By Lindsay Peyton

The set, script and score will remain the same.

The only thing different about the four performances of “How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying” slated for Thursday, March 3 to Saturday, March 5 at the 5th Avenue Theatre will be the age of the actors and crew.

The shows are the culmination of three months of hard work by area teens driven by a love of theatre.

The entire cast is comprised of students – as well as the technical crew and the orchestra. Teens also participated in the marketing, costume, make-up and stage management departments.

This marks the fifth anniversary of the 5th Avenue Theatre’s Rising Star Project –developed to give students the opportunity to develop professional skills firsthand through the process of producing and performing a musical.

The educational program is offered tuition-free to Washington State students – largely due to a grant from the Sheri and Les Biller Family Foundation.
 
A few West Seattle residents participated in this year’s effort, including 15-year old Annika Wohlf, a homeschooled student, who joined the hair and makeup crew, and 18-year old Daniel Nguyen, a freshman at Highline College, who worked in community engagement.

West Seattle High School sophomore Brandon Weglin, 16, plays Mr. Jenkens in the production.

“I was a shy kid, and musical theatre helped me get out of my shell,” Weglin said. “I’ve become so much more confident.”

He said he learned a lot about acting through the program, especially how to make the characters more realistic and believable.

“It’s a really big time commitment, but it’s the most amazing program out there for teens,” Weglin said. “You really become a family with the cast members. Being with people who share the same interest is incredible. We’re all so passionate about what we do.”

His fellow cast member Tate Busby, 17, has also enjoyed meeting young actors from around the city through the program. “I’ve learned a lot about what it’s like to be a professional and how to put on a successful show,” he said.

Busby spends most of his time away from school rehearsing in the theatre. “It’s difficult at times, but it’s totally worth it,” he said. “It’s so rewarding to put on the show.”

Angel Hines, 14, plays Miss Jones in the production. “It’s a lot of fun,” she said. “I look forward to it every day.”

Mackenzie Taylor, 17, commutes from Yakima for the program. “It’s definitely worth it,” she said. “It’s great for anyone who is considering doing theatre in the future.”

The show’s director Chryssie Whitehead said students gain more than just insight into the world of Broadway.

“It’s a great playground for them to learn how to express themselves,” she said. “They learn what it’s like to work in a theatre, how to be a team player and the importance of giving your best effort. They’re treated like professionals, and they step up to the plate.”

Whitehead said the program also allows students to see which aspects of musical production are most interesting to them – from set design or starring on stage.

“Most kids across the country will never have an opportunity like this,” she said.

Whitehead hopes that members of the community will trek to the theatre to see the students perform.

“Every single part of this is run by students,” she said. “It’s mind-blowing. It’s a big show, and they’re taking it on with flying colors.”

Whitehead said the Rising Star Project could become a prototype for similar programs.

“These students are the future of theatre,” she said. “I think it would be a great movement for theatres across the country.”

For more information, visit www.5thavenue.org/education/youth#rising-star-project.