19 hours Ago By Teri Cadeau
DULUTH — Theater students at Harbor City International School have been traveling back to the time when video killed the radio stars, girls just wanted to have fun, and the kids in America just wanted to be woken up before they go-go.If you couldn't guess, they're going "Back to the 80s" with their spring jukebox musical, which features over 25 songs from that decade.Director Chani Ninneman said after putting on a very serious production of "Antigone" in the fall, students wanted to perform a more joyous production.
"Can we just let people enjoy themselves and smile and feel good for two hours? I think we needed the contrast this spring," Ninneman said. "So it is a musical filled with cheesy, fun ’80s references and music that many people will recognize."Ninneman said it has been interesting working with the students on the show because they sometimes don't recognize the song or reference at first, then go home and talk about it with their parents and understand it more.
"The biggest challenge of it has been the music, as we have over 25 songs and that's a lot of music to learn," Ninneman said. "But we have these talented student musicians who have risen to the challenge and a very large cast to sing as well."Often, high school shows rely on adult musicians or recordings of the music to accompany students, but a group of four students and the school's band director have formed the central band to play all the pop and rock songs in the show.
For senior Avery Sorensen, the show was a fun chance to play music he grew up listening to with his father. "It's been around me all my life, so I know it and it's not unfamiliar, though there are a couple of songs I hadn't heard of before," Sorensen said. "I didn't know that 'Love Shack' was from the '80s, but it's been the most fun to learn to play.
"Sorensen plays guitar and sings. Fellow senior Xander Ripley-Jaakola plays bass and tambourine and sings as well. Ripley-Jaakola said he wanted to join the spring show after seeing last year's production of "Working.
""It looked like fun, I wanted to be part of it," Ripley-Jaakola said. "So I raised my hand in choir and asked Miss Ottjes if I could play this year."Sorensen provided some original music for the school's fall production of "Antigone" and plays in a band called Brainwashed.
Ripley-Jaakola also plays in a band around Duluth called Rocking Rodents."They've been practicing together once a week outside of rehearsal since February," Ninneman said. "And every time I sneak out to watch them play, I'm blown away at the high level these students are working at.
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These are real musicians you will genuinely enjoy listening to."Harbor City band teacher Nicole Ottjes has been working with the four show band members while also working with the acting students on their vocal performances. She said it's been a fun challenge to tackle all the parts of her job at once.
"This show is every aspect of my job rolled into one event. I teach everyone their parts and then we put it all together," Ottjes said. "And I play the keyboard, so I'm also conducting via a head bob while playing with the band.
"Ottjes said it's been fun to acquaint the students with songs that were popular when she was in school."It's so funny that the kids know a lot of these songs and like them and that they're still in pop culture," Ottjes said. "But it has been surprising where they learned them from.
A lot of movies use this music, or they heard it in the background of a video of a hamster meme or something. It's been interesting."If you go What: "Back to the 80s" When: 7 p.
m. Thursday, Saturday and Monday; 2 p.m.
Sunday Where: Harbor City International School, 332 W. Michigan St., Duluth Tickets: $10 adults, $5 children]]>.
