No auditorium? No problem. The show goes on

The delay in the completion of the Blooming Prairie High School performing arts center was, in a word, disappointing.

Though the students in this fall’s musical, “The Hunchback of Notre Dame,” won’t be singing in a new venue, they’ll still be performing in a new setting: a theater-in-the-round.

As usual, the production will be in the old gym at the high school, but that’s where the “usual” ends.

The gym has been remodeled; the stage – a series of choir risers surrounded by seating on three sides – will be less than three feet off the floor.

While it isn’t the first musical in the new auditorium, the style will be a first for director Tamzen Johnson.

“I haven’t done one – and I’ve done 26 (musicals) – but years ago, they used to,” she said. “My husband graduated in 1981, and in the fall of 1980, they did a play called ‘Tish,’ and it was done in theater-in-the-round. It was the first play I ever saw here at Blooming Prairie High School, because we were dating.”

It was safe to say none of the student-actors had performed in what is also called “arena” or “island” theater, so Johnson drew them a picture.

“Of course, it’s different in real life, but they’re teenagers,” she said. “They’re fearless.”

And they’re fans.

“I like it,” said Mason Simon, who plays Dom Claude Frollo. “It feels more laidback. You just walk off stage, and that’s it. There’s more of a connection with the audience, and I like being closer. We’re more eye-levelish.”

Rachel Winzenburg, who has the role of Clopin Trouillefou, agreed.

”Being that close to the crowd – I’ve never really done that before – and then having more than one side of the stage and using much more of the stage” is a more intimate way of performing, she said.

Jaylee Schleicher, who plays Esmeralda, said the proximity means another thing:

“We have to be extra-good this year, because people will notice,” she said.

Kolby Vigeland, who is Quasimodo, sounded quintessentially Minnesotan when asked how he felt about the new setting.

“It’s … interesting,” he said. “I was disappointed it wasn’t going to be in the new auditorium, but now seeing it, it’ll be fun this way.”

About two-thirds of the 17-member cast was familiar with the story, thanks to Disney’s 1996 animated version.

“The way we do auditions is probably different from other, bigger schools,” Simon said. “We all come in together and say a few lines, and sing a few songs, then Tammy and (Kari) Bottin decide. You pick your top three characters you’d like. I would’ve been happy with any role I got, but Frollo’s been nice.”

Bottin, who teaches music at BPHS, is also a director of the musical.

Both Simon and Vigeland, who got their top picks, said growing up with the music made them more familiar with their character.

“It definitely makes it easier to step into the role,” Simon said.

Knowing the songs also trims the learning curve, they said.

The musical features a small orchestra, “which sounds amazing,” Johnson said.

The orchestra is comprised of Amelia Harthan, of Hayfield, who has provided the music for several years. She is joined by Tanya, Aaron and Ethan Fennell, of Blooming Prairie.

Though Winzenburg had seen the movie, she was unfamiliar with Clopin, so earning that role “was a nice surprise,” she said. “We have a lot of strong leads this year, too, which is fun.”

More fun comes in the form of customized, individual gargoyle masks, made by the students with the help of art teacher Nate Pillar.

A “wrinkle,” as Johnson put it, is the delay in the CTE area of the high school construction project.

“Our shop class normally builds our set, but there’s nowhere for them to build,” she said. “Three men from the community have taken that on.”

This year’s performances will be Nov. 9-11, with a dinner theater on Nov. 11.

“This takes place in 1482 Paris,” Johnson said, “so the menu is French.”

Taher Food Service will bring in a chef from the metro to prepare salad nicoise, coq-au-vin and crème brulee.

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BP Fall Musical

What: Hunchback of Notre Dame

When: 6:30 p.m. Nov. 9-11

Where: Blooming Prairie High School

Cast:

Mason Simon: Dom Claude Frollo

Tyler Anderson: Jehan Frollo/King Louis XI/Saint Aphrodisius

Khara Peters: Florika

Justin Stork: Father Dupin/Statue

Kolby Vigeland: Quasimodo

Rachel Winzenburg: Clopin Trouillefou

Drew Reinke: Phoebus de Martin

Will Sunde: Frederic Charlus/Soldier/Official

Jaylee Schleicher: Esmeralda

Emmaleigh White: Madame

Addison Haugland: Gargoyle #1

Hannah Freese: Gargoyle #2

Jayden Wencl: Gargoyle #3

Natalee DeVries: Gypsy/Citizen of Paris

Audrey Fort: Gypsy/Citizen of Paris

Jossie Munoz: Gypsy/Citizen of Paris