Schools
Benilde-St. Margaret's Theater Students Honored in Spotlight Showcase
Student production recognized for Outstanding Overall Production of a Musical.
was one of 47 schools to participate in the Orpheum Theater's sold out 2011 Spotlight Showcase Monday night. BSM was recognized for Outstanding Overall Production of a Musical for its rendition of Disney’s "High School Musical." Students performed part of the show in front of a packed crowd filled with the most talented high school theater students in the state. Several BSM students were also honored for individual performances.
Patch caught up with a few student performers to ask them about their life in the theater.
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Lexi Johnson is a freshman at Benilde-St. Margaret's.
St. Louis Park Patch: What’s your dream role?
Lexi Johnson: My dream role is a tie between Alphaba in "Wicked" and Elle Woods in "Legally Blonde."
St. Louis Park Patch: What’s your favorite piece of musical theater and why?
Johnson: From the peices of musical theater I have seen up to this point, "Wicked" and "West Side Story" are by far the best. The choreography and emotion of "West Side Story" captivated me every night, even after seeing it six days in a row. "Wicked" just left me in complete inspiration and awe. After I left the theater I was motivated to work hard on my vocals and to someday be up there belting it out with the best of them!
St. Louis Park Patch: Do you hope to stay with theater beyond high school?
Johnson: Yes! I may only be a freshman, but I plan to continue with musical theater through college and afterwards to Broadway! I played sports for years, but I have never felt so passionate about any activity in my entire life!
St. Louis Park Patch: How has performing with your high school troupe enriched your talent?
Johnson: I got my theater start in my current school's junior high drama department, so, my school is where my amazing theater experience began! Between the amazing choreography and vocals my school has pushed me to become the best performer I can be. So, I guess you could say that it has improved my talent drastically.
St. Louis Park Patch: What does today’s honor mean to you?
Johnson: This honor means so much to me. To be chosen to be honored along with all the amazing talent that i saw up on that stage last night is such a privalege. I can't wipe the smile off my face, because I know that someone found our show outstanding and to me the feeling of someone appreciating your work is one you can get from nothing else!
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Megan Collins received Honorable Mention for Performance in a Leading Role at the Spotlight Showcase. She played Gabriella Montez in Disney's "High School Musical."
St. Louis Park Patch: What’s your dream role?
Megan Collins: I have way too many. "High School Musical" was sort
of a dream experience for me! I always joked about how fun it would be
to be in a “big cheesy Disney musical,” and then it kind of happened!
St. Louis Park Patch: What’s your favorite piece of musical theater and why?
Collins: I don’t know how I could pick! My favorite show
I’ve ever seen was probably "In the Heights." I saw it in New York and
was blown away, but I love big musicals like "Hairspray" and "Wicked" too,
of course!
St. Louis Park Patch: Do you hope to stay with theater beyond high school?
Collins: I’m heading to college next year with plans to be
involved in the school’s theatre department! I love it too much to
ever give it up.
St. Louis Park Patch: How has performing with your high school troupe enriched your talent?
Collins: Performing with my high school peers was the most
fun I’ve ever had in a show. It’s such a privilege to get to be
onstage, dancing and singing with my closest friends. BSM gives us so
many opportunities by bringing in theatre professionals to direct and
choreograph that stretch us as performers, expecting high quality work
from us. It makes us better performers, and ultimately gives the
audience a better show to watch.
St. Louis Park Patch: What does today’s honor mean to you?
Collins: It’s the cherry on top of this whole experience!
It was an amazing show to be a part of, and for professionals to
recognize us, and the work that we’ve done, is a great bonus. We never
expected it, but to say that we were thrilled when we heard the news
would be an understatement!
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Ben Zeman is a junior at BSM.
St. Louis Park Patch: What’s your dream role?
Ben Zeman: I would have to say Danny from "Grease" mainly because I grew up with my parents showing me that movie (as a baby, I didn't really understand most of it) and I love that movie so much.
St. Louis Park Patch: What’s your favorite piece of musical theater and why?
Zeman: I really enjoy "Footloose". Again, I grew up with my parents showing me these old movies and it's just sort of stuck with me. Plus some of the music is just that kind of "get up and dance music," which is exactly what it should be for that show! It's really hard to pick any specific show or song. For that matter, I can pick ones I don't particularly enjoy, but I can't pick just one. There's just too much to love in every show.
St. Louis Park Patch: Do you hope to stay with theater beyond high school?
Zeman: Absolutely. I had a bit of a realization a few months ago that I'm only happy when I'm performing/involved in a show, not doing any other things. And if that's what makes me happy, why not?
St. Louis Park Patch: How has performing with your high school troupe enriched your talent?
Zeman: In every way, shape and form, whether it be from the amazing directors we've been gifted with or just from the people that I meet and my friends. Without their help and support, I could never have pulled off any show or any character. I don't think I would have what it takes to really perform at any sort of a professional level without my high school thespians, crew/directors etc.
St. Louis Park Patch: What does today’s honor mean to you?
Zeman: Everything. I've never performed on such a well-known stage before. I've never really seen professional riggings and a system like that up close before. Our theater doesn't have a high enough roof for riggings and our wings are substantially smaller than A) the Orpheum and B) really any other school stage I've been to.
We have to use our gym as a slip if there's no crossing built into the set. We had to build an apron onto the stage because it's so small and we don't have a true orchestra pit. It's not only a huge honor to perform (at the Orpheum), but to see other performers as well. I was sitting in the audience watching every school perform, thinking that every single person on there is so talented. I was awestruck at some of the performances that were given. My jaw hit the floor a couple of times as well. I've never been more privileged to be able to see all that talent in one theater before and I've seen Broadway shows. To be recognized among the best, with all that talent around us in this state, gives me that warm fuzzy feeling I only get when I'm performing. Truly, I will never forget what I saw and did on that stage. Hopefully I'll have the honor to return next year.