Anything Goes sails into port at Sehome High School

Anything Goes opens this Friday, May 15. The show runs at 7 p.m. on May 15, 16, 21, 22 and at 2 p.m. on May 23. Tickets are $12 for general admission and are available at www.SehomeDrama.com.  

It’s ten days before opening night, and the stage, backstage and front of house are full of activity with actor mic checks, setting light levels, arranging props, finalizing costumes, and moving set pieces. It's the top of the very first technical rehearsal for the production. Actors are practicing their lines and movement or quietly finding focus by themselves in a corner while the crew is buzzing around.

Backstage in the wings, flys are being thrown in (lowered) with the operator giving clear warning, repeated by all crew and cast in the vicinity.. “Heads on stage, Lineset flying in downstage!” the lineman yells out. Everyone to stop, look and repeat “Thank you heads!”

Vintage 1930s luggage is lined up just offstage, ready to be used as props for the first transition scene in the show. They are being checked and rechecked by a few students nearby serving on stage crew.

It could have been the start of a “tech” for just about any theatre show, but this particular rehearsal was for Sehome High School’s production of Cole Porter’s Anything Goes.  

Taking on a high school musical is a daunting task with hours of planning, building and rehearsing. Students become leaders and learners in stage management, lighting, sound, costumes, staging, and in this particular show, tap dancing! And the number of students involved as cast and crew for musicals is usually huge. This production lists 33 actors onstage and upwards of 25 involved backstage in some capacity. Even more volunteers and students were involved in building the set, costumes and props over several months.

Director Kandace McGowan shared students have taken on important leadership roles with great success. Nova Holland, Virginia Page and Ada Quessenberry are the stage managers for the show, keeping track of everything backstage. They run rehearsals and manage the tech crew behind stage and in the booth; they will "call" all the cues of the show during performances. Chelsea Li as props manager researched the “1930s aesthetic” of the show and made many props herself. Actor Ryley McPherson served as Ensemble Captain during production rehearsals and, aside from supporting cast members with focus and organization, she also developed a backstory for every character on stage to add another dimension to bring the show to life.

Back to the tech rehearsal.

There is quiet focus as the lighting and sound crew discuss the cues at the lightboard. The technical problem-solving is in real time and it takes time: set pieces are rearranged to create better stage pictures; tape is brought out for marking lighting hot spots for actors, sound levels are set. Tech rehearsals are notoriously slow going. The actors patiently wait and chat quietly with those nearby as the next cue and scene transition is worked out. And this is just the first scene. The enitre rest of the show is ahead of them to work out.

Director McGowan announces, “OK, ensemble, please come back! We’re going to move from the reprise and transition onto the boat, then we’re going to do it again.” 

Once they run through it, the actors in the first scene come back out and notes are given based on what transpired. In one particular note, the director asks the cast to make their exits at a more languid pace, recreating more accurately the closing time at a night club/bar. To achieve the smooth transition, the crew decides to run from the bar scene to the boat scene one more time.  “Ok, bring it all back. We’re going again!” Repetition is key to solidifying.

Tech rehearsals are vital not only to a show’s smooth transitions but to the eventual stage magic. It lays the foundation for the performers to shine.

Speaking of shining. Two of the main characters in Anything Goes are Reno Sweeney and Billy Crocker, played by senior Julietta Herrera and sophomore Kian Monsef. They sing some of the more recognizable classic songs from the show including “I Get a Kick Out of You” and “It’s DeLovely.” Ten days out, they were both still working out scene transitions (where do they go next?) and their multiple quick costume changes. According to costume manager Camryn Samuels, Reno has a costume change every time she leaves the stage!

Read a Q and A below with Julietta and Kian about their characters and what an audience can expect if they attend the show.

Q and A with Reno and Billy (Julietta and Kian)

We asked Julietta and Kian to describe their character, their favorite part of the show and also why people should come see it.

Kian (Billy): Billy is a super fun character who is always going to extreme measures to try and impress Hope. He’s charming, fun, outgoing, laid back, and sometimes a little cocky. The show follows his growth as a person once he falls in love with Hope. He tries to change himself to stop being a rowdy playboy and instead settle down and live out the rest of his life happily. I’m very lucky to have gotten this role.

My favorite thing about being in Anything Goes would have to be the classic songs as well as the super funny script. There’s a lot of small moments in the play that I bet will really crack up the audience and it has given me lots of freedom to just have fun and be goofy on stage. Out of all my songs I would have to say that De-Lovely is my favorite. It is a duet song that I sing with my love interest (Hope) and it’s just a really sweet and fun song.

I think everyone should come see our show because no matter your age or sense of humor, I’m sure the show will make you laugh and just have a good time.

Julietta (Reno): For me personally, the best thing about my involvement in this show is that I love being around so many people with the same interest as me. The Sehome theatre department is truly so accepting and caring. As a senior this has been such an amazing experience and opportunity.

My favorite song I get to sing is the reprise of "I Get a Kick out of You.”

This is a unique show and the way the directors have pictured it for our set and the cast is incredible. You cannot miss this show. It  is full of insanely talented actors, singers, dancers and our tech crew does so much to ensure our set, makeup, lighting, sound and scenes go smoothly.

As Reno Sweeney, I have so many costume changes! Other actors do, too, and we have our lovely costumers at the ready to help us. Almost every time I go off stage, I put on a totally new outfit!  In "Blow, Gabriel, Blow", the Angels and I  go from choir robes to dresses in one spin! 

If I were to describe Reno, I'd say she's bold and confident. She's the kind of girl who looks intimidating on the outside but in reality, has a big heart and just loves to make people smile.