High-energy senior musical makes for good fun at Greeley

Left to right back row: Mitch Rubin; Sophia Kraushaar; Nathan Becker, and left to right front row, Juliana Sheff and Marly Levine at rehearsal for Return to the Forbidden Planet the Horace Greeley High School senior musical.
March 26, 2010
by Jean Sheff

The energy in the auditorium is palpable. Standing side-by-side in jeans, sweatpants, Uggs and sneakers more than 150 members of the class of 2010 are sandwiched on the school auditorium stage. They’re learning the choreography to one of the popular songs in this year’s senior musical, Return to the Forbidden Planet. As they shake and shimmy their hearts out the 50s tune “Great Balls of Fire” roars to life.

An always-frenetic, never-a-dull-moment tradition at Greeley

The senior musical is a much-loved tradition at Greeley. “This musical has two goals,” explained Inara DeLeon, one of the five parent producers of the show. “It provides a rich culminating experience for the students and raises funds for the Horace Greeley Scholarship Fund.”  The fund awards need-based grants to Greeley graduates to help make their dreams of continued education a reality. Last year they awarded $152,000 in grants to 29 recipients. 

Student producer senior Maile Hamilton, who also appears in the show, noted that a little less than half of the senior class is involved on stage, while many other students participate by providing musical and behind-the-scenes talent. The fact that students come together for the play and relinquish their familiar social circles is one of the most enjoyable and memorable aspects of this activity, seniors have learned throughout the years of the tradition. “It’s amazing, you wind up talking to people you haven’t ever spoken to before,” Hamilton said in earnest. 

The parent producers, DeLeon explained, and the numerous other parent volunteers work behind the scenes helping the students and their artistic visionary, Greeley Theatre Arts teacher Christopher Schraufnagel – known affectionately as “Schrauf” – get the show up and running. 

And where is that forbidden planet anyway?

Not too many people have heard of Return to the Forbidden Planet, but it has a cult-like following in some circles. It was first produced 19 years ago in London’s West End and had an off-Broadway run in 1991 at the Variety Arts Theatre in New York. 

Senior Matt Krakauer who plays Cookie, the hopelessly romantic cook, offers his take on show. “It’s the plot of Shakespeare’s The Tempest plus 50s and 60s pop songs with overtones of a cheesy B-movie set in space.”

Basically a space ship on a mission crashes and lands on foreign territory. Add music and a love interest and there you go. But the show is much more than that; it’s a rollicking good time with, Krakauer noted, special effects and an unusual set design. 

Phil Sieverding, the senior who plays Ariel the cool robot, noted that he has some experience on stage, but this role requires something extra. “It’s the first time I’ll be on roller skates throughout a performance,” he explained. “Try swing dancing on roller skates. It’s tricky.” 

Schrauf’s magic: Finding roles for 150 students in a 10-actor play

Some students in the show have a lot of theatrical experience and others not so much, which is part of the beauty of it all. The concept is to include as many students as possible. It was a challenge for Schrauf. “Originally the play was written for 10 actors,” he noted. So it’s required an especially creative touch to bring this production to life with a cast of more than 15 times that number. 

“It’s a lot of hard work, but it’s fun,” acknowledged senior Mitch Rubin. It was almost 8 p.m. and Rubin hadn’t been home yet that day. He’s also plays lacrosse and is in the Acafellas, Greeley’s all male a cappella group. “I play Bosun, he’s an all-round good guy,” explained Rubin. Although he has some singing experience, like many in the cast, this is his first musical theater production. “There’s a first time for everything and it’s senior year, so why not have a good time?” he posits. A sentiment shared by at least a hundred other students. 

The show features popular, that is old popular songs such as “Tell Him,” “Shake Rattle and Roll,” “Good Vibrations” and “Monster Mash.” There’s dancing, live music and fanciful costumes. All the students need now is an audience. With a cast that enjoys themselves as much as these kids do, it’s practically a given that the audience will rock the night away as well. Besides it’s all for a good cause. 

If you haven’t purchased tickets yet, best to get a move on, because the senior musical is typically a sellout. Ticket order forms are available online at the Horace Greeley High School web site,http://hg.ccsd.ws http://hg.ccsd.ws Look .for the small link in the center of the page. Tickets are $20 for all shows except the Saturday matinee, which offers $10 student tickets. Performances are at 7:00 p.m. Thursday, April 15; 8:00 p.m. Friday April 16 and Saturday, April 16, as well as 2:00 p.m. Saturday afternoon, April 17. You may also email Robin Roude at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) to place a ticket order.

Jean Sheff is a parent of a Greeley senior.