St. Mary’s theater students finish year with variety show

By Rosario Weston

COLORADO SPRINGS. Joy was the central theme for this year’s spring theater production at St. Mary’s High School.

The committed group of student actors and crew chose a multidiscipline variety show for their spring production after last fall’s highly successful run of the comedy mystery “Murder at the Art Show.”

Students individually selected various numbers from 17 different plays. The diverse range of plays included pieces from numerous well-known and beloved theater standards such as “Aladdin,” “Beauty and the Beast,” “Hamilton,” “Little Women,” and “The Sound of Music.”

The students really put the “variety” in “variety show” as the various performances included musical numbers, dramatic acts, comedy pieces and some superb dancing throughout. The creative effort was co-directed by seniors Madison Lenahan and Carlos Trechter, with support from senior Emma Kay.

A special treat woven throughout the two-act variety show was a three-act expansion on Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet” authored by senior Emerald Cordova and titled “Vengeance Smells Like Roses.” In addition to writing the original piece, Cordova directed and acted in it.

Theater director Daniel Foster praised Cordova for her creativity and fortitude.

“Being on stage can be a nerve-wracking experience for anyone. Being on stage and performing an original dramatic piece that you authored can take nerves to a completely new level. Emerald just nailed it. Shakespeare would be proud!”

Cordova was not alone in drawing praise. She was joined by fellow seniors Madison Lenahan (theater club president), Alex Bodnar, Emma Kay, Dominic Stahoviak, Carlos Trechter (theater club vice president), as well as ten underclassmen who will return for more theater next year.

Principal Robyn Cross attended opening night and had high praise for the student actors and faculty leaders. “Catholic education has ‘truth, goodness and beauty’ at its core. Daniel and Caleb (Smith, assistant theater director) drew out not only the beauty inherent in the performing arts; they created an incredibly joyful and fun experience for the student actors and the audience members.”

St. Mary’s president Deacon Rob Rysavy was also in attendance on opening night and his words echoed Cross’s. “In a school with so many academic and athletic high achievers, it’s also a tremendous privilege to be surrounded by so many superbly talented performance artists. Whenever I come to a theater production, I see young future leaders living out the Parable of the Talents by sharing their gifts with the community. These students are on the stage joyfully giving glory to God through their art.”

The joy demonstrated by the actors and crew for the variety show was contagious. In joyfully giving of themselves and their talents, the St. Mary’s theater crew lives out St. Paul’s words, “ . . . for God loves a cheerful giver” (2 Cor 9:7).

Excellent theater productions and musical demonstrations are an important part of the growing fine arts department at St. Mary’s. Look for an update on the greatly expanded visual arts program in the next edition of the Catholic Herald.

If you know a student looking for a joyful fine arts experience in high school, or any student looking for a faithful and academically rigorous Catholic high school education, call the school at (719) 635-7540, or e-mail admissions@smhscs.org.

(Rosario Weston is the St. Mary’s High School Fine Arts Department Chair)