Drama Club consists of theatre students, lovers, and enjoyers. Recently they held auditions for a musical by Stephen Schwartz and James Tayler called “Working.”
Stephen Schwartz is a critically acclaimed American musical theatre composer and lyricist. He wrote iconic Broadway hits such as “Godspell” and “Wicked.” James Tayler is a major contributor to the music in this performance that is most known for being a Grammy-winning pop and folk singer-songwriter. Students that were interested were asked to prepare their monologues and a musical song for the auditions.
“Working,”’ a musical by Stephen Schwartz and James Taylor, is about normal lives and everyday struggles of American workers. This musical is adapted from Studs Terkel’s book and includes two of James Taylor’s iconic numbers. The songs that are featured are very high-spirited and powerful.SAS Sophomore Max Bognar plays Rex, a hedge fund manager. Bognar explains, “This production is slightly different in the way there aren’t really lead roles. Everyone has their own time to shine, really.”
Bognar hadn’t always been involved in the acting realm. However, he had worked as a theater tech for the past year and decided he “really wanted to act.” He reflects that being a part of this club “really feels like (being a part of) a family” and also expresses that “it’s some of the most fun” he’s had. Through being a part of this supportive group, Bognar also shares, “You really learn to support everyone. You also learn about dedication, hard work, and how it pays off.”
As for the meaning of the musical, Bognar emphasizes the importance of perspective, “Some people live lives we have no idea about and this musical really shows those perspectives.” He hopes that “empathy is really conveyed through this musical” because uniquely so, this musical happens to be based off of real interviews on real people in the working class.
As for personal experiences and behind the scenes of the musical, Max and many other actors, technicians, set designers, came together to make this amazing project into what it became. The included students all agree in saying that the most amazing part of it all is the fact that this was “created by North Hollywood’s student talent.” They share behind the scene experiences that show the tight knit family they were able to build through the project but also the club itself.
In addition, SAS Sophomore, Hazel Carpenter describes their own experience with preparing and performing for this musical as “stressful but worth it.” They were able to make many new relationships and memories that reflect the fun time they had through being a part of the drama club. Carpenter also expresses that they wish the “audience would take away the important message that the musical conveys” about the American working class and “acknowledge how hard people work.”
As for the audience’s reflections, many took away the message that the actors hoped would be conveyed. HGM Sophomore, Alexander Padilla, reflected “the musical exceeded my expectations. I came to support my friend, Max Bognar, but ended up really enjoying the show.”
Like many others, Padilla agreed that this musical expressed a deep message about the regular working class around us all. Padilla adds, “The performance clearly conveyed real experiences of the working class and I really appreciated that.”
The wide audience, including Padilla, took away the important message that North Hollywood’s Drama Club hoped to convey through this unique and special experience; that everyday labor is deeply connected to human identity and dignity. As this performance had true meaning for the cast and audience, in experience and the show itself, it truly left “a lasting impression” that sets high expectations for the future productions of North Hollywood High School’s Drama Club.
