MUSICAL

With a cast of 21 students, plus the student backstage, lighting and sound crews — and the school’s band performing the music — EHS has put together a fun show.

In addition, the school’s arts programs have gotten involved with ceramics classes creating their versions of the plant in the show and creating the poster advertising the performances.

“ ey really have just made me proud,” said Michal McDowell with Evergreen Players, who is directing the show. “ ey are so hard working and motivated and full-on into what they are doing. ey are committed, and they are very fun to work with.” e play centers on a oral shop worker named Seymour who pines for coworker Audrey. Seymour discovers a sentient plant he names Audrey II that feeds on human blood, and the plant attracts a lot of business to the struggling shop. When Audrey’s boyfriend dies accidentally, Seymour feeds him to the plant. Seymour tries to destroy the plant and leave with Audrey. e largest puppet is more than six feet tall and ve feet wide, and dominates the stage.

EHS is using four puppets of varying size to portray Audrey II, and crew members have learned how to operate them. e puppets come from Cory Gilstrap, who is known as Denver’s premiere puppet builder.

Choosing “Little Shop”

Choral music teacher Haelyn Bloxham said he chose “Little Shop of Horrors” because it requires an eightmember cast, though the chorus can be expanded depending on interest.

“We weren’t sure how many students would be interested in participating in the show,” Bloxham said. “If we only had eight people, we’d still have a great show.”

Principal Skyler Artes said she supports the performing arts, and despite dwindling enrollment numbers, intends to keep it.

“I think all large high schools need to have a theater program,” Artes said. “ e performing arts need to be in place. It’s too valuable for students and for the community. e programs might look di erent, but there are solutions.”

EHS is not the only school in the country facing declining enrollment the arts, and Artes said while the pandemic was part of the cause, she wonders if high school’s competing interests are partly to blame. Performing arts activities are competing for students’ time with Advanced Placement classes, college requirements, athletics, other electives and more.

Wendy McCord, co-chair of Supporters of Evergreen eatre, believes the pandemic had a tremendous negative e ect on participation in the performing arts.

She added that feeder programs from elementary to middle school to the high school are not as strong as they could be, so students may not be able to be involved in choir or theater programs before they get to high school.

“ eater is an accepting, open, safe place for (some) kids to nd their people,” McCord said. “ is is a welcoming space for them.”

A love of performing

For cast members, theatrical performances are in their blood.

Performing the part of Seymour is a dream role for senior Luke McCord, who has been involved with theater for years. McCord’s dad was in Ovation West’s production of “Little Shop of Horrors,” which makes EHS’ production even more special.

“ eater provides a family,” Luke said. “It’s an escape from everything. It’s a great support system.”

Sophomore Reid Barnes, who plays Audrey, has been involved in theater as long as she can remember. Barnes said she has embraced Audrey’s character, and called it freeing to sing and act on stage.

Senior Logan Marion helps operate the Audrey II puppets, noting that this is this rst time in a play. He heard about the opportunity to operate the puppets and decided to get involved.

Learning the new mechanical skills of operating the puppets gives him another skill, especially since he hopes to study mechanical engineering in college.

“I have friends in theater,” Marion said. “ e puppets and acting are cool, too.”

WANT TO GO?

“Little Shop of Horrors” will be performed March 9-11 in the Evergreen High School auditorium. Shows are at 7 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday, and 2 p.m. Saturday. Tickets are $15 for adults and $10 for students, and available at evergreenhstheatre.ticketleap.com.

Get a $1 discount on tickets by using the promo code Canyon.

Because domestic violence is referenced in the show, donations for concessions at the Saturday matinee will be donated to PeaceWorks.

All in this together

EHS art teacher Matt Clagett said the art teachers wanted to get involved with the show in their own disciplines, and he asked ceramics students to create their version of the Audrey II plant, and McDowell said she plans to use them in the performances.

“We wanted to help promote the show,” Clagett said. “We wanted to support them and build the program.” e ceramics students added vines, appendages, sunglasses and hats to the plants, imbuing them with their own personalities, Clagett said.

Some drawing students in teacher Sarah Grundemann’s class created prototypes for posters advertising the show.

“We wanted to promote the show with di erent students not in theater,” Grundemann said. “We hoped it would generate more interest in trying out for the show.”

“Our state representatives heard us loud and clear about tra c issues in Bailey,” Robb Green, president of the Platte Canyon Area Chamber of Commerce, said as he introduced the speakers.

CDOT tra c engineer Jason

Nelson said the 36-inch-tall concrete median barriers, called Jersey barriers, would be installed on the approach to the bottom of Crow Hill and through most of downtown Bailey. A sign on the southbound side warning drivers of the steep, curvy hill ahead and other changes will make a big difference, Nelson noted.

A resident was concerned that the concrete barriers might not make a big di erence if a vehicle is going too fast because it could roll over the barrier or hit the barrier and “bounce like a pinball.”

“It’s hard to control every situation,” Ferguson said. “For right now, this is the solution we have.”

In response to a question, Ferguson said a runaway truck ramp on the southbound side of U.S. 285 didn’t make sense because trucks wouldn’t build up speed until they were past the ramp, so the ramp would serve no purpose. and rebuild what is known as the limestone building. Bradley said his son Ross is in charge of the project. e structure sustained extensive damage in a Dec. 15 re. Evergreen Fire/Rescue determined it was an electrical re and ruled out arson. Both Seasonally Yours and Sweetwater Boutique received extensive smoke damage and Seasonally Yours also sustained re damage.

In response to another question, Shane said a pedestrian bridge over U.S. 285 in Bailey was expensive and wouldn’t be considered at this time.

In addition, as part of CDOT’s 10-year project plan, U.S. 285 is expected to be repaved from Bailey to the Je erson County line in 2027.

Nothng is decided yet since it depends on how Je erson County o cials react to any proposal to rebuild or repair the building. e Ross-Lewis Trust will need approvals from Je co before any major work can begin.

Chelsea Treinen, owner of Sweetwater Boutique, and Rachel Nicks, owner of Seasonally Yours, hope to reopen, though they are not sure whether they will wait for the new building or look for new space, preferably in downtown Evergreen.

Treinen said she was able to salvage some of the clothing, soaps and lotions in her store that have been donated to Evergreen Christian Outreach and to a women’s shelter in Denver. She doesn’t go to the store often because of the strong smoke smell, which has permeated everything in the building.

Instead, she has returned in a way to her rst career as an elementary school teacher, volunteering weekly in her children’s classrooms.

She hopes to reopen in downtown

Evergreen, especially because of her involvement in the Evergreen Downtown Business Association and her relationships with downtown business owners.

“I really miss the store, my employees and my customers,” Treinen said. “I think I’ve come to terms with (losing the store), and I’ve accepted that it’s going to take a long time until I can reopen. It was a harsh reminder of how everything can change in an instant. … I want my store back.”