As dramatic, operatic grace gives way to comedic nostalgia, so too does 2024’s production of Natasha, Pierre, and the Great Comet of 1812 cede to Masque’s newest show: Xanadu!
Although not a name most students would recognize, many parents and teachers might remember Xanadu as the 1980 cult classic movie known for its perplexing plot and lackluster reception—or perhaps as its 2007 musical adaptation, which redeemed it by altering the movie’s story and style for the stage. Let’s dive into this plot for a second, shall we?
Xanadu follows Sonny Malone, an aspiring artist in 1980s California seeking to create art that means something, as he is visited by a roller-skating Australian named Kira. In actuality, Kira is Clio, one of the ancient Greek Muses sent from above to inspire Sonny to create Xanadu, a roller disco club. The two must avoid falling in love while holding back Clio’s scheming sisters, Melpomene and Calliope, from sabotaging their plans.
Ms. Lotyczewski, director of Masque at the high school, said she chose Xanadu in part for how different it is from the school’s last production—along with taking into consideration the number of roles and how many people are expected to audition.
“I judge the ensemble parts heavily because they do 90% of the work in a show,” she stated, “and I think about whether or not it is an ensemble I would be excited to be in.”
Cait O’Connell, a junior at the high school and a Masque officer, also noted and appreciated the difference between Xanadu and last year’s production.
Natasha, Pierre, and the Great Comet of 1812 “was a huge learning experience and amazing to partake in,” she said, “but it was definitely an intense show and hard to follow at times. Xanadu is a great follow up because it’s a completely different experience from Great Comet as it’s shorter, more acting based, and has a wider range of characters to choose from.”
With the day of auditions—December 13th—rapidly approaching, it can be hard to manage preparations on top of normal school work. After all, there’s a lot to consider when planning to audition! Luckily, most of it can be found listed on the audition packet, copies of which are available outside the choir room for anyone to take.
In order to audition for Xanadu, there are a few steps you must sort through ahead of time. You should first join the Google Classroom for auditions, the code for which is available in the audition packet. Once there, you should fill out the cast audition form, which will include information on which roles you are interested in, along with any experience you might have in singing, acting, or other more unique aspects of this show such as tumbling and roller skating.
After filling out your information, you can sign up for an audition time slot through the Google Classroom as well! Up to five people can share an audition slot, so pick whatever time works best for you—and maybe even bring a friend along!
Before auditioning, though, it’s essential that you practice the material ahead of time. A few samples of songs and scenes are available in the packet to practice, along with sample recordings of the songs to help you memorize their pitch and tempo. Additionally, it could be useful to find footage of the show online and watch it to get a sense for how it sounds and comes together!
One of the hardest parts of preparing for an audition, however, can be the internal struggle. It can be difficult to find the motivation to put in the prep work, and nerves can cause a lot of people to back down from auditioning—including myself. I’ve found it has helped me to ask those I know who have been involved in Masque in the past for information on how various things work and their own experiences, which makes it easier to join than it would be to go in blind.
Additionally, Cait O’Connell suggested that it may help to find and focus on your reason for auditioning, rather than a particular goal like a role. “Are you there because you want to act?” she questions. “Because you want to become a more confident singer? Because your friends are Masque kids and you’d like to have more time to spend with them? Do you just want to have fun?” It’s easier to relax and have an enjoyable time in Masque when you give yourself more actionable goals, rather than fixating on certain achievements and losing faith in yourself if you can’t reach them.
And even for those who might not want to audition, there are always other ways to get involved! This could take the form of simple measures like supporting Masque fundraisers or encouraging your friends who might be involved, or even joining backstage crew, which will be holding sign ups in January. There are plenty of ways to help out and support the show, and any one of them would be greatly appreciated!
Although time is running out on this year’s auditions, for many of us, there will always be another chance—and if not, it might be time to make this one count! To anyone reading this who is planning to audition, I hope to meet you on the stage, and to anyone still considering, I offer one last piece of advice from Cait. In her own words: “Relax, and remember why you’re there. Everything else will fall into place.”
