ALL WE DO IS WIN BY:

BRANDON BARRETT

Before the new construction in the high school, the North Royalton High School Band hosted states for Northeastern Ohio. Many would come to perform, watch or judge. However, with the recent construction and the COVID-19 pandemic, this tradition has been put on hiatus in order to allow for the new parts and renovations of the building to be completed. This past April, the tradition has returned in full force.

Makayla Fulmer, the trumpet section leader, was thrilled to see this tradition return. “I am excited because we haven’t been able to host them during the time I’ve been in high school,” Fulmer said.

Mr. Vitale, director of bands at North Royal - ton High School said, “I’m excited because we are known throughout the state for having a great band program, and we’re known throughout the state for hosting a quality event. They were excited for us to bring that back, and it’s really nice with our new facilities and our new band rooms. We’re able to use our new spaces and kind of showcase our high school a little bit. So it was kind of neat to be able to do that on our home turf.” The judges echoed that notion, mentioning they were impressed with the quality of the school’s new facilities.

Although hosting went off without a hitch, there is a lot of work that goes into making it happen. Marija Djordjevic, the field commander, said,

“I think the most difficult part about it is figuring out how to do each job correctly since there are so many things you have to remember during the event.” For his part, Mr. Vitale stated that, “For me…there’s a lot of behind the scenes stuff. There’s a lot of planning and putting together. You have to figure out, alright, how many music stands do we need; we have six performance spaces, where do we have to get the pianos to…how many sets of xylophones do we need in a room? I talk with the sight reading judges and they say, ‘This is the percussion we need in the sight reading room,’ and I have to figure that out. It’s a lot of juggling and a lot of balancing things behind the scenes so that when 2:30 hits on Friday, every room needs to be set, and we have to have the parking lot for the buses and equipment and it’s a lot of behind the scenes stuff.”

Djordjevic agreed, saying, “I wouldn’t necessarily say it’s difficult, but it’s just making sure everything is in the right place.”

Despite all the work, it is believed that hosting an event such as this will ultimately have positive impacts on the band program and the school at large. Vitale said, “I like the fact that our kids, our student workers, get to see the behind the scenes action, and they get to work the sight reading room, they get to see the interaction with a lot of different bands.” He added, “There’s a lot to be gained by seeing and hearing different styles of music and different ways that directors approach contest. I think that they gain a greater appreciation, and I think our boosters do too, They hear lots of different types of music and lots of different styles of programs, and everyone’s a little bit different, but I think it kind of opens everyone’s eyes to the idea that there’s lots of different band programs out there.”

While States can be complicated to set up, it does a lot of good for the high school and the band program.

BY OLIVIA HARDING

BREAKING FREE: HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL

On March 30, 2023, our very own North Royalton High School opened their first production of High School

Musical to the public. This mega-production demanded weeks and weeks of preparation, but the result was a wild success. The work began with rehearsals, which were typically held Monday through Thursday (with an occasional Friday if needed) after school until about 6:00 pm. During this time, the actors, actresses, and crew spent countless hours memorizing lines, songs, and blocking (which is learning where to go and what to do on one stage). They worked on painting sets, picking costumes, choosing set pieces and props, folding programs, and organizing backstage. Many of the students helped with other tasks during their study halls, open campus periods, and after school (in addition to their scheduled rehearsals).

During the week before the show, also known as “Tech Week,” the entire cast met at the school on a Saturday, and they participated in an event called Cue to Cue. They went through each individual scene, set all sound/ lighting cues, and decided who moved what set pieces on and off the stage. Then, throughout Tech Week, they typically stayed after school until very late to perform some dry runs and dress rehearsals, just to go through the show to visualize how it would be performed.

Senior and four-year-drama member, Colin Finnecy, said he took on the leadership role to help mentor the underclassmen and those who have never participated in a show before. He helped teach his colleagues choreography and rehearsed lines, as well as answering other basic theater questions.

Since the actors and actresses spent countless hours together, the tight-knit bond created by the cast was unmatched.

Freshman Miles Podlogar, who played Jack Scott, as well as worked on the construction crew, said, “I love everything about theater, and getting to know so many people with the same interests as me really felt nice. I can say it really left a good impact on how I view the community here. Everyone is very caring and welcoming. They are definitely like family to me.”

Sofia Savchenko, a freshman who played Taylor McKessie, stated that their favorite memory was when Hope (who played Sharpay) let out the most ear-shattering, haunted scream at the end of “Stick To The Status Quo,” instead of her usual scream during one of the performances. They said that, “Keeping a straight face until leaving the stage was close to impossible after that hilarious performance.”

Amanda Meerdink, another freshman, who played Martha Cox, said, “Throughout my time being involved in many different organizations at the high school, working on this show was my favorite part. I have never been involved in the choir or performing clubs, and yet I was welcomed by everyone with open arms. Mrs. Jahnigan made the show a place where everyone was welcomed, and it really paid off.”

Senior Maddie Geschke, who played the lead role of Gabriella Montez, explained that her favorite scene was the transition between the scenes, “'Counting on You” and “When There Was Me and You.” At that time, her character went through so much emotion, and she was really able to broaden her horizons as an actress.

Finally, Yasin Rizk, a freshman who also played the lead role of Troy Bolton, stated, “I got a lot more recognition as an actual person by a lot of new, awesome people. I’m so happy that I got to try something new. I never thought I would enjoy something as much as I enjoyed acting. I can't wait to do this in future years, and hopefully improve as an actor and singer along the way!”

From the exhilaration after the first show, to the way the cast changed the detention scene each night, there is no doubt that the students of North Royalton High School put in an extensive amount of effort and time into their production of High School Musical. The sense of community created was sensed on and off the stage, because after all, "We’re all in this Together."