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.

Jessica Dykstra performed at the Spotlight Showcase on Monday night.

Apple Valley Patch: What's your dream role?

Jessica Dykstra: My dream role is to be Tinkerbell in "Peter Pan."

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

Dykstra: My favorite piece of musical theater is "Phantom of the Opera." "Phantom" is my favorite piece because of the music and the story line; both are very captivating.

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

Dykstra: I do hope to stay in theater after high school. I just really enjoy the whole experience, the people and of course the acting/singing.

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

Dykstra: Working with the Eastview theater department has really given me a taste of the acting world and the difficulties and the fun that come with it. This theater department has really helped me improve as an actress.

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

Dykstra: Today's honor means a lot me and the whole cast of "Millie" at Eastview. The honor of being in the Spotlight Showcase is like an ultimate payoff for all the hard work that was put into our production.

Gabrielle Richmond is a junior. She played Gloria in "Thoroughly Modern Millie."

Apple Valley Patch: What's your dream role?

Gabrielle Richmond: My dream role would be [to play] Cosette from "Les Miserables."

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

Richmond: My favorite part of musical theater is the performances. I love being able to do what I love and let go on the stage! It feels amazing!

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

Richmond: I hope to go to a college with an excellent theater department. My life would be so different without theater!

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

Richmond: It's taught me so much about technique and how every element needs to be thought about while you're on stage, from the way you breathe to your posture.

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

Richmond: It felt amazing to be honored again! I love performing on that stage and it's incredible to see how much theater, and what we do, actually means to people!

Michael Selchow is a senior at Eastview.

Apple Valley Patch: What's your dream role?

Michael Selchow: My dream role is Moritz Stiefel from "Spring Awakening." It's a bit of a heavy show with fantastic music that I listen to all too frequently! I've seen it two different times, and both times I've found new ways to relate to Moritz on a deeper personal level with the struggles he faces.

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

Selchow: I've got two favorite pieces. The first one is "No Good Deed" from "Wicked." In this song, Elphaba talks about wanting to protect the ones she loves, but loses hope and becomes frustrated, blaming herself for everything that has happened to them. It climaxes with Elphaba questioning whether one seeks to do good deeds benevolently or if good deeds are fueled by a lust for attention. The song makes me think deeply about the choices I make and why I do so.

The second is "Lily's Eyes" from "Secret Garden." I enjoy "Lily's Eyes" because of its mellifluous harmonies and its content. It is a beautiful male duet about how a young girl reminds two men of a girl they both were in love with.

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

Selchow:   I absolutely hope to continue theater beyond high school. I am, however, attending Marquette University in the fall to pursue computer engineering, but I wish to do theater in addition to my primary focus. I also participate in community theater during the summer, and I hope to keep doing that well into the future! It's fun to perform with a group of talented people of all ages from across the local area.

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

Selchow: The biggest way performing in high school has enriched my talent is through the raw experience and journey, but also through the many opportunities our directors give us. I've gotten to rehearse and perform with incredibly talented people that I'm proud to call friends, and I've been able to learn from and work with the best team of directors around.

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

Selchow: Being given the opportunity to perform in not one, but three different ensembles in tonight's performance means more than I can begin to describe. The thrill of performing on the Orpheum stage to a full house is something that I will never forget. And we owe it to Spotlight, our fellow performers, our directors, parents, friends and anyone else who provided opportunity, encouragement or support along the way. I feel honored to be allowed the chance to sing, dance and act with people from all over Minnesota who share the love for theater.

Madeline Swain is a sophomore theater student.

Apple Valley Patch: What's your dream role?

Madeline Swain: Ariel in "The Little Mermaid."

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

Swain: "Annie," because it's fun and energetic!

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

Swain: Yes!

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

Swain: I have become a stronger actress, vocalist and dancer because Eastview strives to make our productions the very best they can be!

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

Swain: It is a privilege to perform on the Orpheum stage and I've had a blast! I also know that all of our hard work is appreciated.