The show must go on, and it finally does!
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Now, 840 students attend Sam Houston. About 160 take Reese’s theater classes, and roughly 25 are active outside the classroom, taking part in drama club and working on shows. “The disappointing thing was, the students were ready,” he said. “They were on track, they were ready to go, but there were other issues — not having all the choreography, not having all the music. So it was things outside the students’ control.”
Jayla Bender, who plays Dorothy, waits for a cue on closing night. Behind her are Keith Tubbs and Jose Felix Combs, who play Scarecrow and Lion.Jayla Bender, 16, had never appeared in a show before she was cast as Dorothy in the spring. She had to balance her responsibilities to"The Wiz" with marching band rehearsals for Fiesta parades, Girl Scouts and tutoring to make sure she kept her grades up.
“Some of the other actors had stage fright, and I felt kind of bad for them, because I had to get over that when I was little so I could dance onstage,” he said. Reese works with Jose Felix Combs as they attempt to draw out a scarier version of the Lion from Combs during his solo"Mean Ole Lion." LaDarrin Collins, Destiny Desha, Kiara Bell and Keith Tubbs read lines in groups during auditions for the school's first musical production in at least 30 years. Reese listens in as the young actors try different roles. Photos by Jessica Phelps.
Marcus Massengale, who originally was cast as the Scarecrow, found it was too hard to balance such a large role with playing basketball. But he still came to a Saturday rehearsal and hung out, hoping for something to do. Ultimately, he played a Munchkin and a Winkie in the musical.The rehearsal schedule Reese mapped out in September swiftly derailed. Most of the actors had other commitments, so rehearsals often were dictated by whoever showed up.
Juniors Ash Sanchez and Mia Rosales are among the student actors who worked weeks after school and on weekends to make the show happen. Junior Jayla Bender, cast as Dorothy, finishes her solo song in the spotlight during a rehearsal of “The Wiz.” Photos by Jessica Phelps. "I feel amazing," he said."I am so happy they clapped. I’m so happy people enjoyed it. I saw their faces, and they had a good time. It was so worth it."
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