Preview: Emma! A Pop Musical

After the success of last year’s Wizard of Oz, the North Creek Theatre Department has something to live up to and so they bring to us: Emma! A Pop Musical. On Friday, December 1st, the musical will open its doors to audiences in the North Creek Theater. 

“This show is something that North Creek students won’t want to miss,” said Katy Scott, who plays Jane Fairfax.

The musical follows title character Emma Woodhouse, played by senior Abigail Spiker, who acts as a matchmaker for her classmate Harriet Smith, played by sophomore Meilia Altuna. Emma sees herself as the perfect matchmaker, but quickly learns that her skill might not be enough for the dramatic love lives of the students at Highbury Prep.

Last year’s musical, the Wizard of Oz, is a renowned classic with countless performances from schools. The department wanted to make a change this year, and find something a little bit more current.

 “We wanted to do something that was kind of more modern and more fun and had more modern dance aspects to it,” said the musical’s director and producer, Tim Hagerman.

The cast is full of faces we’ve seen in the past, as well as new faces that are making their theatrical debut with this musical, “There’s a lot of new talent and fresh faces in the cast, it’s pretty cool to see these newer actors grow and learn,” said Jack Corlett, a junior assuming the role of Jeff Knightly.

The musical retells the Jane Austen novel by the same name, and takes a modern twist on it. It also draws inspiration from the 1995 film, Clueless, as well as aspects of Glinda and Elphaba’s story from the musical Wicked.

“It is a really heartwarming show that in the end has a really good message,” said Spiker.

The musical also features music from a variety of genres, as well as a variety of time periods. From 1980s pop anthems such as Girls Just Wanna Have Fun by Cyndi Lauper, to power ballads such as Brave by Sara Bareilles.

“It’s Emma! It’s a pop musical. There’s songs from all different genres, there’s something for everyone,” said Altuna.

The theater company has brought on a new choreographer that has been working hard to better the dancing skill of the cast, “When it comes to dance, students are loving it. Our choreographer this year, Ms. Kelly is awesome and we have already choreographed most of the show. The students are having so much fun at our dance rehearsals,” said Spiker.