Legally Blonde Jr performed by SHS
By Florence Kalia Times Contributor
As they say in showbiz, “the show must go on.”
And so, with safety a top priority, Strathmore High School (SHS) is presenting its most recent performance – Legally Blonde Junior – to online audiences on May 30 and 31, and June 1 and 2.
According to SHS dance and drama teacher, Deanne Bertsch, COVID-19 has altered only the medium through which the show will be performed to audiences, not the enthusiasm.
“Legally Blonde has been a wonderful experience with wonderful students who support each other,” she said.
The show is about a sorority girl who gets dumped by her boyfriend, said actress Amelia Bradford. “She sees their relationship, however, as true love, causing her to follow him to Harvard Law School. All this sparks her law career and makes her into something amazing.”
This year’s drama class consists of about 40 students, making the show a quadruple cast.
“It has been great,” said actress Shelby Laycock. “Things have been complicated with different groups quarantining at different times, but because of the size of the class, rehearsals have still been doable.”
In the past, SHS had an entrance fee for shows for their various drama and dance productions. “All the money raised by our shows is put back into the theatre program. The proceeds go towards the rights to our shows along with props, costumes and more,” said Bradford. “The shows also provide future and/or existing students the ability to go into our theatre program and participate in our amazing shows for free.”
The students in the class had only positive things to say about theatre and their drama class as well as encouragement for younger students to be bold and sign up for classes like dance and drama.
“All of the people are there for the same reason you are – to act and be silly – so everyone is very open and friendly,” said actress Kyla Parkins. “My experience in the drama class this year has been so fun. We get to sing, dance, act, and just have a good time.”
Grade 12 student Bradford added, “I chose to be a part of this class because theatre has been a safe outlet for me. Our theatre has truly become a second home and a big part of my high school life,” she said. “I’ve been in all aspects of theatre at SHS – dance, drama, glee, and even the technical side, like lighting and sound – and I can honestly say there is a place for everyone in the theatre.”
For Laycock who has grown up performing, “having the chance to be involved in shows of this size has taught me so much about music, community and the importance of making it work even when the circumstances (like COVID) make it difficult. It’s always worth it,” she said.
COVID has impacted both drama and dance productions for all grades at SHS. This year’s Dance 25/35 show is also scheduled to be performed on Facebook Live on June 10-11. “Dance has been very exciting this term as the students worked with masks and told their own stories about ‘shedding their masks,’” said Bertsch. “The mask work was very powerful and the dances the students created were really amazing.”
To watch the production Legally Blonde Jr. and the dance 15 and 25/35 performances, visit SHS Facebook page and find the live shows on the scheduled performance dates.