LAC LA BICHE - The Zombie Night spooky musical performed by J. A. Williams High School students that brought together classes from Drama, Multimedia, Cosmetology and the Grade 9 Fine Art departments for the last nine weeks, wrapped up its week-long run at Portage College’s McGrane Theatre on Friday.
It was bittersweet to know that all the rehearsals and performances are over, says JAWS English and Music teacher Aimee Berland.
“I spent so much time with these guys, they’re like a little family now.”
That little family took their weeks of rehearsals, and after-school sessions and turned it into a stage show that entertained hundreds over their week of sold-out performances. The play was seen by students from other area schools through the week and by community members at three evening shows.
The effort, hard work and final product was an enjoyable experience for performers, crew and audiences, says Berland.
The play is about a high school grad class holding their year-end party at a farmhouse beside an old cemetery. Billed as a "doo-whopping musical (that) pays great tribute to classic horror flicks like Night of the Living Dead, The Return of the Living Dead, and Cemetery High, the play digs into its spooky vibes as zombies are dug up from the cemetery and want to party.
“The show has a very light feel to it. Yes, there are scary moments but ...the audience has laughed and giggled and that’s what we want — we want them to have fun,” Berland said with a broad smile.
Running the drama productions for the last six performances, Berland the Halloween-themed play was a change from the Disney-based performances they normally tackle.
“Sometimes change is good. Usually, with Disney plays we have a lot of set changes and this time around it was nice to be able to focus on the acting and characters… I’ve enjoyed it.”
Future Plays
The community support of this year's performance is a great spirit-booster for the students involved, says Berland, explaining that Portage College, the Lac La Biche Players theatre club and a number of other community donors helped to make the show a success from behind the scenes. With all the valiant effort from Portage College donating practice and public shows at the theater, Lac La Biche Player’s Club supporting the stage’s set and the community
"It means a lot to us," said Berland.
For details on future plays put on by the JAWS crew, she says, the community will have to see. Working around COVID restrictions and school scheduling creates its own challenges on top of the expected pressures of creating a large stage show. But Berland says the success of the Zombie Night presentation has the performers ready to re-animate another show soon.
“The students are still really keen on doing a Disney-theme play next time, but who knows, we will just have to wait and see what the future will hold,” Berland said.
