Ongoing Spotlight: Eastview Theater Students Close Out Successful Year

Monday's Hennepin Theatre Trust Spotlight Showcase saw students honored individually and as a group for the 2010-2011 school year's production of "Thoroughly Modern Millie." Patch spoke with a few theater students as they ended their year, among them senior Sarah Cartwright, who won the Showcase's Triple Threat Award on Monday evening.

Cartwright is a graduating senior. After competing at the National High School Musical Theatre Awards in New York City on June 27, in the fall she will be entering Northwestern University in Evanston, IL. Sarah plans to continue studying acting in college.

Apple Valley Patch: What's your dream role?

Sarah Cartwright: My dream role would be to play Mama Rose in "Gypsy," which is my favorite musical of all time... but I would definitely settle for Louise in the same show as well.

Apple Valley Patch: What's your favorite piece of musical theater and why?

Cartwright: I love "Gypsy" because it's a brilliantly written vaudevillian classic that defies all cheesy musical theatre stereotypes. It's bold, brash, hysterical and heartbreaking, but most of all it's real. Even though the characters are larger than life, they're relatable. I love that.

Apple Valley Patch: Do you hope to stay with theater beyond high school?

Cartwright: YES! I couldn't function if the theatre wasn't a part of my life. I'm going to study theater at Northwestern University next year and I simply can't wait.

Apple Valley Patch: How has performing with your high school troupe enriched your talent?

Cartwright: Performing in high school has gained me lifelong friends, irreplaceable self-discovery and some of the best times of my life so far. Every day I was challenged by my peers and teachers to perform at my highest level and to continue to grow.

Apple Valley Patch: What does today's honor mean to you?

Cartwright: Being recognized statewide for the amount of work we put into what I think was one of our best shows ever at Eastview is amazing. Winning the Triple Threat competition was literally an indescribable validation of the choice I made when I decided to pursue theater for the rest of my life. What an unbelievable culmination of my high school theater career... I'm so proud to have had the opportunity to perform on that stage with so many incredibly talented people.

Brady Beckman is a senior at Eastview High School. He played The Letch/Mama in "Thoroughly Modern Millie."

Apple Valley Patch: What's your dream role?

Brady Beckman: Rooster Hannigan from the musical "Annie." I've already played it—it was fun!

Apple Valley Patch: What's your favorite piece of musical theater and why?

Beckman: "Easy Street" from the musical "Annie." Simply put, it's a very entertaining song.

Apple Valley Patch: Do you hope to stay with theater beyond high school?

Beckman: Yes, I'm doing theater in college.

Apple Valley Patch: How has performing with your high school troupe enriched your talent?

Beckman: It has given me skills and confidence to further my talent.

Apple Valley Patch: What does today's honor mean to you?

Beckman: That there are so many talented people in Minnesota. It's overwhelming.

Bethany Seavers-Templeton is a junior and performed in the chorus for "Thoroughly Modern Millie."

Apple Valley Patch: What's your dream role?

Bethany Seavers-Templeton: I am thrilled to get anything. Though I do have an outlandish dream of being Helen Keller in "The Miracle Worker" (which is not a musical).

Apple Valley Patch: What's your favorite piece of musical theater and why?

Seavers-Templeton: The rewarding feeling after a great performance—especially with difficult choreography.

Apple Valley Patch: Do you hope to stay with theater beyond high school?

Seavers-Templeton: Community theater, probably.

Apple Valley Patch: How has performing with your high school troupe enriched your talent?

Seavers-Templeton: I feel it has given me the discipline and focus to achieve any of my goals.

Apple Valley Patch: What does today's honor mean to you?

Seavers-Templeton: It is an acknowledgment of all the hard work this group of people have put into this.

Ben Habegger is a junior who performed in "Thoroughly Modern Millie."

Apple Valley Patch: What's your dream role?

Ben Habegger: My dream role would have to be Charlie Brown, from "You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown." It was one of the first Broadway musicals that I ever saw, and I've always loved the music. However, playing Lumiere in "Beauty and the Beast" would also be a lot of fun. Either role would be amazing.

Apple Valley Patch: What's your favorite piece of musical theater and why?

Habegger: It's so hard to choose just one Broadway song as my favorite. But "Purpose" from "Avenue Q" as always meant a lot to me. It's just a great optimistic song that has always helped me realize that I can do anything in life if I set my mind to it (as cheesy and cliché as that sounds).

Apple Valley Patch: Do you hope to stay with theater beyond high school? How has performing enriched your own talent?

Habegger:  I don't plan to be involved in musicals after high school, which kind of makes me sad in a way. Being in high school musicals has really helped me branch out and meet new friends. It has also helped me with my confidence to speak/sing/perform in front of a crowd. I've had nothing but a good time being involved in these musicals, and I'm really going to miss it  when I graduate next year.

Apple Valley Patch: What does today's honor mean to you?

Habegger: There are many ways to answer this question. To put it simply: To be honored today means to be recognized for something that you've accomplished. Whether it be something small and simple, or something big like winning a Spotlight Award as a lead role.