NCHS Senior Charlotte Schackmann, daughter of Susanne and Kyle Schackmann, will take the stage in the musical performance of “Newsies” as Katherine on April 10 through the 13th, with show times of 7 pm for Thursday through Saturday and 2pm on Sunday. Tickets will be available from cast members beginning February 17 and then in the school offices after that.
What musicals have you been in at NCHS and what characters/roles did you play?
The musicals I have been in include both years of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, White Christmas, Beauty and the Beast where I played Babette, Mamma Mia where I played Allie, Oklahoma where I starred as Laurey, and Jane Seymour in Six!
What was your favorite musical and why?
My favorite musical was Oklahoma. I loved Laurey’s character because I got to display an array of different emotions. There were times when I got to act happy, angry, sad, etc. I also feel as though her personality was similar to my own.
What scene in Newsies is your favorite and why? (This does not have to be a scene you are in)
My favorite scene in Newsies is the restaurant scene where we perform the song “King of New York”. This song is the most fun to perform because it includes a lot of tap dancing.
What are three things being in the musical have taught you? and how have you learned these?
One thing that being in musical has taught me is how to work hard. Musical takes more work than any other extracurricular I’ve been a part of, whether that be work during practices or work you have to do outside of scheduled practice. Another thing I’ve learned is teamwork. There are many times when people will disagree on choreography or have different ideas for the best way to do something. We have to learn how to compromise and not always get our way. A third thing it’s taught me is how to listen. Being naturally inclined to be a leader means that listening to someone else tell me how to do things hasn’t always been a strong suit of mine. Musical has helped me to learn how to be a follower instead of a leader when a situation requires me to be.
What are two pieces of advice you would give young people who want to start performing in musicals at NCHS?
A piece of advice that I would give to anyone who is considering doing a musical is to not let the fear of people judging you stop you from doing it. Anyone who watches the musicals pays to be there; they’re not going to judge you for being in it or make fun of you for really getting into the acting. Another piece of advice I would give is to enjoy your time while you still have it. This is my seventh musical and it still feels like it should be my second. Even though the hours of practice are long and difficult, your time in musical will be over before you know it, so try to make the most of it.
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?
Our directors, customers, set builders, and other adults who help make our show happen all make sacrifices. They sacrifice time at home with their families and free time in general to make our show the best that it can be. Not only that, but our directors deal with a lot of whining, complaining, and overall emotional teenagers, but they keep working with us and try to make us better. This is a quality that we will all take away after high school because there will always be people who are difficult to deal with. No matter how difficult things get sometimes, our directors keep persevering and don’t give up on us.
What about Newsies is different from other musicals you have been in?
Newsies is different from other musicals I’ve been in because it involves much more dancing and stunts. It’s also much more energetic and uplifting than most musicals.
What will you miss the most once the final curtain closes on your NCHS musical career?
When my musical career ends, I’m going to miss performing. I’ve been a performer ever since I was young, and once I leave high school I won’t get that opportunity anymore during college. I’ll miss the feeling of finally getting to put on a show after months of hard work, the feeling of the lights dimming at the beginning of the opening night, and the curtain closing for the last time at our final performance. I’ll also miss the people, especially the ones who have been in musicals with me ever since seventh grade.
