Bringing the story to life

A successful stage production requires a strong cast and that includes the talented performers who comprise the ensemble.
Whether singing or dancing, the ensemble plays an important role in telling the story and that’s certainly true of the students who comprise the ensemble for Coal City High School’s upcoming production of “Tuck Everlasting.”
From the opening moments to the closing curtain, ensemble members help tell the story of Winnie Foster and the immortal family she finds in the woods.
This year’s cast includes two ensembles—dance and vocals, but that doesn’t mean they don’t take on both tasks.
The vocal ensemble—Makenna Crater, Kaylee Groves, Tessa Brancato, Addey Connor, Anjalie Medina, McKenna Patten, Eli Fritz, Zoe Smith, Aiden Kostbade, Caleb Kuhel and Evan Rivera—is charged with a multitude of tasks that include a bit of dancing and even moving set pieces on and off stage.
Crater, a senior, said one of the biggest challenges with this year’s production has been putting together the vocal harmonies while learning choreography.
But even with its challenges she enjoys being a part of the production.
“I wanted to be involved in musical this year because I get to be a part of something really special. The people that put together this show and my cast members make every musical amazing. I know every year has different challenges, but the cast works so hard to make it great,” she said.
The dance ensemble is comprised of 10 students—Sophia Jakubowski, Madison Holcomb, Emma Kenney, Luccia Hakey, Natalie Durham, Griffin Johnson, Levi Counterman, Kit Clayburn, DeKotah Rueger and AJ Rodriguez.
Jakubowski, a junior, and Holcomb, a sophomore,  serve as dance captains. It’s a role that often finds them instructing their cast mates on specific aspects of the choreography.
For Jakubowski her favorite choreographed number in the show is, “My Most Beautiful Day,” a song featuring senior Sydney Carlos in her role as Mae Tuck.
“The whole song is with a partner and feels natural doing the steps,” she said.
“Tuck Everlasting” has a lot of dance numbers and that’s a plus for Jakubowski who said,  “Dance has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember, so having so much dancing in  the production is awesome.”
Jakubowski also enjoys performing in the closing dance number and Holcomb said that particular dance is the most surprising part of the show.
“We tell the story of Winnie Foster through dancing only, but it’s truly an amazing piece that I can’t wait for everyone to see,” Holcomb said.
Johnson, a sophomore, believes audiences will be surprised by the intensity and complexity of the dancing.
Counterman agrees audiences will be surprised by the dance numbers and he credits the students’ ability to tell the story through dance to the show’s choreographer.
“Kim Scerine has done an amazing job teaching us and helping us with the choreography,” said Counterman, a sophomore.
Fritz, a freshman, is no stranger to the stage but says this year’s show has been a bit of a personal struggle for him because of the heavy dancing.
“I am not a dancer, but I am working to improve,” he said.
As he heads into his sixth musical, Fritz said he enjoys all aspects of theatre and the community around the program.
Fellow freshman Caleb Kuhel has similar thoughts on the program.
“I’ve found theater to be one of the most fun activities I’ve ever done. The people are kind and it’s also a great learning experience,” he said.
After sitting out last year and regretting it, Rivera is returning to the stage for his sixth production and said the community should come out and see the show because of its good story line and meaning.
And when the curtain close Patten believes audience members will leave talking about, “the amazing choreography and vocals.”
Groves is of the opinion audience members will, “be saying how (last year’s production) Les Mis was so amazing and how the bar was set so high, but somehow a dedicated group of people surpassed that bar.”  
After participating in school plays her freshman and sophomore years, Groves auditioned for her first musical last year and the experience brought her back for a second show.
“I was beyond surprised how much of my heart was stolen by it. Musical is an experience that I’m so grateful being a part of. Not only has it helped me be myself, but it also helped me find myself,” she said.
Many of her cast mates echo her sentiments, saying being a part of the musical means they are part of a family. They also note it’s a highlight of high school, provides an opportunity to work hard on something they enjoy and gives them something to look forward to. And, it just so happens those are all underlying themes in the show.
The musical that debuted on Broadway in March 2016 is based on the award-winning novel penned by Natalie Babbitt that tells the story of the Fosters and the Tucks.
“Tuck Everlasting” will be presented over two weekends—March 7-10 and March 15-17—in the Coal City Performing Arts Center at Coal City High School.
    Reserved seat tickets—$5 students and seniors and $8 adults—can be purchased at cctuck.weebly.com. The website also features a full cast list, creative team bios and a synopsis of the musical.