With a cast of 14 students, Alliance High School prepares for the fall musical “Edges.”
\r\nLike everything else about this year, the musical will not be like others in the past. Carrie Chunat, the AHS choir director, has taken every precaution necessary to ensure the safety and wellbeing of the performers and the audience members including limiting the number of tickets sold to just 285 a night. The AHS auditorium has a maximum capacity of 1800.
\r\nThe size and capacity of the auditorium will allow the choir department to safely hold a performance, an opportunity that many other districts do not have this year.
\r\n“We are blessed with a beautiful, large performance space that will absolutely allow us to safely hold a socially-distant show,” Chunat said. “By keeping both our cast and audience small in size, both performers and audience members will be able to comfortably enjoy the experience of live theater again.”
\r\nTickets will be sold online only and will-call will not be available. Patrons will need to show their tickets on their electronic devices at the door. No tickets will be sold at the door. Tickets are $10 for adults and $8 for students and senior citizens. They are available at this website: https://singingaviators.ludus.com.
\r\nFamilies and community members are able to purchase tickets to one of the four scheduled shows. Vouchers are not needed, unlike with Aviator sporting events.
\r\n“I really wanted to find a way to open the show to community members because emotions are running high right now, and without the outlet the arts offer to handle those emotions, people are really struggling,” Chunat said. “We have the perfect venue to make a safe, socially-distant, live show happen, and we need to share that with the community.”
\r\nThe website will only show available seats and it will account for social distancing among families. If you have trouble purchasing tickets, please contact Chunat at chunatca@alliancecityschools.org.
\r\nThe show will take place Thursday, Nov. 19 through Saturday, Nov. 21 with 7:30 p.m. showings and a matinee performance on Sunday, Nov. 22 at 3:30 p.m. The show has a running time of 60-90 minutes.
\r\nThe cast will include Matthew Eversdyke, Kamryn Bondoni, Allenna Bertram, Bryce Lee, Gracie Weaver, Tabitha Poindexter, Kacie Bench, Nikki Cox, Ryan Bench, Mallory Chunat, Zhaniyah Wood, Lily Walker, Anna Eversdyke and Josie Root. “Edges” is a series of dramatic songs with a common theme of feeling “on edge”--the dramas and inconveniences, uncertainties and difficulties or life that young adults and teenagers battle with everyday, and how we can cope. It is presented in more of a concert format; there is no dialogue connecting the songs.
\r\n“The talent and drive of these fourteen students is really amazing,” Chunat said. “Music is so important to them, and it is evident in their work ethic. This show has challenged them to become deeper intellectual performers with challenging music and even more challenging topics and emotions. The kids are doing a phenomenal job--they have been hungry for a live performance opportunity.”
\r\nChunat selected “Edges” as the fall musical in order to give the students the chance to perform in a safe environment that won’t require the students to interact with one another on stage. At all times throughout the performance, the students will maintain social distancing guidelines from each other and maintain at least 12-feet from the audience, as per the COVID-19 performance guidelines, https://coronavirus.ohio.gov/static/responsible/Performing-Arts-Theaters.pdf.
\r\nTypically, AHS puts on spring musicals, but with the cancellation of “Newsies,” the musical scheduled for spring 2020, Chunat felt a fall musical is a performance the students need and one the community will enjoy.
\r\nThis performance also offers a collaboration between the choir department and the media arts and interactive media programs at AHS. The promotional material is being designed by the interactive media students and the media art students will attend the performance to film them. Clips of the performers will be displayed on the side screens in the auditorium offering a great view from any seat.
\r\nUnlike past performances, there will not be an intermission, concessions or a receiving line at the end of the performance. The program will be available via QR codes that can be scanned with smartphones.
\r\n“We are taking every step possible to give our students an opportunity to shine on our stage once again,” Chunat said. “I want the community to feel safe and confident in attending our performance, and I believe the precautions we have in place will do just that. Due to the pandemic, the show will certainly be different from musicals in the past, but it will offer the same amazing students and their remarkable talents. “Edges” is a show that will certainly not disappoint.”
\r\nWhen families and community attend, there will be a sanitizing station before entering the auditorium. All patrons must wear a mask at all times and maintain social distancing guidelines. Patrons are asked to perform self-health checks before attending. If any COVID-19 symptoms are present, please do not attend the performance.
\r\nA fundraiser will be held on Saturday at Buffalo Wild Wings to raise money for the music department. Mention the fundraiser to have a portion of your bill donated. The fundraiser works for both dining in and ordering to go.