Grade School Students Help with Upcoming Musical
By Ashley Warnke
As students prepare for the this year’s musical, State Fair, Mr. Endter, Mr. Travia and Mr. Schaetzke have brought in a group of 40 grade school students to perform in several of the main songs. State Fair is the story of a family of four and their adventures at the Iowa State Fair. Naturally, children are a vital piece of a fairground setting. The cast has been accepting and helpful with the younger kids as they learn the lyrics and choreography of the production.
Children from local grade schools join the State Fair cast.
Robert Blumenberg is a junior at Dominican with a lead in State Fair. He explains his character is “Wayne Frake, a man who just turned 21 but is still quite naive. He wants to act like his age but he’s still a kid at heart.” Blumenberg’s character has romantic relations with a singer, Emily Arden, while in the process “finds his inner man.”
Blumenberg appreciates the tremendous help the grade school students offer to the theater program. With the younger children’s presence, it makes the musical look more professional and realistic. Blumenberg expresses how working with the kids can be a hassle at times but it definitely pays off. He states the “kids will definitely be an asset to the show, we couldn’t have lived without [them].”
Grade school students were encouraged to join State Fair, and fortunately children from various schools have volunteered in this production. Jarred Manista, younger brother of junior Tyler Manista, is one of the grade school students in State Fair. He attends Saint Eugene’s in Fox Point and is also performing in the First Stage production of The Thief Lord. Manista enjoys fine arts and was happy to participate. Manista explained how they “just started play practice on January 27th and that they will continue practice on Wednesday and Thursday nights [as well as] Saturday mornings.” This will allow all students time to get comfortable with the production before opening day.
Many students, siblings, and parents are proud of the work that students have been putting into the show so far. Tyler Manista exclaims how he is “proud of [his] brother’s achievements and dedication to the performing arts.” With this type of effort from the cast and crew the musical is expected to be a big hit. The musical will open March 4th and will continue for two weekends. Tickets will soon be available both online and through the box office.
