Feature
Musical cast readies for performances
FRIDAY, MARCH 21, 2014 - Tiger
Personality Profile: Megan Mellon
By Clem Witherall Sports Editor
By Kira Gabriel Staff Writer
Preparations for this year’s spring musical Beauty and the Beast are in full swing as the cast prepares for opening night a little more than a month away. Rehearsals are being held every day from 3 to 5 p.m. as the performers ready for their first-ever Disney musical. The drama department hopes to follow up the highly successful fall play Yellow and expects the family-friendly musical to promote ticket sales. “I expect more sales because it is so familyoriented,” director Mr. Daniel Enright said. “I’m just praying ticket sales will be solid.” Such emphasis on sales has resulted from Beauty and the Beast’s expenses, which have been increased due to the musical’s elaborate costumes and set design. “We have tons of backdrops but still need to search for more stuff to see what I’ll mix in,” Enright said. “It definitely is one of the most expensive musicals I’ve ever put on, as the costumes have to be rented out.” The school’s most experienced theater veterans will head this year’s cast. Senior David Yang is back for his fourth and final South Pasadena musical as he stars as Beast. Yang’s love interest, Belle, will be played by fellow senior Sophie Negrini. All the main male leads will be filled by upperclassmen. Enright had earlier expressed concern about Beauty and the Beast’s complicated dance routines and the large 27-person chorus. However, he is pleased with the professionalism demonstrated by the cast so far. “We have a really good cast, but with such a big chorus there are people still working in terms of vocals,” Enright said. “Our musical choreographer Ms Toth has been a tremendous help and I like what she is doing.” Beauty and the Beast opens on May 2, with two additional shows on May 3 and May 4.
Junior Megan Mellon initially blends in with the rest of the South Pasadena High School student population. However, subtle details distinguish her from her peers: crimped waves may run through her hair, a slight Irish accent may poke out in a word or two, or she may pick up a phone call from her mom and begin chatting fluidly in Bulgarian. Mellon picked up the accent from her Irish father, and her Bulgarian mother speaks to her almost exclusively in Bulgarian. When her parents met in a factory in then-communist Bulgaria, both learned enough of each other’s language to communicate before getting married and moving away. Mellon herself has had a far from pedestrian life. After she was born in Bulgaria, she and her family moved to Virginia, Canada, and Texas before finally settling in California. This constant movement and change of scenery has made Mellon rely heavily on her family. “Friends come and go, but family is always there. My father travels a lot for his job and only comes home every two months for three days,” Mellon said. “It’s a hard life but my mom is strong and has made a good life for [my sister and me]. I owe it all to her when I look at the life I have.” The unpredictability of her living situations and surroundings has not
Raj Jain
Junior Megan Mellon grew up in various parts of the United States before moving to California, and plans to attend a university in a foreign country. curtailed Mellon’s ambitious nature. She is the president and founder of the SPHS National Honors Society chapter, a student recognition organization, and already has big plans for her future. Mellon attended the National Student Leadership Conference at the University of California, Berkeley this past summer for an introduction to the medical field, and volunteers regularly at the Huntington Hospital maternity ward. Her strong family foundation has manifested itself into a driving aspiration to one day become an OB/GYN, a medical doctor who specializes in birth and female health.
“It’s honestly the best part of my week. I’m always smiling while wearing my little candy-striped uniform,” Mellon said. Combining her life of travel, love for family, and lofty ambitions, Mellon plans to attend a university in the United Kingdom, and is presently studying for the British equivalent to the SAT. “One time, we were in Buca di Beppo and she just started singing along to a random song playing in there. She told me that she loved it, and it was on her iPod,” junior Olivia Brown said. “I don’t think there’s anyone else quite like Megan at our school.”
Cast List for Spring Musical Le Fou - Lucas Cerejido Cogsworth - Ian Geiberger Monsieur D’Argue - Julius Lam Gaston - Jake Levy Lumiere - Abraham Szilagyi Beast - David Yang Maurice - Andrew Zableckis Chip - Courtney Chu Old Woman/Beautiful Enchantress - Melody Gray Belle - Sophie Negrini Wardrobe - Tru Pierone Babette - Ruby Muller Mrs. Potts - Julia Primuth
Illustrations by Annie Lu
Matt Winkel
Sophomore Katerina Levandis and freshman Anissa Santos rehearse their chorus roles for the drama department’s spring production.
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