Been Working So Hard

Central High School is gearing up for its first theater production in about 14 years. The last show Central performed was "Little Shop of Horrors" during the 2008-09 school year, according to Central Principal Stephanie Thompson.

Led by Director Rachel Wagner, the students will put on "Footloose" from March 30 to April 1. All three performances will start at 7 p.m. in the Central High School auditorium.

This production was made possible by an anonymous donation of $25,000 from the Dragon Pride Foundation. This donation was specifically intended to "bring theater back" to Central, according to Wagner.

The director

Wagner is a first grade teacher at Spring Cove Elementary, but her original background was in theater. Wagner's mother was a director and a traveling performer in a musical comedy group in the '70s. She began Altoona Community Theater's (ACT) drama workshops. Wagner was involved in theater but lost interest in high school. Her passion was reignited when one of her friends "dragged" her to an audition during her junior year of high school.

"The rest of my life went on that path," Wagner said.

After attending Pitt for theater, Wagner went to Mount Aloysius to get her teaching degree. After teaching in Altoona, Wagner started at Spring Cove Elementary and moved her family to Martinsburg.

"I wondered about the theater program, or lack of one," Wagner said.

After the Dragon Foundation's donation came through, Wagner reached out to put her name in the running to become the director of the show.

"My passion used to be performing, but as I've gotten older, directing has become my passion," Wagner said.

She made it clear that in taking this show on, she wanted to be a big part of revitalizing Central's theater program.

"I want to do this forever," Wagner said.

Wagner was hired and was able to assemble her own team and choose the show. Wagner "know[s] 'Footloose' like the back of [her] hand" after directing and being involved in multiple "Footloose" productions.

"I didn't want to do something obscure," Wagner said. "I wanted the kids to be interested. 'Footloose' is a good sized show and there aren't huge costs. It was doable and appealing."

Wagner and her team set up for auditions with 100 print-outs and clipboards. The set was partially delivered right before the audition date in December.

Despite her participation in an estimated 50 shows throughout her life, Wagner was met with a situation completely foreign to her: there weren't enough people to be in the show.

The kids

Seven students showed up to audition: six girls and one boy. Though a talented bunch of performers, Wagner knew she would need at least 19 participants to cover the speaking parts alone.

With the support of Thompson, Wagner visited classes during the day to encourage students to try out.

"I just passionately explained what a big opportunity it was," Wagner said, noting how special high school theater can be.

"I promise you, no matter who you are, what you do, this will be a memorable experience," Wagner told the students.

The high school had a second audition during the school day. Wagner and her team tried as hard as they could to make the process as unintimidating as possible. Wagner told students they didn't have to dance or sing; she just wanted them to come "check it out."

This is when Wagner realized how foreign this process was to Central students.

"Most of them were one or two when the last production was done," Wagner said.

According to Wagner, many kids refused to dance or sing until they realized that Wagner and her team would be teaching them everything.

"They said, 'Oh, teach me what to do, and I'll do it,'" Wagner said. "That's when I knew. It was going to be from the ground up."

All of the students assembled onstage and sang "Happy Birthday." Wagner encouraged them to say some lines and sing a little bit.

From the second audition, Wagner was able to fill the 19 speaking roles and an ensemble of 10 more. After everything was set, Wagner wondered if kids who had no experience in theater would take the production seriously.

She was not disappointed.

"Their instincts were great," Wagner said. "They all came and listened. I explained every little detail and they just took it in."

Practices began in January with about two and a half weeks of music rehearsals. Choreography rehearsals were next, followed by blocking for the show. Every step, Wagner was worried the students might back down.

“Every step of the way, they kept knocking my expectations out of the water,” Wagner said.

The cast now practices four days a week in preparation for opening night next Thursday.

“They have learned and worked so hard,” Wagner said. “It’s so different from somewhere where it’s the norm. They had to start from scratch and were willing to show up and do it.”

The support

Wagner was able to cut down this year’s budget slightly by random chance: though she selected “Footloose” based on her experience, it happened to be the 25th anniversary of the show. Concord Theatricals launched a nationwide competition to provide 10 schools with a complimentary license to perform “Footloose.”

Wagner had to write an essay on how dance has changed Central’s school community for the better.

Wagner wrote that Central hasn’t had the opportunity to be changed by dance yet, but this could be the students’ chance. Central was named one of 10 winners earlier this year.

Tickets for the show are now on sale and are available online.

“Our school community is really excited for the upcoming musical showcasing our students’ talents,” Superintendent Dr. Betsy Baker said.

Wagner and Baker noted that advertisements for the production’s programs sold very well, thanks to local businesses.

Though Wagner can’t be sure of the future for the theater program at Central, she has had many people ask about next year.

“Starting a theater program is a large undertaking,” Wagner said. “There needs to be a lot of support.”

While the generous anonymous donation made this year possible, more donations and funding will be necessary to make future performances possible.

The cast of “Footloose” includes the following performers: Micah Simpson, Annabel Shippey, Izzy Boyer, Lila Kyle, Jonah Strayer, Marah Goff, Mikayla Kelly, Jaycie Butler, Isaac Smith, Lydia Shingler, Joey Winston, Parker Hinish, Hunter Keith, Korbyn Horon, Bailey Dodson, Miranda Little, Libby Dodson, Kaitlyn Olivieri, Callie Smith, Aubree Bloom, Elizabeth Bookhammer, Evan Brumbaugh, Freeman Claar, Annabella Delgrosso, Tiana Eicher, Aeriella Green, Faith Lingenfelter, Kacey Rodland and Rachel Theys.