With buckets of water falling onto the Keating stage, the KH Players prepare to take on Singin’ in the Rain, one of the most iconic and well-loved shows in musical history. The three 7 p.m. performances take place April 18-20. Tickets cost $7 for students and $10 for adults.
The show follows Don Lockwood (Drew Redington, junior), a silent film star who can barely tolerate his leading lady, Lina Lamont (Lauren Kelly, senior), who has convinced herself their on-screen romance is real. After the first talking picture is released and proves to be a smash hit, the studio head, R.F. Simpson (James Kern, junior) decides to convert the new Lockwood and Lamont film into a talkie. With the advice of Don’s best friend, Cosmo Brown (Tom Kirk, senior), they convince Simpson to make it a movie-musical.
Meanwhile, Don falls in love with an aspiring actress, Kathy Seldon (Nikki Clodfelter, senior), who is providing Lina’s singing and speaking voice for the film.
Redington and Clodfelter agree the title song of the musical will be, without a doubt, the best part of the show. Redington choreographed his solo dance that will take place in the show’s title number and says he’s excited for the rare opportunity to dance with water falling on his head.
“The fact that we have rain in Keating as a high school is incredible,” Clodfelter said. “I think the audience will love it.”
Though Singin’ in the Rain is a dance-heavy show, specifically tap dancing, Clodfelter has faith in the cast’s ability to pick up the difficult choreography. Redington thinks audiences will appreciate all the hard work that has been put into the musical.
“Because the movie is so popular and schools don’t do the musical very often, this is a unique opportunity for the cast and crew to put their own spin on it,” Redington said.
