It’s still lights, camera, action for Kiski Area Musical students this spring.
After sweeping cancellations of high school spring musical productions in 2020 due to covid conditions, directors had to adjust their musical productions.
Kiski Musical director Robert Capanna found a creative and covid-19 friendly performance option.
The cast is currently filming individual and group performances for their upcoming YouTube production dubbed “The Kiski Cavaret,” a play on the school mascot, the Cavaliers.
“The free show will be streamed via our YouTube channel and can be viewed from the comfort of your home,” Capanna said.
“We weren’t able to perform “Legally Blonde” last year because the streaming rights for that show were never made available,” Capanna said. ” We opted to do a musical review type of show this year.
The show will feature a medley of song and dance performances from 45 students and six emcees will perform skits and provide entertainment between acts.
Co-emcee Madison Leith will perform in a “Grease” themed skit and said she’s excited to participate for the first-time in a musical production.
“It’s so much fun and I wish I had did it last year, but it was difficult last year because of covid. It was heartbreaking to have it canceled,” Leith said.
A group of 12 stage crew students are providing invaluable technical assistance, during what Capanna has described as a “challenging” musical season.
“We have everyone working solo or in small groups so we are able to safely involve a lot of students,” Capanna said.
Masks are worn except for when students are performing.
The production is filming this week and will stream free on Kiski Musical’s YouTube channel at 7:30 p.m., March 19-20.
Alexis Caldwell was cast in the lead role of Elle Woods in “Legally Blonde” last year.
But she never experience opening night because the production was halted in March because of the pandemic.
Caldwell said the fallout from not being able perform after months of rehearsing has been difficult.
“I think it’s taught me to appreciate the little things,” Caldwell said. “I’ve made so many memories at rehearsals and emotionally there have been good days and bad days.”
Caldwell will show off her leading lady skills with a compilation number of songs from “Legally Blonde” and will sing “Journey To The Past” from her favorite musical, “Anastasia.”
