By: Oonagh Yaged '25
“Let’s run that again!” The director’s voice rings through the theater. For an actor in one of the many Xavier or Notre Dame plays, this is a common occurrence. In the Chez Nous community, many students are involved in these high school productions. Cinderella at Notre Dame on April 28th, 29th, and 30th, and Frankenstein at Xavier on May 5th are two such upcoming plays.
Having a capable director is of the utmost importance when it comes to productions. Here at Notre Dame, Mr. Tyler Miclean directs the musicals and doesn’t take his responsibility lightly. “[Being a director] is a privilege,” he said. “That perspective and influence on the art is rare and requires the intimate trust of producers.” Actors in the musical appreciate his devotion to the craft, as illustrated by Gabby Fried (‘25). “Being in the musical is my favorite experience at Notre Dame so far. I was able to meet so many throughout all four grades, form relationships with teachers, and have a load of fun!”
Over at Xavier, the prospect of meeting new people and creating relationships draws students in, as actors from Notre Dame and Dominican Academy audition for female roles, while some Xavier students take their auditions to Notre Dame. “Being in the musical at Xavier was a positive experience for me. Having the opportunity to strengthen my skills as an actor, and to meet students from Xavier and Dominican Academy added to this experience,” said a Notre Dame student. Not only are these experiences valuable in the theater world, but also life.
Participating in these productions is a large commitment that may take sacrifices, but proves to be worth it when the curtain is raised on opening night. “It’s a lot of hard work but we all get along so well that it makes every rehearsal so fun,” Gabby said. Fun memories aren’t the only thing that the arts facilitate. “I did theater in high school, plays, and musicals. It showed me I had something to offer that people appreciated. It gave me the deep joys of community and family. It tested feelings of jealousy, self-worth, and perfectionism,” Mr. Miclean stated. According to American Alliance for Theatre & Education, students involved in drama performance scored better on the 2005 SAT than those who did not. Being involved in productions also encourages students to keep their grades up and have good attendance to keep their roles.
While the arts have many benefits, it is underrepresented in schools. According to a poll conducted by The Nugget Newspaper of Montana, 24 out of 25 people say that schools pay more attention to sports than the arts. “While on the Notre Dame website, I noticed that each sport has their page, while things like studio and performing arts do not,” a Chez Nous sister pointed out. As a result, students can have a more difficult time learning about what arts opportunities are available to them.
Notre Dame’s Cinderella and Xavier’s production of Frankenstein concluded successfully on April 28th and on May 5th, to resounding applause. The drama departments can certainly look forward to new successes and performances in the days to come.
Photos Courtesy of ND Instagram and Cast Member, Reagan Sullivan '25
Edited by Natalia Cseh '23, Adithi Vimalanthan '22, and Ms. Brillant
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