playbill vip

First, we have to say thank you to our amazing Essexville-Hampton family. Because of you, this show became a possibility in our beloved Ankney Auditorium. Because of you and the support of our bond proposal, the musical tradition that started in 1967 will continue for years to come. We hope you see that we are being good stewards of your support by continuing to make improvements.

While working with the Theater Tech students during the first semester, we came across a lighting effect that made the stage come to life under the sea. It was a magical moment for all of us, and I couldn’t shake the thought of doing this Disney show!

Then I went to research.  Hans Christian Andersen’s The Little Mermaid starts off, “Far out at sea the water is as blue as the petals of the loveliest cornflower and as clear as the purest glass...”  “Down there the sea-folk live.”  This set the vision for Disney, but what lessons are contained in this story of imagination that Walt Disney captured?  What lessons will we take with us and make us better people for putting on such a magnificent production?

Ariel is an amazing character. She is brave enough and curious enough to explore a different world, a world that she was told by her own family was full of hate and selfishness. Ariel is ready.  “Bright young women sick of swimmin’ ready to stand!” But she gives up that very voice to follow her dreams. We’ve learned that finding your voice means focusing on what is important. It means singing your heart out and drumming to your own beat. Finding your voice means having the courage to follow those dreams and facing your fears, and finding the courage to learn about others despite stereotypes and difference. These are all lesson that I hope we take from this magical production.

As with any large-scale effort, this production would not be possible without the hard work of so many people and the support of our community. The countless number of volunteers that help to bring the Garber Musical to life is humbling. Thank you so much to our production team. Eric and Jamey, you both have made magic happen on our stage! It has been a pleasure to work with both of you. Garber High School is so lucky to have volunteers and graduates such as you.

Please take a moment to look through our program and visit our generous supporters and advertisers. Their support of the arts is essential. This has been a truly amazing experience from audition to performance. The months of preparation lead to a couple of hours of magic. So grab your snorkel and enjoy your time with us “Under the Sea!”

Musically,

Kunio Ouellette