AAHS’s ‘The Beauty of the Story’ group, ‘The Secret Garden’ group brings children’s literature to life.

Students will be joined by an all-student orchestra, with a full pit as the school’s drama group presents the musical at 7pm 9-11 April in the high school auditorium. There are just as many students behind the scenes who were responsible for designing and building the set, props and costumes, said director Ben Cossitor.

This year’s musical has more drama and depth than previous years, giving students a chance to stretch their playing skills more than in the past, Cossitor said.

The charming children’s book is beautifully imagined by designer Lucy Simon and Pulitzer Prize-winning author Marsha Norman, said Cossitor.

The story takes place in early 1900s Yorkshire, England, and has a lot of tragedy in it, he said.

Director Ben Cossitor and assistant director Michele Dugan speak to the cast and crew of “The Secret Garden” during Tuesday’s rehearsal at the Altoona Area High School auditorium. Mirror image of Matt Churella

The main character, Mary Lennox, played by newcomer Lila Eamigh, was an orphan in India and returns to Yorkshire to live with her reclusive uncle, Archibald Craven, and his disabled son, Colin, after his parents die.

According to Cossitor, Archibald, portrayed by the great Owen Carmel, also deals with grief; he remained emotionally devastated as he mourned his wife, Lily.

After Mary befriends her maid, Martha, portrayed by Krug, she discovers a secret garden, which ultimately leads to the characters healing and learning to be a family, she said.

“It’s a good kind of story,” Cossitor said. I knew it would be a challenge for the kids to be able to explore such characters.

The students have been training since January and are up to the challenge, he said, noting that the crew has been working behind the scenes since November.

Krug, who is also the band’s president, said he has done all the school musicals since his freshman year and none have been more rewarding than “Secret Garden”.

“This is my favorite program I’ve ever been in, and I’m not just saying that because it’s my senior year,” he said. “I really enjoyed this show. It’s a great story and a great cast, and I’m glad I’m off the show.”

Those sentiments were shared by Karmele, who said the cast and crew are a “family” who work hard to ensure the best production possible.

“This is a good thing to go on,” Karmel said, adding that the story is “very relatable and true.”

“I think anyone who comes to watch it will be able to relate to one of the characters,” he said. “I think they will be able to apply what the players learn in their lives, and it will affect a lot of people.”

Karmele said he lost “a very important person” in his life very recently, which made the start of training difficult as he continued to draw many comparisons to the player.

However, playing Archibald has been “a really fun journey so far,” he said, adding that people will love the show.

Cossitor said he thinks so too.

“This show has great music in it.” It’s more of a classic Broadway sound than the kind of pop music we’ve done with shows in recent years,” he said.

The show doesn’t have many flashy dance numbers, but the choreography comes down to how the set pieces are integrated into the story, Cossitor said.

“The scene really changes when the song is being sung or when the scene is being played by these ghosts that follow Mary in the story,” he said. “It adds something really interesting to the show that you don’t always see.”

Cossitor also noted that students worked long hours to bring the school hall to exotic India, the beautiful grounds of Misselthwaite Manor and nearby English estates and gardens.

Senior Attison Batten is the student director who oversees the staff.

“In the background, I’m usually running around, making sure the notes are set and ready,” Batten said. “If anyone has questions or problems, they usually come to me.”

The show has a lot of moving parts that are difficult to pull off, but they all come together to make a great show visually, Batten said.

Stage managers Ruth Cron and Theo Kessling are both very helpful to Batten, he said, noting that they “take a huge load off my shoulders” on each side of the stage.

It’s not just the stage crew that helps him, Batten said, adding that many actors help out behind the scenes, especially the seniors, who have taken on leadership roles within the team.

“I’m so thankful to have such a great community to learn with,” Batten said. “Every part of this show is so talented and passionate, and I’m grateful to be a part of such a great show.”

Cossitor said students also appreciate the support of the district administration and board of trustees, who have created a structured curriculum that allows students to work during school hours.

That, in itself, is a huge opportunity for students, Cossitor said, noting that it opens more doors for students to have more time to practice.

“It’s not always just money. Usually, how much time do we have to work with these kids to pull this off,” Cossitor said. “Having (the team) is one of the reasons why we can do what we do.”

Tickets for the show can be purchased online at www.altoonaasd.booktix.com. Cost is $5 for students and $10 for adults, plus online processing fees. Tickets are reserved seats and will be available in advance in the high school student booth and at the door 45 minutes prior to each performance.

