August 10, 2005
Alumni reprise best roles
Best of West show features numbers from eight years of musicals at WSH
By Carol South
Herald contributing writer
From Patience through Aida, eight years of West High School musicals have dazzled sold-out audiences for multi-show runs.
For two shows this weekend, the school will present highlights from each musical featuring 30 original leads. A back up chorus of 50 singers plus a mini pit orchestra, all current and former students at the school, round out the show. Proceeds from the show will benefit the Chorale's trip to Europe next summer.
Setting aside school, work and family commitments, these leads are reprising their original roles and returning to a stage that meant so much to them. Working on a tight production schedule crafted by Russ Larimer, choral director at the school, these professionals and college students carved out the time to help younger singers. They are coming from as far away as Florida, New York, Boston, Chicago and Lansing to participate.
"It's fun coming back here, it holds a special place in our hearts," said Khaki Pixley, a 2004 graduate who is now studying at the Chicago College of Performing Arts
Sharing a stage with the people who inspired them to sing, whose performances they watched while in elementary school or junior high, is icing on the cake.
"I'm just really excited to meet all the people in earlier musicals, so excited but also intimidated," Pixley added.
Amy Baumann, a 2004 graduate of West now studying at the Manhattan School of Music, added about prior graduates like Justin Avery who have gone on to professional music careers: "They're out living the dream we all want to achieve."
Most of the show will be presented in concert style with some dramatic presentation; some original costumes will be worn as well. A piece from West Side Story will feature a dance number. Larimer, who has considered the idea of a "Best Of" show since last year, sifted through the songs in each show to choose the best.
"There's not a common thread between the shows other than these outstanding musicians and some of these roles where they really made it big, locally at least," he said. "And we think we've zeroed in on some of the most outstanding pieces."
Picking up songs from a few or more years ago can be a challenge, and leads at Thursday's rehearsal occasionally peaked at the score to refresh their memories. Many of the musicals were not taped because of copyright and licensing agreements so the cast is relying on memory, professionalism and an intense week of rehearsals. Ever organized, Larimer sent every lead their music last month, although many still had a copy of their songs.
Members of the chorus who will back up the lead singers have a tall order of learning music from all eight musicals.
"I've learned 15 songs for this," said Alison Goss, a 2005 graduate of West High School. "I like the challenge."
Larimer noted that the 'yesses' came rolling in fast when he started asking his former students to help with the show. He initially floated the idea to some of the visitors who stop in every year at the end of the school year; their enthusiastic response told him the show had potential.
"Everybody, everybody was excited about it," he said. "That gave me such a great drawing base to contact others."
Best of West will run on Friday, August 12, and Saturday, August 13, at 7:30 p.m. at the West High School Auditorium. Tickets are $15 per person and can be reserved by calling the West High School box office at 933-7509.