CHS announces fall performances

The Creston High School music departments took opposite approaches in selecting their performances this year.

While band director Michael Peters strives to keep up with the rising popularity of theatrical marching band performances, selecting “Something Wicked This Way Comes,” musical director Jennifer Gaesser opted for a classic with “Anything Goes.”

Marching Band

“In the marching arts, including color guard and drum and bugle corps, they are going much more theatrical,” Peters explained. “Since 2016, they’ve even gone away from traditional uniforms to costuming, even with the instrumentalists.”

Peters said he was inspired when watching the 2010 film, “Macbeth” starting Patrick Stewart. “I was inspired by the scene with the witches, something wicked this way comes,” Peters said. “The whole idea of something scary coming out of the woods. I thought, we could put that into a marching show.”

Randall Standridge, a marching arts designer, composed a show called, “Paranormal.” Peters said the show works well with the Macbeth-inspired theme.

“The kids listened to it and got behind it,” Peters said. “It’s a really cool sound.”

More than just a compelling performance, the band will use costumes and set backdrops to bring the competition show to life.

“It’s going to put a lot more on the individual students to be theatrical,” Peters said. “They will be an acting and marching member on the field. It will stretch musicians to get more involved musically in the theatrics of the show.”

The competition piece will be performed at halftime of the home football games, at the Southwest Iowa Band Jamboree in Clarinda, Creston’s band exhibition during Southwest Iowa Hot Air Balloon Days, Valley Fest in West Des Moines and the state festival in Glenwood.

Students will begin practicing July 31 as high school band camp kicks off in Creston. The camp is from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. July 31 to Aug. 4 and Aug. 7 to 10.

Their first performance will be at halftime of the Aug. 25 home football game against Winterset.

Fall Musical

Gaesser had two things she was looking for in this year’s show — a classic comedy.

“The last two years have been shows from the last 10 years,” Gaesser explained. “We have a wide demographic of people coming to musicals. We want to provide shows to interest a wide variety of people.”

The previous shows “Big Fish” and “Freaky Friday” were first performed in 2013 and 2016, respectively. “Anything Goes,” was first produced in 1934.

“We like to pick something different that not everyone is doing,” Gaesser said. “It was just a creative idea of going and doing something that hasn’t been done in 20 or 30 years. It’s not a well-known high school show.”

Show rehearsals begin the first day of school, Aug. 23 with auditions to follow Aug. 28 and 29.

“We should have a cast before we leave for Labor Day weekend,” Gaesser said. “It will go fast. I only have 56 rehearsals between first day of school and opening night.”

“Anything Goes” is set aboard the ocean liner S. S. American, where nightclub singer/evangelist Reno Sweeney is en route from New York to England. Her pal Billy Crocker has stowed away to be near his love, Hope Harcourt, but the problem is Hope is engaged to the wealthy Lord Evelyn Oakleigh.

Joining this love triangle on board the luxury liner are Public Enemy #13, Moonface Martin and his sidekick-in-crime Erma. With the help of some elaborate disguises, tap-dancing sailors and good old-fashioned blackmail, Reno and Martin join forces to help Billy in his quest to win Hope’s heart.

“It will push the kids a bit, the show is a bit harder, there’s more dancing,” Gaesser said. “I had a couple kids in my office yesterday, they seem really excited about they show. They like a challenge.”

The show will be performed at the Creston High School auditorium at 7 p.m. Nov. 10 and 11 and 2 p.m. Nov. 12.