The Ballard High School performance community has quite a list of accomplishments, whether it be for the orchestra or one of the many choir groups. So tackling a Tony-Award winning musical such as "The Secret Garden" probably seemed like the next step up.
And it was.
"We felt it would help elevate all the kids," said Michael James, instrumental director and orchestra director of "The Secret Garden" musical. "It is a more sophisticated show, but we knew it was a great educational opportunity."
More than 80 students have worked on the spring musical, an adaptation of Frances Hodgson Burnett's 1909 children's novel. The story focuses on Mary Lennox, a young English girl orphaned and sent away from India to Yorkshire, England, to live with relatives she's never met. As she brings to life a neglected garden, new life is restored to her sickly cousin and hardened uncle.
"We have an amazing group of kids this year who just fit for this musical," said Courtney Rowley, choir director and vocal director in the musical. "They've worked hard. We've worked hard. But the kids have really fallen in love with it."
Senior C.J. Eldred, who plays Archibald Craven, said he's really enjoyed the show's complexities. Eldred was recently accepted into the University of Michigan, a prestigious musical theatre program that only accepts 10 men and 10 women out of 800 auditions each year.
Eldred didn't starting performing until he was a sophomore, but he fell in love with and plans to make it to Broadway someday.
"I'm so excited to go to that school and become a professional in music theater and see where it takes me," Eldred said. "I feel theater is a basic expression of humanity. It makes me feel alive."
After recently performing in High School Musical, playing a depressed and grouchy old uncle was definitely a shift, but Eldred said it's exciting to share "The Secret Garden" with classmates.
"It's fun to be able to surprise people, impress them and tell a really cool story," said sophomore Eliza Palasz, who plays Martha. "It's exciting to show people how good this show is."
Palasz also recently qualified for Nationals in the Thespian Society's Solo Vocal Performance even, the first Ballard high student in more than 15 years to make it to Nationals. Palasz was also accepted into a specialized summer school program at the University of Michigan, where Eldred attend next fall.
In addition to these honors and taking on a Tony Award winning Broadway musical, the orchestra and concert choir have continued to win regional events and competitions and for the first time will travel to New York this spring.
The orchestra will perform at the Riverside Church in March, and the concert choir will perform at the Lincoln Center in May. Though Rowley said the trip's a big endeavor, it offers an "amazing opportunity for growth."
"These are the experiences," she added, "that people will remember. They are chances of a lifetime."
As to growing list of accomplishments, Rowley and James said it all boils down to hard work.
"The students here really want to do well. They're motivated to achieve at a high level," James said. "It's a lot of hard work, but it's worth it because these kinds of experiences help kids grow, personally and musically."
For a chance to see the outcome of hard work for Ballard High School's Music Program, "The Secret Garden" finishes its run March 18-20 at 7 p.m. in Ballard's Earl Kelly Performing Arts Center. Tickets are available at ShowTix4U.com, or by calling 1-866-967-8167. Tickets are $12.
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