One thing you may not know about Orem High is it’s love for drama. Not drama as in gossip and rumors, but theater. Aside from popular sports such as football and soccer, the performing arts department is one of the biggest programs Orem High has. Many students either take drama classes or perform in school productions.
The most recent play at OHS is ‘Once On This Island’. A story of a girl who prays to Gods to find meaning in her life, she finds it in saving a young, wealthy boy’s life. (Of course there is more to the story but I don’t want to spoil anything for you.)
Unique stories such as this entice hundreds of kids to audition every year. Some students won’t make it, some will. The Orem High director Mr. Sackett even informed the cast of OOTI (Once On This Island) that 71 kids auditioned for that show however, only 21 made it. It seems to be that show business can be very competitive. However once you are IN the show that feeling changes.
As I talked with each and every one of the 21 kids that made it into OOTI it has become clear that this cast has formed a unique bond. In a group chat for the cast, Iuli Peters said,
“Thank you guys for becoming my friends but you guys feel more like family. You guys are an amazing group of people and you will go far in this world. I’m so grateful for the opportunity I had to be in this show with you guys. Thank you so much for helping me grow.”
In response to this, another cast member Jennie Ness said,
“I’ve felt such a bond with you guys and I’m so so grateful for every single one of you[…] We are much more capable of things than we know. And last, we can love to no extent. Thank you, thank you, thank you!”
The cast is not the only group to feel a special bond to each other and the show; there are also those behind the scenes. OHS has an amazing group of technicians who work really hard to make the show the best it can be. Some alumni technicians have even gone on to work in professional theaters such as Hale Centre; some have even gone to New York.
This shows the dedication that the technicians have to their job and the show itself. Mr. Sackett and Ms. Allie (OHS dance teacher) have said many times that Orem High schools productions would not run as smoothly if they didn’t have the techies. A lot of people who do not make it in the shows choose to be technicians so that they still have the opportunity to form a bond with the people and the environment.
‘Once On This Island’ influenced many people’s lives, whether on stage performing, or in the audience watching, even backstage helping. So many people felt the connection of ‘Once On This Island’ specifically.
Latest posts by Bonnie (see all)
- An Inside Look at ‘Once On This Island’ - January 14, 2020
