Post on 10-Apr-2019
Sarah Suggs is a sophomore at Greenwood High
School and this year played Veruka in the Willy
Wonka production at Greenwood. “I loved my
character”, Sarah said, “It was really fun to be
mean and not get in trouble”. Sarah also
performed in last years production. “I got
interested because my friends were doing it and I
really like to sing.”Sarah said.
Sarah practiced anywhere from 3-5 hours for this
musical. She had to learn her lines, design her
costume, and practice on stage. “This was a
difficult role because it was hard to be mean and
not feel bad.” Sarah said about her character. “I
had to buy the material, then have someone make
my costume.” This was a main role and took a lot
of time and work.
Opening night is the busiest time for the
performers and everyone involved in a musical or
play. It is stressful, but is exciting at the same
time. “Everybody is excited to perform in front of
a big crowd and show them what we have worked
on.” Sarah said. The dress rehearsal the night
before has to be the most exciting time because
everything has to be perfect for the next night.
The practice lasted about five hours.
Sarah and the girls in the musical had to put on all
their make-up for dress rehearsal. “Putting on
that much make-up was fun because I do not
normally get to put on that much.” “I learned to
put on make-up from friends in previous
musicals." Sarah said. Everyone wrote positive
notes on the mirrors in the dressing room. “They
wrote on the mirrors to show support.” Sarah
said. Everyone had a good time and it was a fun
atmosphere.
The dress rehearsal is the most hectic and
busiest day besides the actual opening night.
They have to make sure everything is perfect for
the performance in front of a crowd. The week
before, the cast practiced at the Capitol so they
would be ready for opening night. “I performed at
the Capitol last year and for dance recitals.”
Sarah said. “It seems more real because it’s a
bigger stage.”
Sarah’s character was a main role. Veruka was
one of the people who won a golden ticket. Sarah
was very good at playing this role. She was very
dedicated and worked hard to get her part right.
Sarah said: “I was excited because this was the
first main role I have had! My favorite scene was
falling down the hole because it was fun.”
Sarah helped put make-up on someone else in the
cast about to go practice his scene. The boys also
had to put on make-up for the musical. “At first
the boys didn’t like it, but eventually they thought
it was fun.” Sarah said. “You can’t do a play
without make-up, it’s just part of it.” said Colin
Sheehan. The boys in the musical thought it was a
good experience.
Behind the scenes of the play everyone is running
around trying to get ready. They have to be quiet
so the audience doesn’t hear them. They also
have to keep up with which scene it is on so they
can be ready and on stage on time. It is a long
process getting ready and practicing for opening
night. Everything has to go right.
In this photo Sarah is on stage as Veruka. She is
wearing the costume she had made and is in all her
make-up. Before going on stage you have to stand
behind the curtain ready to go on. In this scene Sarah
was being interviewed about her golden ticket. Sarah
was very good at this part and very good in the
musical. Along with doing musicals Sarah sings too. “I
would love to sing as a career if an opportunity
presented itself.” Sarah said. “From being in this play I
learned that you always need to learn your lines on
time!” Sarah added.