Instead of Car Wash, EHS Drama Department Performs 'A Chorus Line'

High schools do all types of fund-raisers to make money for their programs, and at Enumclaw the drama department naturally performs a play.

“We don’t do car washes,” director Darrell Miller said, smiling.

Problem is, during the summer, without any students, it can be tough to find performers.

So at EHS, Miller asks alumni to return and perform.

This year’s alumni will perform the classic “A Chorus Line” Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights at 7:30 at the EHS auditorium. Cost is $8 for adults.

“A Chorus Line” is an interesting play to watch. It can be confusing at first because it is chaotic, and some performers look like they shouldn't be there. It basically looks like a bunch of singers and dancers auditioning for a part. It looks more like a rehearsal than the start
of a play.

But that’s exactly what it is supposed to look like because that is exactly what the play is about. It is about the hard work, elation and disappointment for performers trying to be chosen for “A Chorus Line.”

Miller selected it because it is something everyone can identify with, whether it is trying out for a role, a job or even a girlfriend or boyfriend.

“Life often finds us trying to prove to others our worth,” Miller says in the program. “Theatre auditions just make the process more overt. 
And when the audition is over, it is over. .. It is the rest of life
that continues to judge.”

Another reason Miller chose now to do the play is because it is a little more adult oriented. Not that young people can’t or shouldn’t come.

“No one’s naked. There’s no drug use,” but there is a reference to T and A, he said.

You might think with a play called “A Chorus Line” that it might be all about singing. But really it’s all about dancing. And it is much easier to find performers who can sing than dance.

“We spent a long time dancing,” Miller said, adding few theater groups do the play because “the show was meant for dancers.”

He explained that, especially in high schools, performers sing first and may do a little dancing. For this play it’s the opposite. The cast performs mostly jazz dance, but also some ballet.

Miller said he doesn’t know how many people will come to the shows. Last year they only made $1,000, but they had limited seating, and the performance was in July. He hopes to have more in the audience this year as they are using the entire 400-seat auditorium and having it closer to the start of school.

“Normally our shows sell out,” during the school year, he said. “I don’t ever have to worry about it. A few times we’ve had to lock the doors. Some people have cried because they had to miss it or paid just to watch out in the lobby.”

Another thing Miller is a little worried about is the start of the show.

“Eight people will be in the show every night who have never been in the show,” he said.

To explain, Miller said eight people who have never even been to a rehearsal will be a part of the play for the first 10 minutes. They will be dancing around and singing and adding to the chaos of the audition. Of course all will be cut as only eight can make it. The “guest stars” will include parents, teachers and even a member of the custodial staff.

Along with being excited about this play, Miller is excited about the plays the drama department plans to do this year. When Miller arrived seven years ago, the school only did two a year, like most high schools.

“Doing more is easier,” Miller said. “Otherwise it drags on forever. Here, you can see the light at the end of the tunnel” so there is better focus.

As part of the drama program, his students travel to area schools to perform sometimes eight shows in a day. He said that is great experience because that is akin to a youth theater group’s performance schedule, which is a more likely career for most of them than making it to the big time.

Miller said the students pick the plays that are done, and they are scheduled to fit in between sports season because many athletes like to try their hand at acting. The next play will be “Dracula” in October.

“People find this hard to believe but most of the students in the plays are not in my class,” Miller said.

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