North’s fall musical is Anastasia and their two leads are senior, Ava Powers, and Caden Barner. Portraying a character is a challenge, and not something that one can learn easily. Powers has been working for years to get a lead and in her final year she has been given the lead role of Anya.
“Anya is a very complicated character with a lot of depth. She goes through stuff in her life and during the show we see such a vulnerable side of her. She is fierce and has lived on her own for as long as she can remember. She becomes more polished as time goes on, but she has this roughness to her that will always be a part of her. It’s been a lot of character analysis and thinking but I’m portraying this character and trying to give her the performance she deserves,” Powers said.
Both Powers and Barner have been a part of plays and musicals for several years, and have had lots of fun throughout plays and musicals that they have been apart of.
“Anastasia is my 20th musical. Some of the ones at North that I’ve been in were in ‘Mamma Mia’ my freshman year and I played Ski. We did ‘Into the Words’ and I played Jack. We did ‘Wizard of Oz’ last year and I was the scarecrow,” Barner said.
Sometimes it can be hard to get up on stage and perform in front of friends, family, peers, and important people.
“Strength isn’t something that you learn, it’s within every one of us. You can have bad moments but still show strength with your actions and words,” Powers said.
Barner has gotten lots of really good roles over the years and is ending with one that he wants to portray really well. In Barners four years at north he has made many memories and roles.
“I’m pretty sad, but I don’t think it’s gonna dawn on me till the first show night. I’m just gonna soak it all in and enjoy as much as I can. I would like people to take away from my character that I was believable. That I was Dimitri in the time period, in the show and that it’s not just Caden on stage,” Barner said.
Barner offers thanks to everyone that has helped both of them over the years here at North and who has impacted their lifes in a very positive way.
“The theater program has made my life incredible and I want to thank Mr. Vandyke, Mrs. Lenger, Mr. Hartman, Mr. Anderson all those wonderful people that make everyone’s life feel special and everyone they touch. They always have a positive experience,” Barner said.
Theater teacher Ryan Vandyke has been here for four years and has loved putting on all the different musicals we have every year.
“The entire senior class is not only amazingly talented class but they have a special place in my heart because they were my freshman class when I first started here,” Vandyke said.