By RYLIE LOCKERMAN, Vandegrift Voice
The wicked cast of evil and good pulls eyes to the stage with potions casted and music echoing throughout the auditorium. Smoke floods throughout, creeping around each character as they strike their final pose.
The Vandegrift Theatre department presented “Descendants: The Musical” last week, directed by Celeste Schneider and tech directed by Jeff Davis. The cast performed this fantasy and comedy duo-show based around renowned villains and heroes.
The four teenagers chosen are the descendants of Maleficent (Mal), the Evil Queen (Evie), Jafar (Jay), and Cruella de Vil (Carlos).
Kaitlin Black played the role of Evie. Prior to becoming a stage production, “Descendants” originated as a Disney musical. Given that both versions are targeted towards children, Black wants to ensure their performance brings out the Disney aspect of the show.
“I want all of the kids in the audience to really feel like this is a Disney show,” Black said.
In the process of creating a magical stage production, cast members attended approximately two months of daily rehearsals consisting of music, choreography, lines and blocking practices. Through these rehearsals, Schneider and Davis notice gradual cast and crew improvement each day.
“Their singing was amazing; it blew me away,” Schneider said. “I don’t hand out compliments easily and I stood up on my feet and gave them a standing ovation.”
For several cast members, this production will signify their final musical as thespians. Senior stage manager Beth Eden prepares for a successful show as this is one of her last shows with the school.
“I realized that there were [new] people that didn’t know what they were doing as much,” Eden said. “It made me realize that I have so much knowledge in my head of technical things, building sets and theater in general. It reminded me [I] put a lot of work into this. It was cool to be able to teach others about it.”
As the cast delve into their parts, they are given freedom to experiment with their characters and perform them in a way they personally believe would be best portrayed.
“I feel like we have a lot of room to work with our characters,” cast member Devon Schaffner said. “It’s not really all that stiff and set in stone, which is something I like.”
“Descendants: The Musical” cast
Alaina Riddle
Alex Fink
Ariana Melendez
Ava Sweetland
Cristina Orozco-Segovia
Devon Schaffner
Elijah Brooks
Emerson Hartman
Ethan Castelo
Evelyn Carpenter
Frankie Griego
Frankie Zabalaoui
Gavin Stubbings
Gracie Lee
Henry Weston
Izzey Riley
Jonathan Smith
Kaiden Soto
Kaitlin Black
Kirin Chheng
Layla de La Fuente
Lucy Draper
Maddie Sparta
Maile Boswell
Max Hunter
Moukthika Nakerakana
Nick Remy
Rachael Richman
Regan Yenzer
Rey Hernandez
Riley Arispe
Sarah Benedict
Sarah Sheriff
Sierra Kinelski
Sydnee Harrison
Vishmitha Kumar
Waylon Muniz
Wesley Jackson
Zak Meisenhelter
“Descendants: The Musical” crew
Adriana Landa
Anna Fox
Anush Gudapuri
Anyssa Perry
Beth Eden
Brenna Milan
Christopher Miller
Elena Paz
Evalina Steadman
Gabriela Duran Diaz
Grace Poinsett
Grayson Westbrook
Hailey Hall
Hamza Hassan
Iglesias
James Verratti
Kate Gregory
Kaylie Redding
Lincoln Hook
Lauren Hogue
Lloyd
Lo Hernandez Peraza
Lyra Williams
Madison Totaro
Maxwell Ditto
Navika Charu
Nylah Berkley
Olivia Lawhead
Reagan Lamb
Ryan Dubinsky
Salem Rizzo
Sal Simmons
Sophie Foerst
Tala Mahjoub
Valeria Euran
Yoosr Hassan
Zoe Harrison
