Story originally printed in the La Crosse Tribune or online at www.lacrossetribune.com
Published - Monday, June 30, 2008
Summer musical brings together students from all three city high schools
Students from La Crosse’s three high schools have the lead roles in the La Crosse School District’s summer musical.
“Every high school has its 15 seconds of fame,” said Abbey Lowenstein, a 16-year-old Aquinas High School senior who plays Cinderella in “Into the Woods Junior.”
Lowenstein is joined on stage by castmates Chelsey Sleznikow, a Central High School senior who plays the baker’s wife, and Ben Reiland, a Logan High School sophomore who plays the baker.
“We’re all good friends,” said Sleznikow, 16.
“It’s really fun to come back together for the summer (production).”
There is no school rivalry on set and students from throughout the city work together to make the production a success, said Reiland, 15.
Karen Flahive Lee, the lead teacher for the production, said it wasn’t planned to have Central, Logan and Aquinas students in the main parts, but it “just worked out that way.”
For two weeks the approximately 25-member cast rehearses. They also work on the set and costumes.
“It’s a commitment,” Sleznikow said.
But most students come back year after year, said Lowenstein, who has been involved for nine years.
“It’s the people and I like performing,” she said.
And, if nothing else, the teens said, the cast parties make the weeks of hard work worth the effort.
“It’s all a lot of fun,” Reiland said.
The play is about the baker and the baker’s wife who want to have a child but are unable to.
It follows them through a fairy tale land as they look for Cinderella’s slipper, Red Riding Hood’s cape, Jack and the Beanstalk’s cow and Rapunzel’s hair.
“I basically run and fall down a lot,” Lowenstein said.
Students in grades 5-12 auditioned for their parts in May.
Autumn Grooms can be reached at (608) 791-8424 or agrooms@lacrossetribune. com.
If you go
WHAT: La Crosse School District summer musical “Into the Woods Junior”
WHEN: 7:30 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday
WHERE: B.G. Weess Theatre, Logan High School, 1500 Ranger Drive
COST: $3 for adults; $2 for students
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