By Riley Murphy

Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

At first glance, one might mistake the music echoing from Mayfield Secondary School's practice room for the Into the Woods soundtrack, but it's the students themselves warming up for this year's Fall production.

Performing Act One of the musical, students could be seen dancing across the room, completing lifts and bounds.

Those on and off stage had nothing but pride and passion dancing across their faces as they both watched on and participated in the rehearsal.

Not only the students, but also the teachers.

This year's musical is set to hit the stage from November 6 – 8, and Mayfield invites everyone to join them in the magic.

Into the Woods, with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and book by James Lapine, follows classic Brothers Grimm stories in this dark yet humorous fairytale musical, and Mayfield is putting their own special charm on the production.

Mayfield students Morgan Scholz and Anshika Saini are stage managers for the show and are currently assembling all the pieces, including sound, costumes, and set, to complete the first part of the production.

The two sat where the performance would eventually be held, surrounded by costume racks and set pieces.

They shared that the process for the musical began before summer even came to a close, with students vocally warming up and getting used to performing with one another.

“We're starting to see it come to life,” says Tracey Freitas, Director and Drama RAP Teacher with Mayfield SS. “That's the part that I love the most, just watching them watch it come together and watching them realize that it's coming to life.”

“You see everyone learning something new every day and forming new connections with each other,” says Scholz.

“The whole story is about magic and friendship and love, but it really is magical when you see it come to life, and the show nights are going to be incredible,” says Saini.

Within the production is a team of more than 200 students, 10 teachers, and a handful of staff members.

Scholz notes that many students from different departments may not have collaborated before, but through the production, “they're becoming a family.”

“We're able to work off each other, bounce off ideas. People are able to find themselves in their characters, which is really exciting. Everyone backstage is putting in mass amounts of hard work and teamwork to put the production together as well. It's just incredible to see everyone working together,” says Scholz.

Saini says she notices many looking forward to rehearsals every day.

“The arts are why these kids come to school,” says Freitas. “They come to life when they come to rehearsal after school.”

Scholz says the students are learning how to sing, dance, and act all at the same time.

“It's a lot to take in, but we have teachers who are supporting us, and staff and admin, and everyone's really welcoming, everyone's able to build off their skills and hopefully have some new ones when they leave at the end.”

When you come to see the production, Scholz says you'll see a “great show of youth talent and hard work.”

“The talent that these kids have is unmatched,” says Freitas. “I watch a lot of professional theatre, and these kids do a fantastic job. The talent in this place is pretty incredible and if you come to watch this show, you're going to get your money's worth.”

Saini says this is far from a “normal high school production,” and Freitas adds that the students are displaying professional-level work.

Working on this production, Scholz says, has been an incredible experience.

“I've met so many people that I wouldn't have regularly got to meet because of this production, and I've learned so many skills. What it takes to not only bring people together, but want to work with one another and want to be better in what they're doing,” she says.

Freitas has invested hundreds of hours in these types of productions, and says it's all worth it to see the students thrive.

“My favorite part is when the show goes up, just stepping back and watching them create all the magic. My job is done and they do it all, the kids do everything,” she says.

These three hope that after watching the production, audiences will understand the vital importance of the arts.

Saini and Scholz say that it's more important now than ever.

“The arts and the ability to see people express themselves and have yourself expressed through art is one of the most important things that people can have. So hopefully when people leave, they have a smile on their face, they have a new favorite song, or they have a new favorite dance move that they saw someone do. But just walking away feeling excited about what youth can do when they're able to have these opportunities to do such,” says Scholz.

“It's so exciting,” says Saini. “I love working with everyone that's on the cast and I love talking to the teachers and learning from them especially.”

Everything from conducting to choreography to set design, Mayfield teachers have been there every step of the way – with Brian Troung, Music Coach and Music RAP Teacher, Melina Pereira, Choreographer and Dance RAP Teacher, Melissa Locke, Vocal Coach and Music RAP Teacher and Jason King, Set Construction and Drama RAP Teacher, working alongside Freitas and the students.

Ticket prices are $20 and the production is being performed from November 6 – 8 with all shows beginning at 7:00 pm.

To purchase tickets, visit peelschools.schoolcashonline.com/Fee/Details/445145/145/False/True.

“Come and watch these wonderful kids,” says Freitas.