The cast rehearses for Something Rotten at Crescent Heights High School. (Photo Courtesy Derek Brade)

By Chris Brown

It's show time at Crescent Heights

Resilient students finally getting Something Rotten! to the stage

Jun 24, 2021 | 3:21 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB – Back in the winter amid COVID’s second wave and heavy public health restrictions Jennifer Davies and the drama students at Crescent Heights High School were determined that the show must go on.

And now it will go on.

“This is quite an accomplishment to be able to come together and overcome all these obstacles and still create an amazing musical,” says Davies, the director and school drama teacher. “A lot of the time I just wanted to provide a good opportunity for the kids to perform and be with each other. Never in my wildest dreams did I think that the show would be this amazing and the students through their resiliency would be this outstanding.”

“This is an incredible accomplishment for everyone involved. Parents, students, teachers, it’s just a wonderful thing for Crescent Heights High School.”

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Davies says these have been the most difficult circumstances she’s encountered in her 25 years of teaching.

She says over the course of the year the students had many, many months of Zoom dancing in their basements or dancing in their garages. For the singing, vocal director June Reid and pianist Shauna Kohls-Walters, both of whom Davies calls fabulous, recorded music and the kids would practice independently at home.

“A few Wednesdays ago we were still doing Zoom rehearsals,” Davies says.

Today was just the seventh full group rehearsal for Something Rotten!.

It’s the story of the Bottom brothers who are the main competition to William Shakespeare, says Davies.

She calls it a super fun show that she’s been dying to put on for a while.

“A few years ago I took my class to see it in New York and it was agreed it was one of their favourites,” she explains. “This is the first opportunity the show is available and we took that opportunity. I just thought I can’t pass it by with so many good performers who want to sing and dance.”

Due to public health capacity limits in the theatre the students will perform in the school’s theatre Friday and Saturday for small groups of family.

Though most Hatters won’t be able to see the show live, Davies says it will be recorded and posted online for the public to watch this summer.