A “Journey to the Past” is what is in store for audience members at Elkhorn High School’s 50th consecutive musical. The popular show is a mix of old and new; an old story with more contemporary musical elements.
“I like this show because it sort of has an older story, it has an older feel to it, but the music is newer, which is kind of fun,” musical director Abby Thompson said. “I really like the soundtrack being newer and the story being old.”
The performances of Anastasia will be held April 11th, 12th at 7 p.m., and on the 13th at 2p.m. in the EHS auditorium.
The show is the 50th musical production at EHS, dating back to 1975. To commemorate this milestone, Thompson said an alumni event will be held Saturday night to honor previous productions and students.
“I pictured us having displays and pictures and things about our past, and being able to tie that into the 50th,” Thompson said.
Anastasia is loosely based on the true story of Grand Duchess Anastasia Romanov’s execution alongside her family by Bolsheviks in July 1918, following the Russian Revolution. Rumors of her survival went on for decades, all fueled by the unknown location of her burial, which led to numerous impostors claiming to be the lost princess. Junior Nola Cowles plays Anastasia, junior Gage Petrick places Demitri, Anastasia’s love interest and junior Taylor Kohn plays Vladimir, a co-conspirator of Demitri.
“All of these actors were really easy to work with,” Thompson said. “It’s always fun to see the progression of production. The more time we spend together, the more rehearsals we have, the more comfortable they are.”
