Westlake Word

On January 31 and February 1, 2, and 3, Aladdin premiered in the John S. Whearty Theater. The show, similar to the Disney movie, is centered around a poor street dweller named Aladdin who finds a genie and turns his life around and meets a princess named Jasmine.

 

I saw the production all four times, and I can confidently say that it was one of the best middle school shows I have ever seen. It pleasantly surprised me, and I walked out of the theater smiling every time.

 

Before opening night, Mike Williams, co-director of the show, with his wife Toni, said, “The show is working out really well. These kids are so talented!” It was clear that his energy reflected onto the actors and actresses: every on stage appearance was high-energy and high-excitement.

 

On the last day, many performers could be seen crying and hugging. From watching the kids behind the scenes, I realized that the cast had formed an unbreakable bond. Eighth graders would talk to sixth graders; people would interact with others that they wouldn’t in school. And this connection that spanned castwide is what put the show on another level.

 

Additionally, the kids were very hardworking and serious while rehearsing. The leads and ensemble alike were constantly focused and passionate about being in Aladdin. Apparently, the boys who played Aladdin had 150 lines, and they did not stumble or forget even one!

 

This kind of support and focus was eye opening, because it is rare to find a group of people who are all so fixed upon reaching the same goal and helping each other get there. Similar to coworkers but with a more juvenile spirit, the cast and crew were like a well oiled machine. All shows ran smoothly, the costumes and lights were stunning, and it seemed oddly professional for a middle school show. They set my expectations way higher for other middle school shows to come!