex. Pseudolus must use all of his guile and cunning to win the day and his freedom.
Can he do it? Come and find out. But be prepared to laugh, said Shannon Reeve, a freshman with a fresh face and a warm smile who plays Philia.
“The show is risqué. Mr. Clingman, the director, is certainly taking the some risks,” she said with a smile. “I don't think it's going to appeal to everybody in the Grand Valley, but it's certainly going to be really, really funny,” she said.
Logan Shirley, a junior, plays the role of Pseudolus while Tate Hegstrom plays the love-sick Hero. Hunter Whaley plays Senex and Zac Barger is Miles Gloriosis.
The rest of the cast features about 40 students. And the music will feature a live orchestra of about 30 musicians from the band department.
“What's cool about this is everybody on that stage is a high-schooler. We put in two hours a day, our cast does. We work our butts off. It's not for us. We do it for the audience that comes,” Hegstrom said. “It's very cool to see young people entertaining a big audience.”
And even during rehearsal, laughter booms through the cavernous auditorium.
“I'm having a great time,” said Shirley. “I've always loved musical theater. There's just something about this show, something about farce in general that really have this air of pent up energy that builds and builds until it finally just explodes.”
That has been the key to the show success, which is based on the book by Burt Shevelove and Larry Gelbart and music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim. The musical's won a pair of Tony Awards in 1962, including Best Musical.
“It's a show I've done two times before, once at Mesa State, or now CMU, and once at the now defunct Empire Theater. I've always enjoyed the show. It's been one of my favorites. So I'm happy to be doing it now, here,” Clingman said with a smile.
THE PLAYERS
Prolougus/Pseudolus: Logan ShirleyHero: Tate Hegstrom
Philia: Shannon Reeve
Hysterium: Ricky Oakley
Senex: Hunter Whaley
Domina: Ellie Gossage
Miles Gloriosus: Zac Barger
Marcus Lycus: Lane Melott
Erronius: Shea Hardy
Proteans: Zach Vanhouten, Riley White, Levi Rajonowski
Gymnasia: Jade Smith
Tintinabula: Rayvvn Decker
Panacea: Carisa Russell
Geminae: Alex Wanebo and Keira Lusby
Vibrata: Maria Nappi
Additional Courtesan: India Wanebo and Kay Boelke
Eunuchs: Briggs Oakley, Riley Davis, Conner Martin
Soldiers: Alex Lee, Nick Morris, Gabe Gallegos
