“Cats” premieres at Red Oak High School Feb. 26-28

 Red Oak High School’s vocal music students are putting their touches on a world-famous Broadway show for area residents next week. 

Andrew Lloyd Webber’s “Cats” will be performed at 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Feb. 26 and 27, and 2:30 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 28. 

The local production is directed by Red Oak High School vocal music director Tim Marsden. 

“To my knowledge, this will be the southwest Iowa premiere of this musical,” Marsden said. “No theaters outside of Omaha have attempted this one, so it’s a big deal for us.” 

With a cast of 45 students, Marsden said the show’s format is quite different from those of other well-known musicals. 

“This is a really intense show,” he said. “A normal show would have around five chorus numbers where everyone is involved. This show has 15 musical numbers where the full cast is involved.”

Marsden said the cast is rising to the challenges of the production, including advanced music. 

“All of the students are doing a spectacular job of singing and learning the choreography, as this is a well-known dance show. The thing I love about working with young people is they are not afraid of hard things. They go after it and get it done,”” said Marsden. 

Costumes for the show are being rented from the Waterloo Community Theater. The set — a junkyard — is being designed and built by Paul Griffen, school board president and chamber of commerce executive director. 

Marsden chose the show based on a desire to keep the group moving in a new direction.

“Last year, we did ‘Grease.” he said. “I had to come up with something totally different. “Cats” came to mind about three different times and every time I rejected it because it was too big. The longer I thought about it, the more I realized that these kids could do it.”

Marsden said audiences could see other large-scale productions in the future. 

“We have a strong tradition of musical theater. I hope this adds one more to the list, and we keep raising the bar on quality, entertainment value, and exposing our kids to great literature. It’s a great learning experience.” 

The cast includes: Ryan Dyson, Austin Lowe, Christian Horn. Oscar Torres, Natalie Butz, Billy Luna, Cassaundra McDonald, August Taylor, Abigail Sherman, Emily Rose, Makayla Myers, Olivia Elarton, Francisco Rohner, Leatha Bennett, Julia Hacker, Samantha Dilocker, Elsa Wemhoff. Lainie Edie, Justin Newman, Jacob Pendergraft, Liam Eubank, Sean Griffen, Harris Rogerson, Ben Koppa, Jake Sellers, Ethan Hewett, Hannah Shalters, Kyla Gass, Thomas Shipley, Sarah Behrens and Bree Berkey

The dance ensemble includes: Makayla Myers, Sarah Behrens, Lauren Gilbert, Ashley Brower, Madison Wingfield, Renee Decker, Jasmine Wessel and Olivia Elarton

The “Cats” ensemble is made up of Brenna Craig, Kaylin Carlson, Halee Myers, McKenzie Nissen, Callie Yeager, Courtni Lindsay, Mariah Craig, Emily Peterson, and Jacob Cashatt. 

Alexa Rensch is serving as stage manager and Kelen Panec is altering costumes.

Tickets are $7 for adults and $6 for students. Call 623-6610 for reservations. 

The Red Oak Express

2012 Commerce Drive
P.O. Box 377
Red Oak, IA 51566
Phone: 712-623-2566 Fax: 712-623-2568

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