Talented young performers preparing to stage Highfields’ upcoming musical, Aladdin, were given support during their half-term rehearsals by a Wolverhampton councillor.
Merry Hill councillors, Simon Bennett and Wendy Dalton, popped into the school to speak to students who have given up some of their holidays to rehearse for the production.
Thirty-five students from Years 7-9 took part in the half-term rehearsals - 10 more than attended Easter holiday rehearsals since Covid rules were relaxed.
Councillors Bennett and Dalton spoke to students about their preparations for the show, watched some of their musical and dance numbers take shape and congratulated them on their efforts.
Students made the most of the half-term sunshine to work outdoors on some of the show’s famous songs - which include Arabian Nights, Prince Ali, A Whole New World and One Jump Ahead - as well as getting to grips with dance numbers and dialogue.
The musical is set in the fictional Arabian city of Agrabah and tells the story of a poor young man who is granted three wishes by a genie in a lamp, which he uses to woo a princess and to thwart the sultan’s evil Grand Vizier.
It is hoped the show will be staged in November in front of live audiences in the school’s Lyceum Theatre, with a spectacular opening night featuring a firework display!
Aladdin is being staged after the school’s most recent production, Joseph & The Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat, had to be live-streamed from the Lyceum Theatre due to strict Covid-19 restrictions at the time.
Ms S Bishop, Highfields’ Director of Performance, said: “Once again, our students have given up some of their holiday to rehearse for the show, which we are all so excited about.
“Since rules were relaxed on May 17th, we’ve been able to have more students in school rehearsing and we made the most of the half-term sunshine to work on the show outside.
“The effort, commitment and enthusiasm of our students really is incredible, so it was great to receive support from our local councillors, Simon Bennett and Wendy Dalton, who came in to speak to them, watch some of the numbers taking shape and congratulate them.
“Our productions take an enormous amount of dedication, and he recognised how much work they put in to make them such a success.
“Aladdin is a great show, with so many catchy songs and big dance numbers, and the rehearsals so far have gone very well, so I know our talented students are going to put on another wonderful show in the summer.
“It will be even more special if the students get to perform in front of a live audience - and I really look forward to the whole community getting behind them to celebrate with them.”
Principal roles have been double cast or triple cast to give as many students as possible the chance to shine on stage.