Produce

Lily Craven – Gabrielle Beldin

Mary Lennox – Lila Eamigh

Fakir – Amina Lee

Father – Marissa Rosas

Rose Lennox — Lydia Wisdom

Director Albert Lennox – Dylan Hawksworth

Lieutenant Peter Wright – Liam Diehl

Lieutenant Ian Shaw – Matthew Coble

Major Holmes – Dominic Sparacino

Claire Holmes – Vivian Markley

Alice – Abigail Burchfield

Major Shelley – Joshua Howard

Queen Shelley – Diviney Zolna

Archibald Craven – Owen Carmel

Dr. Neville Craven – Logan Schaffer

Mrs. Medlock – Samarra Wertz

Martha – Camille Krug

Dickon – Greg Wenzel

Ben Weatherstaff – Gaby Sparacino

Colin Craven – Logan Espigh

Jane – Maura Thompson

Mrs. Winthrop – Hailey Hamilton

Dream Ensemble

Novalee Beard, Payton Freet, Hailey Hamilton, Emma Haaraburda, Robert Hartz, Aubrey Huber, Kallie Kunkle, Emmalee Martyak, Harley McChessney, Addy Middleton, Ray Moore, Grace Murphy, Elliana Scott, Maura Thompson, Kayla Wolfe and Jocelyn Zeoli

Advanced Dance Ensemble

Lillian Goodman, Aubrey Huber, Emma Lang and Marissa Rosas

Pit Orchestra

Straw 1 – Gracelynn Beldin

Reed 2 – Delaney Ruddek, Dylan Pasquini

Reed 3 – Darby Hollen

Violin 1 – Jamin Dong, Melissa Krainer

Violin 2 – Jakob Matosziuk, Jenna Zeak

Viola – Morgan Hollern, Elexis Hawksworth

Cello – Ellie Filer, Riley Glunt

Bass – Andrew Sackett

Trumpet – Evan Getty, Heaven Williams

French Horn – Taylor Glunt

Trombone – Jack Slusser

Keyboard 1 – Isabella Abbott

Keyboard 2 – Isaac Hillard

Percussion – Nicholas Boose

Workers

Student Director – Attison Batten

Stage Managers – Ruth Cron, Theo Kessling

Set Construction – Molly Burk, Natalia Christensen, Ethan Franks, Haylie Hall, Robert Hartz, Jasper McMullen, Leland Porta and Anna Shay.

6th Grade Fall Design Set: Gabrielle Beldin, Haylie Hall, Archer Makarikas, Quinn Pierce, Sasha Ramsey, Maura Thompson, Samara Walter and Lydia Wise

6th Period Spring Engineering Physics Class: Archer

Makarikas, Owen Piper, Alexander Wilkes and U’Rye Williams

Students in the GACTC Cabinet Making Group of Mr. Grush:

Donovan Heller, Aaron Kurty and Liam Chirdon

Set Painting — Novalee Beard, Natalie Etters, Riley Glunt, Chassity Greenwood, Bailey Hostetler, Nevaeh Kirsch, Elijah Lucio, Jaelyn McClellan, Lucille O’Brien, Sasha Ramsey, Sean Roland, Sofia Saracoglu, Ryker Scriver, Adrian Steyder, Adrian Steyder, Adrian Steinki Wenzel

Students in Mrs. Gennaro’s Art Classes: Ella Albright, Mattie Baker, Novalee Beard, Jacob Crum, Brooke Dalby and

Addison Wilson

Props — Nyah Hughes-Thaxton (Propmaster), Mary Angelique Dumaya, Hailey Hamilton, Emma Haaraburda, Aubrie

McCaulley, Jasper McMullen, Adeline Middleton, Ray Moore, Kayla Wolfe and Jocelyn Zeoli

Clothing – Owen Karmele (Designer), Gabrielle Beldin,

Abigail Burchfield, Makayla Jacques-White, Camille Krug, Logan Schaffer, Evelyn Stehley, Gwendolyn Troutman and Lydia Wise

Hair/Makeup – Promise Dively, Jasmyn Lenning, Jaelyn McClellan, Harley McChessney, Jessyca Noel, Gaby Sparacino and Diviney Zolna

Stage Crew – Ethan Franks, Nevaeh Keefer, Jasper

McMullen, Adrielle McNeal, Landon Packard, Leland Porta and Anna Shay

Lighting – Ash Auker (spot), Riley Behe ​​(board op), Riley Glunt and Aurora Snyder (spot)

Sound – Dante McCusker, Axton Batten and Rosslyn Jones (Estimators)

Publicity / Public Media – Korbyn Clifford and Greg Wenzel

Logo/Poster Design – Chassity Greenwood

Workers

Director – Mr. Ben Cossitor

Assistant Director / Choreographer – Mrs. Michele Dugan

Assistant Choreographers – Ms. McKenna Dugan-Marasco and Ms. Anne Diminick

Music Director / Pit Driver – Mr. Brett Keith

Dialect Coach – Mrs. Patricia Stiles

Technical Director – Mr. Dave Borst

Set Painting / Construction – Mr. Steve Smith (Designer), Mr. Dave Borst (Designer), Mr. Caleb Marasco, Mr. Jimmy Burchfield, Mrs. Sue Coble, Ms. Jenifer Deblois, Mr. Anthony Jones, Mrs. Karen Sparacino, Mr. Mike Sparacino, Ms. Wenzel

Picture Gallery – Mrs. Olivia Gennaro

Costumes – Mrs. Karen Hamel (Designer), Mrs. Alex Hamel, Mr. J Hamel and Mrs. Karen Sparacino

Prop Design – Ms. Lucy Craig, Ms. McKenna Dugan-

Marasco and Mr. Bill Amrhein

Program Planner – Mr. Mike Kessling

Headline Photography and Production – Mr. Chuck Meyers (Two 20 Studios)

Box Office/Usher Coordinator – Mrs. Brenda Lenning, AAHS Student Council

Mirror Staff Writer Matt Churella is at 814-946-7520.