A Tale of Two Shows

The Bloomfield Hills High School theater department achieved an impressive feat by producing two spectacular shows for their spring performance season. "Six!" The Musical (Teen Edition) and "Holes," both of which took the stage April 23 through 27. "Six!" was student-directed by Harrison Narens (grade 12), while theater teacher Mary Bogrette directed "Holes." Bogrette explained why these two shows were chosen, “'Six!' was selected with a vision to spotlight many leading female roles, offering an ensemble of powerhouse women the chance to shine. To balance that, 'Holes' was chosen for its strong male ensemble and its focus on non-musical acting, giving students a chance to dig deep into character work without the pressure of singing.”

Narens earned the student director position by impressing teachers with an IB Theater project. Narens said, “I wanted a different experience. I’ve always been an actor, and I really wanted to experience what it would be like from the other side. I wanted to see another perspective.” Narens had support from both adult and student assistants. The strong student creative team included a student choreographer, stage manager, set designers, costume designers, and sound and lighting designers. These students formally applied and interviewed for their positions. Several of these creative team students took on the daunting task of working on both shows with professional quality work. Bogrette appreciated their contributions, “Their leadership and dedication were instrumental in helping both productions succeed.” 

Challenges and surprises were expected in order to produce two shows simultaneously. Casting for two shows may have been difficult as student actors were able to audition for either or both shows; however, students ultimately chose one or the other. The biggest hurdle was the set changeover which would range from  5 to 20 minutes. This additional timing was added to an already complex rehearsal and production schedule. Bogrette described an unexpected surprise: student’s adaptability. “Their flexibility, creativity, and willingness to help each other made a potentially stressful process feel like a team victory,” praised Bogrette.

The shows were amazingly executed. Family, friends, and fans were overheard exclaiming, “I’m blown away!” and “They are all so talented!” The cast of "Holes" also performed for grade 4 and 5 students who read the book this year in class. Bogrette was proud of all of the students involved with the two shows and was encouraged that students who hadn’t previously participated in theater got involved both on and off the stage, “Watching them shine made the entire experience worthwhile.” Bogrette would love to see more people enjoying theater and is always looking for volunteers, sponsors, and smiling audiences!