Thespians hold auditions for musical

Student directors from Marianas High School—Dennis Chen, Dowen Jocson, and Joseph Martin—conducted auditions on Friday, Saturday, and Monday for the 6th annual Thespian Chapter Play, which this year is The Secret Garden. More than 35 students showed up to read and sing their way into the production.

The Secret Garden is a musical based on the children’s classic by Frances Hodgson Burnett, originally published in 1909. Its enduring quality stems from the charm and strength of the story. Although the story is now nearly 100 years old and takes place in England, students on Saipan responded enthusiastically when the Thespians of the Western Pacific Islands announced auditions for this chapter play. Students came from Marianas High School, Saipan Southern High School, Kagman High School, Hopwood Junior High School, ChaCha Oceanview Junior High School, Saipan Community School, and Saipan American Education Foundation School.

“I’m auditioning because I think this is a good opportunity to branch out. This can also help you learn how to speak in front of people,” said Anna Zhu, 8th grader from Saipan Community School.

Although Harold Easton, MHS drama teacher, was on-hand as an adviser, the auditions were strictly a student operation. Parents who came with their children were ushered out of the audition studio.

“We let the students handle everything,” Easton said. “Of course, I’m here to step in if needed.”

It didn’t seem that he was needed, though, except to end the auditions on the Saturday call when exuberant students wanted to read more and sing again, taking the stage in pairs.

The three student directors conducted the auditions, looking for specific qualities. Chen typically called the students forward. Jocson and Martin took notes and offered encouragement to those feeling a bit shy. The directors had the auditioners fill out a form, and then read a duet scene from the play. Each auditioning student had to sing a capella, and the directors occasionally asked for a second song to get a better appreciation of the auditioner’s talents.

“The student directors were doing really well,” said 9th grade SSHS student Anna Deleon Guerrero. “Some kids seemed nervous, but did well all the same. I wasn’t nervous about auditioning. I’m nervous about what part I’m getting,” she added.

In previous years, the Thespians have staged shows including Up The Down Staircase, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, Our Town, and Once Upon a Mattress. The student directors of The Secret Garden hope to post a cast list early next week. And then the cast will get busy, because the production target date is mid-November. [B][I](PR)[/I][/B]