The NCHS production of Oklahoma! will be held on March 21st through 24th. Tickets are on sale at the high school office and St. Thomas School. Those wanting to purchase hospitality room tickets need to do so at the high school. Show dates and times are March 21st, March 22nd, and March 23rd at 7:00 and March 24th at 2:00. There were some tickets accidentally printed with a 7:00 show time on the 24th, but it is 2:00.
Each Monday between now and the opening of Oklahoma! we will highlight one of the seniors who will be taking the stage. This week we will be highlighting Megan Hartrich. Megan will be portraying Andi Carnes and is the daughter of Joyce Hartrich and the late Scott Hartrich. Megan is also a student director and dance captain.
Which Musicals have you been in at NCHS and what characters/ roles did you play?
My sophomore year I was in “Beauty and the Beast” as an ensemble member, my junior year I was Lisa in “Mamma Mia”, and this year I play Andi Carnes in “Oklahoma”.
What was your favorite musical and why?
“Beauty and the Beast” will always be my favorite musical I’ve done here at NCHS. This show was my introduction into the theater world and gave me so much confidence and joy. I became family with that cast and nothing can recapture that same excitement from rehearsing and putting on that show. I loved being in the ensemble for this production. There were so many fun dance sequences and characters I got to play, and I got to do it all with my best friends.
What scene in Oklahoma is your favorite and why?
My favorite scene in Oklahoma is the scene I got to choreograph for Issac and Ella. In this scene, Issac flips Ella in the air and they end in an elegant dip. This was so fun to write and even more fun to watch them attempt! When they finally got the stunt down, I knew this would be a stand-out moment in the show that the audience will love!
What are three things being in musical has taught you? And how have you learned these?
Musical has taught me so many important lessons and skills, and I am very grateful for what it has done for me. It taught me to be confident in who I am as a person. The very nature of musical theater is to let yourself be big and present on the stage. It taught me it’s okay to be myself and let my personality shine through in all that I do. It also taught me that community is out there, you just have to find the right people. My castmates have become my family and musical showed me that I am not alone. I have tremendous support from not only my castmates, but from the directors and other theater personnel as well. Lastly, it taught me that pushing yourself past your comfort zone is the only way to grow. Each year I’ve been in musical I have been given more responsibilities and opportunities to shine on the stage. Sometimes it feels like I’m not capable of doing it all, but when I look back on my first musical, I see how far I’ve come and that gives me hope. I wear a lot of different hats in the musical this year, but I’m beginning to believe in my ability because my director believes in me. It means the world to me to have that kind of support.
What are two pieces of advice you would give young people who want to start performing in musicals at NCHS?
I would tell incoming cast members to be confident in who they are and what they do. The people in our department are very loving and supporting, even if we tease each other all of the time. We may make lots of jokes, but underneath it we all really care about each other. Don’t be afraid to let your voice be heard. Don’t be afraid to take up space. We want you here. And never be afraid to reach out to anyone because we’re all there for you. It’s not just about singing and dancing, music unites people.
What qualities do you see exemplified in the adults who help put on this show that you will take with you as you leave NCHS and how do they demonstrate these qualities?
All the adults in the theater department show a tremendous amount of commitment and passion for their work. Amy, Laurie, Jamie, and all the other costumers research, workshop, and edit their garments until they are perfect for the show; spending hours sewing. Not to mention the stressful work they do for quick changes and costume fixes during shows. Dawn and the orchestra spend hours practicing to make sure the show has a powerful and full sound to amplify the work of the actors. Our set construction crew spends long nights making our sets look beautiful and they work hard to come up with ways to make all of Finley’s wild ideas work. Jeremy in the tech booth has such a stressful and key role in our production to make sure everyone is heard clearly. Finley and Kristie spend so much time and effort to make the production look good by writing blocking, making decisions, cleaning dance numbers, and so much more. Their commitment to making our productions beautiful is very inspiring and makes me want to work just as hard as they do.
What will you miss the most once the final curtain closes on your NCHS musical career?
The biggest thing I’ll miss when I leave the theater department is my musical family. These people have become my biggest support and my closest friends. I would not be where I am today if it weren’t for the amazing people I’ve come to know in this department and their tremendous support in my life. Theater has been a place I could go to and feel safe in. It was a place I could run to when I was sad and a place I could be myself. I have never felt so comfortable and safe in one place before like I have in that auditorium. I am very blessed to have been in the theater department for as long as I have and even though I’m sad to leave it, I’m excited to see where my life will take me.
