The Arts Are Alive at SVCS!

More than 30 middle schoolers recently took to the stage for, yes, LIVE THEATER. Under the direction of the experienced creative team with  Megan Mahoney, Kevin Wade, Elle Lucas, and Julia Ott ‘20, Shrek: The Musical JR came to life on the Cutthroat stage. With COVID protocols in place, the performance delighted audiences for its wonderful presentation as well as its representation of our COVID experience over the last year.  

To mark the occasion of the return of  theater for a live performance, the Director’s Note in the program read, “March 13th, 2020 was the last day of in-person school for Sun Valley Community School Middle Schoolers. At the time, we assumed we'd be out for a few days, maybe two weeks, and we would be back to school in no time. We were in the midst of producing the Middle School Musical and little did we know theater would quickly become an unattainable art form. Heartbreaking, especially in a time when we need arts and theatre more than ever.” 

Around the country and the world, theaters are still dark: The West End in London is scheduled to reopen May 17th, Broadway theaters are hoping to reopen by September, and many smaller houses (including local companies) are barred from opening their doors indefinitely by the Actor's Equity Association. Our ability to produce a show here at school has allowed our students and creative team to laugh, cry, breathe, explore, and revel in live theatre once again. Seeing our students come to life onstage has given everyone so much joy.

Working on a musical during the COVID-19 pandemic has proved to be a never ending puzzle. If we've learned anything from this experience, it's that these kids, the faculty who love them, and this community are resilient and will come together to support the arts and our students. We are THRILLED to share this uplifting, charming, funny, poignant musical with you, whether it be over a screen or in person. The show must go on, and we're here to make sure that happens!

 -Megan Mahoney, Elle Lucas, and Kevin Wade