By SHA’URI SHIPLEY-CLARK
Tiger Media Network
The Minneapolis High School Drama Department presented Moana Jr. for its fall musical last Month.
Based on the 2016 movie “Moana,” tells the story of a young Polynesian girl named Moana, who sails across the ocean to save her village and discover the past of her people. On her adventure, she is joined by the demigod Maui to restore the heart of Te Fiti to save the dying islands.
Jan Clark has been in charge of the drama department at MHS for 16 years. When choosing a musical, she looks at the amount of people that signed up and which students, for a musical, can sing.
“I like musicals with positive messages, and I love Lin-Manuel Miranda songs. I also look at the talent and numbers that signed up,” Clark said.
Besides the directing, another big part of putting together a production is the actors. They have to prepare for roles, like Nyah Weis, who played the main female lead, Moana.
“To prepare for this role, I didn’t watch the movie. At first, I was planning to study the movie like crazy and figure out all of Moana’s little quirks but then I realized that copying another actor’s work exactly wasn’t something I wanted to do,” Weis said. “So, I just thought to myself, ‘ok so I am a girl who loves the ocean, but I am trapped in an important role I never asked for… so how would I react?’ So balancing the fear I felt I should be showing along with the bravery and courage was interesting but so amazing. I truly believe Moana taught me a few things during my time with her.”
Brinley Boyer, who played Moana’s grandma Tala, has been involved in the theatre department all four years of her high school career. She hopes to continue acting, but more as a fun opportunity than professionally.
“I was excited to get to act with the main leads again and all of us seniors have grown close together,” Boyer said.
One of the main elements of the musical was the water played by many background actors.
“The main part of the water was the wavy blue skirts that some of the girls wore while behind the boat, a couple of people had attached blue pieces of fabric to some fans that represented the higher waves,” Eloise Shipley said.
Shipley has been a part of the drama department since her freshman year, this is her second year of being involved in the school productions.