Theater group unites kids from 9 high schools
WESTON - In the auditorium of D.C. Everest High School, nearly 150 students scramble to get ready for dress rehearsal.
Some push papier maché set props into the cafeteria, awaiting their turn to bring them to the stage. Some run through vocal scales with a piano accompaniment. Others help to apply makeup to actors' faces, preparing them to hit the stage.
All together, it can take almost three hours to get everything ready for the production of the Central Wisconsin Educational Theatre Alliance's production of "Shrek the Musical."
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But that doesn't matter to the students, who come from all over central Wisconsin to participate in the rehearsals for the show. They get to spend hours together, getting to know each other, forging friendships and learning more about the theater.
CWETA started in 1992, the brainchild of Laurie Maegli, who is now the project coordinator and director of CWETA. It was originally meant to involve students in putting on a performance of a Shakespeare play, and people from outside of the community.
"I got an idea to bring in guest artists to direct shows," Maegli said.
The company performed several years of Shakespeare, but then Maeglidecided to transition the program into other types of productions. So in 2005, the company decided to try out a musical — "Les Miserables." The production did so well that the theater company decided to stick with the musical format, putting on productions every other year.
CWETA still brings in a guest artist for every show. In the past, it had professional actors or choreographers. This year, the company brought in Denice Paxton, a makeup designer who has worked to make human actors into green ogres throughout several productions of "Shrek" in southern California.
Paxton has been working with the adult directors and student makeup artists since Jan. 22, teaching them how to apply prosthetics to actors and fill in the gaps with paint.
"I came in and brought designs with me," she said. "I have been training the crew to do this type of makeup."
Paxton will leave central Wisconsin on Sunday, and by then, the local makeup artists, both students and adults, will be pros at applying the silicone pieces and makeup to the different actor's faces.
The company decided on "Shrek" because of its ability to support a large cast, large enough to include students from nine local high schools and several elementary and middle schools. It also fit in with the "educational" facet in the CWETA name, with the ability to create a curriculum that shows students that being different and accepting others for what makes them different is OK.
The theater company gives the curriculum to teachers at schools throughout the area. The teachers are then given the opportunity to purchase tickets to the school matinees of the show. This year, each school day matinee show is sold out.
Maegli, and her assistant director Terry Riska, have been hard at work with the production of Shrek since before Thanksgiving, when the cast was selected. Since then, rehearsals, costume designs and makeup have been a daily focus.
"We strive for professional quality," Riska said.
The musical will open this weekend, with shows Thursday, Friday and Saturday.
David Livingston, a junior at Wausau East High School, is looking forward to performing the musical live, but said he's had a great time rehearsing over the last few months for his role as Donkey.
"I like that it brings in people from all different high schools," he said. "It gives you a diverse opportunity. We work really hard and we love what we do."
Contact Going Out reporter Laura Schulte at 715-297-7532 or leschulte@gannett.com; on Twitter @schultelaura.
When to see "Shrek The Musical" live:
7 p.m. Thursday
7 p.m. Friday
7 p.m. Saturday
7 p.m. Feb. 9
7 p.m. Feb. 10
2 p.m. or 7 p.m. Feb. 11
2 p.m. Feb 12
Where: D.C. Everest High School Auditorium, 6500 Alderson St.
Cost: $15 for adults, $10 for students and seniors
For more information: www.cweta.org.