Jefferson's First Musical Debuts Thursday

For the first time in the school’s history, will put on a musical. 

About 30 students will transform into gods and island-dwellers for a production of “Once on This Island, Jr.” Thursday night at 7 p.m. and for a school assembly performance on Friday.

The production is the brainchild of Jefferson music teacher Alex Buda. He started planning "Once on This Island" last spring with Tarah Tesmer, an eighth grade language arts teacher Tarah. 

“There are dark aspects to it,” Buda said. “It’s not a fluffy Disney show. It has heart. There are emotional parts of it. There’s also a theme of family and what family is.”

The musical is a big commitment for the staff and students -- they rehearse every day after school and on Saturdays. Buda said the scariest part of planning was not knowing how many students would be interested.

Buda and Tesmer held music workshops for those interested to go over the music. Fifty attended. Thirty-two students then auditioned and made it to the cast list.

There’s a good mix of seventh- and eighth-graders, Buda said, and most of them didn’t know each other before the musical. “They’re like a little family now,” he said. 

Very few had performed in a musical before. Some students, like eighth-grader Zachary Mckee, are even in Jefferson’s choir, which is an extra-curricular activity.

“I had just been in sixth grade choir (at ),” Mckee said.

Mckee said the draw was to be a part of Jefferson’s first musical.

 “It’s kind of cool to be part of Jefferson history,” he said. “I like performing on stage. It’s a unique experience.”

The musical will take place in Jefferson’s gym, and much of the costumes, props and stage will be minimal.

Buda and Tesmer purchased some items, like a backdrop and some accent costume pieces. Other than those, they've had to be creative. The students will wear beach wear to give an island theme. A few blocks will be used to different effects for certain scenes.

Eighth-Grader Joey Thompson said he loves playing his character, Papa Ge, the demon of death.

“It’s awesome, it’s fun and it’s really dramatic,” Thompson said. “Ti Moune (the female lead) falls in love with Daniel and I make her choose her life or his. (Papa Ge) kills people. I get to carry a staff and a fake knife.”

There’s great talent in the group, both in singing and dancing, and the students have come a long way since the start of school, Tesmer said.

“It’s amazing how fast they’ve learned the dance moves,” said Tesmer, who choreographs the teacher dance at Jefferson’s talent show each year and choreographed and performed in college. 

Buda and Tesmer hope next year’s production will be even bigger.

“We’re hearing from kids that they wished they were a part of it,” Tesmer said. “We’re thinking next year there will be more of a draw.” 

Tickets are $5 for adults and $3 for students and children 12 and under for the Thursday night performance. 

Songs from “Once Upon the Island” will also be featured at Jefferson’s choir concert Nov. 16.