With one week to go before opening night, a group of Twin Falls' students, and their teacher, are busy building a set and rehearsing lines for the school's first live production of 2018.

Canyon Ridge High School teacher Seve Isaacs is in his sixth year heading the school's drama department. The curtain opens for the group's first live performance of 2018 in just a couple of days. With more than three weeks of daily rehearsals--averaging roughly twenty hours a week including weekends--Isaacs and his students have been full steam ahead on their production of "The Spitfire Grill," beginning February 1st.

The story, which was a 1996 film turned off-Broadway musical in 2001, tells the story of a young woman trying to readjust to small town life following a stint in prison. Upon reading the script and listening to the film's music, Spitfire became an easy choice for Isaacs.

"I knew I had to do a musical. Spitfire Grill has some really awesome opportunities for powerful female vocalists to shine," said Isaacs. I suddenly have several (students) who are great singers and actors."

Last year, the department presented "Little Shop Of Horrors," which inspired Isaacs to consider shifting gears in a musical direction. Isaacs, who got bitten by the acting bug in the 8th grade, understands the importance of theatre in high school, and the influences it has on his students.

"Social skills, leadership, communication, collaboration, problem solving, hard work and empathy. My kids are learning to act and design and interpret scripts," said Isaacs. "They are also secretly gaining a powerful set of skills that will ultimately set them up for success in whatever kind of career they chose to go into as adults. I truly believe that."

Isaacs also credits the Twin Falls community with supporting his department over the past several years.

"There are quite a few theatre companies in town that do some pretty great work on a regular basis. The core community of theatre artists and audiences is so supportive and passionate, and very competitive", said Isaacs. "I think that as a whole, we could stand to have more of the population of Twin Falls and the Magic Valley going to see plays more often, especially with the wide variety of productions available, there is bound to be something interesting going on for just about anybody."

The "Spitfire Grill" will run February 1st through the 3rd, and the 8th through the 10th, at the Canyon Ridge Auditorium. For more information, visit the school's website.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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