High School spring musical to take audiences on a wild ride

Fasten those seatbelts and make sure arms, legs and heads are inside the vehicle at all times during Wareham High School's production of "Ride the Cyclone." 

The musical will be held in the Wareham High School auditorium Friday, May 30 at 6:30 p.m., Saturday, May 31 at 6:30 p.m. and Sunday, June 1 at 2 p.m. and follows the story of a choir group who die in a roller coaster accident. While in limbo the group must vote on who they think is worthy of a second chance at life. 

Senior Hannah Langone said the musical is one of her favorites and plays Noel Gruber, who has an interesting backstory. 

"He sings about how he wishes he was a tragic woman in post-war France," she said. "It's been super fun, he's one of my favorites."

Langone said that getting into character has been challenging and that she wants to try to play Noel authentically by capturing his bitterness and theatrical personality. 

Noel will be the last character she plays in high school and plans on attending the University of Massachusetts Boston in the fall majoring in psychology and minoring in musical theater.

"I'm super nervous and excited to perform because I have high expectations for myself," she said.

Senior Eren Roberts is the student director for the musical and said being in charge for the first time has been fun. 

"Most of the cast and crew have been my friends before I started directing so it's been a nice experience. A little overwhelming, it's a lot at once," Roberts said. 

Roberts has been juggling graduating, theater and band as the end of the school year nears. As the sun sets on senior year, it will rise at Suffolk University this fall for Roberts who plans to major in film and media and minor in law.

"I've learned everyone learns differently. So it's been a little difficult to adapt to it," Roberts said. "I need to give very specific verbal and visual directions. That makes the process easier for everyone." 

Roberts credits the band director, Jason Roth and drama director Joey Ferro for their influence and growth within the arts programs at Wareham High School.

"I'm great at communicating like — I'm directing a musical! Joey's been great at supporting me and putting my ideas on the stage," Roberts said.

Ferro said he was happy to have the cast perform a play they know and love. The play gained popularity on Tiktok during the Covid-19 pandemic and Ferro said he kept the spring musical a secret to surprise the students. 

After listening to the soundtrack on loop and figuring out the cost to bring it to Wareham, he said it was exciting to do the reveal. The technical aspects of the musical are what he is most excited for.

"There's a couple of things that we have with projecting and with an ensemble. We actually have a big group of kids and this play only has like, eight parts," Ferro said. "It doesn't traditionally have an ensemble but I created one for them where they are spirits and I had them all make paper masks."

Sophomore Willow Hegarty said she's ready to frighten her castmates and the audience playing Jane Doe. Her character gets beheaded and spends the duration of the musical with no memory of who she used to be.

"This is my favorite show ever," she said. "This has been my dream role for three years so I'm excited to be able to do that. I love her whole emotionless, scary — creepy doll thing."

Hegarty said she likes that she doesn't get to speak much and that she has to rely on physical acting. Although singing Jane's high notes has proven to be difficult. 

"I can hit the notes, it's just pretty scary to have to do it," she said. 

She said she doesn't have many nerves and can't wait to show the audience the unique show. 

"Most of it is a comedy buy it still does incorporate death elements," Hegarty said. "So it gets pretty sad at some points but it usually picks right back up with a joke."