6/05/08

High school thespians invited to walk the red carpet

by Beckye Randall

Several Marysville-Pilchuck drama students are looking forward to thrill of the red carpet when they attend the sixth annual 5th Avenue High School Musical Theatre Awards on Monday, June 9, at Seattle’s Benaroya Hall.

Lela Kovalenko, Nick Poling, Chris Mudd and Scott Foss are nominated for 5th Avenue Theatre high school musical awards.

The school’s spring musical production, Stephen Sondheim’s “Into the Woods,” garnered nominations for three performers, the musical director, and the show’s orchestra.

Lela Kovalenko, a senior at M-PHS, is nominated for Outstanding Musical Direction for the show. Lela, who has been singing since “before she can remember,” provided accompaniment and vocal coaching for singers as they learned their parts for the challenging score. A self-taught singer and pianist, Lela continued to offer individual and group vocal instruction throughout the 4-month rehearsal period. She also performed the principal role of the Baker’s Wife in the musical fairy tale, and her mother made many of the medieval-style costumes for the show.

Nominated for Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Non-Singing Role, freshman Scott Foss played the spunky Milky White (a cow).

“We had so much fun,” said Scott. “Into the Woods” was Scott’s first experience in a high school musical production and “it was a total blast.”

Nick Poling and Chris Mudd, who played the comically vain Princes, are up for an award in the category of Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble Group.

Nick, a junior, is a theater veteran and was in last year’s “High School Musical” at M-PHS. “This show was so much better,” he said. “The material was certainly better quality, but all the performances were also improved over last year.”

Although he’s a senior this year, “Into the Woods” was Chris’ first musical. He had a role in a production earlier this year of “The Odd Couple,” which apparently whetted his appetite for performing.

As graduating seniors, Chris and Lela are planning to continue their acting studies as they transition to college next year. Both plan to attend Everett Community College before transferring to 4-year schools. Lela is actually close to completing her associate’s degree through the Running Start program.

The school’s drama teacher, Roy Klementsen (Klem to his students), must have done something right, because both Lela and Chris are also considering teaching careers.

Klementsen has been at M-PHS for four years. “We were freshmen together,” said Lela with a fond smile.

All the students agreed that Klementsen made the year of theater fun. “And he builds great sets,” added Nick. “Very creative and professional.”

The school day schedule includes two drama classes, each with about 30 students, but auditions for the two annual productions are open to all students. The fall show is typically a comedy (“Clue” is planned for next school year) and a big musical is mounted in the spring.

“About half the cast of ‘Into the Woods’ were new to theater,” said Nick, “and it’s great to see new people getting involved.”

Asked if they were concerned with additional competition for choice roles, the students agreed they are eager to share the spotlight.

“If you have stiff competition and you get the part, it’s so much better,” explained Lela.

The show’s orchestra, under the direction of former drama teacher Brian Kessler, is also nominated for a 5th Avenue award for Outstanding Orchestra. Kessler recruited musicians for the elite orchestra and conducted each rehearsal and performance.

Klementsen applied to the 5th Avenue Theatre for consideration in the awards program and a team of judges was assigned to review a performance. Seventy-three schools and 7,900 students from across the state competed for the nominations in 21 categories. According to Molly Fortin, spokesperson for the theatre, “The 5th Avenue high school version of the Tony Awards is designed to shine the spotlight on high school musical theater programs, and offer drama students the same recognition that accomplished high school athletes have received for decades.”

Students and teachers are excited about the big night at the 5th Avenue Theatre. It’s a formal event, so “the prom wear gets another go,” said Klementsen.

We’ll offer the standard theatrical good luck wish to the nominees: Break a leg!