For many high-schoolers, the play is the thing

PALMER — Theater has been considered a fine art, a form of entertainment and a method of expression since the day Thespis first stepped out of his ancient Greek chorus and became the first actor known to history. His legacy lives on today in the Mat-Su Valley as actors, young and old, traipse across the stages of our high school and community theaters.

Many students in the Mat-Su Valley are participating in theaters around the Palmer-Wasilla area. Some, like Teeland’s Eric Miller, are even trekking to Anchorage up to seven nights a week to rehearse and perform shows, such as “Seussical the Musical, Jr.” which recently ended at Anchorage’s Performing Arts Center.

Palmer, Colony and Wasilla high schools all boast excellent theater departments, all specializing in different aspects of theater. Palmer High, with musical genius Stan Harris, often puts on dazzling musicals. The most current production is “Little Women: The Musical,” directed by Grant Olsen.

Wasilla High is currently engaging in Tournament of the Plays, a competition to determine the best production between classes. Juniors C.W. Twohy and Briggham Perez are co-directing one of the tournament plays, “Bloody Mary.” Aside from the tournament, Wasilla High is also putting on the bitingly comedic show “The Mouse That Roared.”

Colony High School, renowned for dazzling sets and special effects (including last year’s revolving stage and full orchestra in “Les Miserables,” and 2008’s man-eating plant in “Little Shop of Horrors”) tends to put on shows with flair and promises an evening well worth the price of admission. Curtains go up for “The Stage Door,” a drama set in 1930s New York, on Feb. 17. For non-musicals, ticket prices are in the $7 range at Palmer, Colony and Wasilla.

High schools aren’t the only place to see local students perform. Valley Performing Arts offers an inexpensive night out: adult tickets go for just $16. Kait Miller, a senior at Colony High, starred in VPA’s recently ended play “I Hate Hamlet.”

For the younger rising stars, both the Valley Performing Arts and the Palmer Arts Council offer Summer Youth Theater programs. Information on both is available online. To get your tickets, information about a season pass, or news on upcoming theater events, go to www.valleyperformingarts.org or www.thepalmerartscouncil.org. If you haven’t already, it’s time to step out for the night and take a look at youths supporting Valley Theater.

Sofia Fouquet is a senior at Colony High School.