While most plays have predetermined outcomes for each performance, the upcoming musical presented by Upper Arlington High School will allow the audience to decide the ending.
The Vocal Musical Department at the high school will perform the musical The Mystery of Edwin Drood on Feb. 25, 26 and 27 at 7:30 p.m. and on Feb. 28 at 2:30 p.m.
“The show will be high-energy and fun, especially since the outcome of the show will be
In the Heights
different each night,” says Alissa Ruth, the show’s vocal musical director. “This is a show that keeps audiences on their toes.”
The musical is based on the novel of the same name by Charles Dickens, who died before he could complete it. This is reflected in the show, as it stops where Dickens left off, giving the audience the opportunity to solve the mystery and decide how the show will end.
Directed by David Bahgat and Suzanne Accetta, this musical was chosen by the high school not only because of its uniqueness, but because it is completely different from the last musical, Mary Poppins.
“Upper Arlington has set the bar high in terms of the quality of their Broadway-style musicals, and this will be no exception,” Ruth says.
The story follows a two-act story of Edwin Drood, who is engaged to Rosa Bud, and his uncle John Jasper, who secretly loves Rosa. In addition, Neville Landless, the twin orphan of Helena Landless, is attracted to Rose as well, making an awkward rivalry between characters. After a few twists and turns, the play suddenly stops at the point where Dickens dropped the pen forever, leaving the ending up to the audience.
Les Misérables
The Mystery of Edwin Drood, which premiered in 1985, was nominated for 11 Tony Awards, winning five.
Ruth is in her first year at the high school, and is teaching in the absence of the Vocal Music Director Eric Kauffman, who is on a sabbatical.
“I am having a fantastic year so far as vocal music director here,” she says. “The bar has been set extremely high, the kids are hard-working and talented, and I’m honored that I get to work with them in class.”
“The goal of the vocal music department, chorally and theatrically, is to give the kids as diverse a range of performance repertoire as possible, and this show does that with quality music and a great connection to classic literature,” Ruth says.
Ticket information can be found at www.uavocalmusic.org.
William Kosileski is a contributing writer. Feedback welcome at ssole@cityscenemediagroup.com.
