![IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Junior Zalie Mann performs “I Love to Cry at Weddings,” an ensemble piece from the fall musical Sweet Charity, to prospective students during the Fine Arts Showcase on Wednesday, Nov. 8. The showcase is a compilation of performances and demonstrations from each fine arts strand offered at McCallum. This show is put on so that prospective students can see if they are interested in joining an academy or major.
Sweet Charity originally ran the weekends of Sept. 28 and Oct. 8, but made a comeback for the Fine Arts Showcase.
“[Being at the front in the spotlight] is my favorite part of the whole dance, so I was super happy to be on stage performing and smiling at the audience,” Mann said.
Mann performed in both the musical theatre performance and dance excerpt “Ethereal,” a contemporary piece choreographed by the new dance director Terrance Carson, in the showcase. With also being a dance ambassador, Mann got to talk about what MAC dance is, her experience and answer any questions the aspiring arts majors and their parents may have.
Caption by Maya Tackett.](https://bestofsno.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/53321803427_47cd17fe70_o-1-1200x800.jpg)
![SPREADING THE JOY: Sophomore Chim Becker poses with sophomores Cozbi Sims and Lou Davidson while manning a table at the Hispanic Heritage treat day during lunch of Sept 28. Becker is a part of the students of color alliance, who put together the activity to raise money for their club.
“It [the stand] was really fun because McCallum has a lot of latino kids,” Becker said. “And I think it was nice that I could share the stuff that I usually just have at home with people who have never tried it before.”
Becker recognizes the importance of celebrating Hispanic heritage at Mac.
“I think its important to celebrate,” Becker said. “Because our culture is awesome and super cool, and everybody should be able to learn about other cultures of the world.”
Caption by JoJo Barnard.](https://bestofsno.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/53221601352_4127a81c41_o-1200x675.jpg)
When Stroudsburg High School announced the musical would be “The Prom,” the student body and local community were thrown into chaos.
“The Prom” tells the story of Emma, a high school student from a fictional place known as Edgewater, Indiana, who sparks controversy when she announces that she wants to take her girlfriend to prom. The Parent Teacher Association (PTA) and community cancel the prom in retaliation. Four washed-up Broadway stars, needing publicity, hear about this bigotry and make it their mission to help Emma.
While the show tells a story of unity and acceptance, it can divide communities.
Although it was a challenge to have the show approved, due to the possible community pushback, Stroudsburg High School’s Principal, Mr. Jeffrey Sodl, pushed for the show earlier in the school year.
While this show may seem different from previous years’ musicals, Sodl believes the message of the show is no different than previous musicals Stroudsburg High School has put on, such as “Shrek” or “Beauty and the Beast.”
“It is about accepting and loving people for who they are,” said Sodl.
Sodl also thinks that performing newly released shows, like “The Prom,” is important and he is glad to be one of the first schools to do it.
He stated that Stroudsburg has always been a district that takes the lead and taking initiative is just what our schools do.
However, not all Stroudsburg students view this as a good choice for a musical.
When he first heard about Stroudsburg’s production of “The Prom,” William Tonnies, 11, was displeased.
“My initial feeling was an overwhelming disappointment. From my experience doing the sound for ‘Beauty and the Beast’ last year, I was excited about what the music program was capable of,” said Tonnies. “But, when I discovered the musical was, ‘The Prom,’ I felt differently.”
He stated that the musical goes against his religious beliefs, saying the story pushes the idea that homosexuality should be encouraged and supported.
Although he said he loves everyone because of his Christianity, Tonnies expresses that “The Prom” motivates people to venture down a path of sin.
Tonnies also believes that the musical does not correctly show the conservative point of view – making conservatism seem like the “bad guy” of the story instead of keeping an open mind to all political views.
I think it’s really important for our students to be represented and for the people in the audience to see that they’re just like everybody else, leading them to acceptance.“
— Ms. Lisa Rogers
He is not alone in these ideas. Throughout the music program, students have reacted poorly to “The Prom.”
During auditions, fewer students showed up compared to previous years, and ticket sales have been slower than those for “Beauty and the Beast” last year.
Ms. Billye Kubiak, a Stroudsburg High School teacher, and Director/Choreographer for the musical, is certain that this is nothing out of the ordinary.
She believes that most shows just cannot compare to the popularity of a classic musical, like “Beauty and the Beast.”
Kubiak spoke about the show’s importance, stating, “Musicals aren’t just about the dialogue, singing, and dancing. This musical has a story that should be and needs to be told.”
Others in the community see this play as a progressive way of creating visibility for LGBTQ+ students.
Benjamin Domanski, 12, stated, “The backlash the musical is receiving is insane. We are a public school and we are allowed to have diverse opinions.”
He believes that people need to adjust their traditional views because it is now 2024 and if anyone still believes that homosexuality is a sin, they need a severe reality check and a dose of acceptance for their neighbors.
Domanski also expressed, “This pushback is ironic because other schools around us are putting on ‘Sweeney Todd’ and ‘Chicago.’ These are shows about literal cannibalism and prostitutes, and gay people kissing is the one being disparaged. It just shows how biased and bigoted these people are.”
No matter how you view this show, Stroudsburg has always prioritized supporting local students in the arts. Tickets can be found in the main office of Stroudsburg High School from 8 am-1:30 pm or at the door of the shows on April 12, 13, and 14, 2024, and cost $12 for adults, $10 for seniors, and $8 for students.
This story was originally published on Mountaineer on April 10, 2024.
