Senior Yi Ming (Emily) Wang stands in front of a small, captive audience in the Black Box theater in Gabrielino High School’s drama room. Wang has prepared the song “No Longer You” and a short monologue to perform, but she is no novice. This is her very last audition with the Drama Department, and while she is auditioning for any open role, she takes it as an opportunity to shine.
“I’m anxious to be chosen as a main character because I’ve only played side roles and comedy roles,” Wang said.
On Feb. 5 and 7, the Gabrielino Drama Department held auditions for all roles in its spring musical, “Hunchback of the Notre Dame,” which is set to open from April 11-13. The production is set to feature over 30 Gabrielino students in its cast, as well as members of the Gabrielino Orchestra, Choir, and some students from Jefferson Middle School.
“‘Hunchback of Notre Dame’ is actually one of my personal favorite musicals,” senior Gabriela Sanchez beamed, who is acting as assistant director for the production. “As a lover of the original Disney movie, [the musical] brings out in my opinion the best of the novel and also the best of the movie.”
Rehearsals are set to pick up the coming weeks following the conclusion of auditions and the announcement of the cast. The Drama Department held its first rehearsals for the cast on Feb. 12 and 14. They involved a reading of the script and the cast beginning to practice the many songs in the play.
“I assessed the current talent, level, and ensemble that we have because obviously you want to try to get shows that are catering towards the strengths of the actors,” Drama teacher Bobby Hundley explained. “[Notre Dame] was the one that rose up to the top.”
The audition process required each actor to perform a short song of their choice, with those trying out for main roles encouraged to prepare an additional monologue. After they finished, Hundley would ask them to redo certain parts with a different focus or emphasis.
“The audition process, it’s a unique one. I’m really looking for what the performers are going to bring, what are the acting choices that they’re going to bring to show off their strengths?” Hundley shared, also serving as director of the production. “With musical auditions, we’re looking for the performers that not only can hit the notes but can tell a story through song.”
Senior Brandon Torres-Thai tried out for the main villain Claude Frollo, archdeacon of Notre Dame Cathedral. Torres-Thai has been with the Drama Department for 4 years and during his audition, Hundley briefly coached him through his monologue.
“My monologue, it sounded very priestly,” Torres-Thai said. “I want to play the villain.”
Wang came in with few expectations, and while a prolific actor with the Drama Department, she auditioned for any role that fit her vocal range and acting abilities. In the end, she was cast in the main role of Quasimodo.
“Hundley and Julie, that’s the other person that was leading the auditions, they were both really kind. They were giving you input where you needed it and they wanted to see you succeed,” junior Sophia Sanchez said.
The leading role of Esmeralda came down to three different students: freshman Gianna McFarlane, freshman Cali Sadsad, and Sanchez. It was the only part that saw intense callbacks on Feb. 12, right before the first rehearsal.
“Once you go into callbacks, it’s like, ok, now I know for a fact that these people see me as a person that fits this part. So now you try to be better than the 2 people that you’re going up against […] you kind of have to be the best,” Sophia added.
All of the main roles were cast heavily based on the “triple threat of acting, vocals, and dance” according to Hundley, but there remained plentiful supporting roles for the rest of the students who tried out.
“This is one of those musicals where there are no small roles because the power of the chorus comes from a lot of people coming together,” Gabriela explained.
Of course, not everyone who tried out was particularly confident in their ability to sing, even students who had previously been involved with the Drama Department.
Junior Archibald Lai tried out for any part, but he admitted he wasn’t as confident as he was during the fall play, “Midsummer’s Jersey” because it was a musical. Lai would ultimately be cast as Phebus, a loyal knight of Notre Dame.
“I’m still happy because I did get a role that I think I would have been pretty good in,” Lai remarked. “We rehearsed and read the rest of the script, and I really enjoyed […] how my character places [in the play].”
Senior Stanley Ho had no inhibitions and was instead excited to be working with drama for the first time.
“As a speech kid, I’m just basically trained to be calm when I’m performing. So I would say this is my first time singing in an environment like this, but overall, I [wasn’t] necessarily nervous,” Ho commented.
With auditions over, “Hunchback of the Notre Dame” is set to be the most ambitious drama production yet.
“It’s what a CT drama program is supposed to be for the community, one where we’re collaborating with all of the different departments and really creating this like incredible work-based learning experience,” Hundley concluded.
