By: Addison Carlson
The students of the Nation Ford Theater Program are putting on the original jukebox-musical “Finding Your Voice” to raise money for the program. Tickets featuring upgraded seating and prices are on sale now for the three shows that will take place on Oct. 23 and 24.
“Finding Your Voice” will be run differently than previous musicals at Nation Ford, and that is by design.
“What makes this different is that this show is led by students,” Nation Ford’s Theater Supervisor Scott Albert says. “It’s directed, choreographed – even all social media and this article is written by students. I am just guiding the process and couldn’t be more proud of them.”
Students involved in Nation Ford’s theater have been working on the productions since the beginning of September, and many have committed to attending afterschool rehearsals and working backstage on set and costume design.
“What I love about this is that there’s a lot of people, a lot of hands…there’s also a lot of people from the tech perspective who have built the sets, done the lighting, done the design work, and there’s a lot of effort that’s going on there that I really would love to continue to highlight,” Albert says.
Aside from rehearsal, Albert also mentions the growing connections he’s seen between students of the cast and crew.
“There’s a sense of energy, but there’s also a level of camaraderie and group that has really grown tight along the process,” Albert says. “People that may not normally walk the halls and talk to one another are now messaging and having fun and trying to get together more outside of just the Theater Department.”
“Finding Your Voice” is an original jukebox musical – which means all of the music is a mix from preexisting musicals while the script is entirely new.
“This is a very family-oriented show,” Albert says, “It handles a lot of different themes around acceptance and around friendship.”
Tickets for the musical will feature varying prices, including VIP seating which will go on sale for $20 that gives audience members closer proximity to the stage.
“I would love to have live musicians for our spring show,” Albert says. The funds raised from the fall show will help to pay for future productions. “I would love to look at upgrading some of our sound and lighting systems in order to support more elaborate set pieces.”
To purchase tickets for the upcoming musical, head to nafotheater.ludus.com. For more information about Nation Ford High School’s theater program, please reach out to the program supervisor Scott Albert at [email protected].
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