'Excites and terrifies:' Mt. Juliet Christian Academy students to perform original musical
Mt. Juliet Christian Academy high school drama students will perform a musical comedy they say will give audiences a show unlike any they’ve ever seen.
"The Bliss Effect" is an original script the school's theatre director Rachel Hutchins and co-writer Laura French wrote for students to perform live May 10-11 on campus.
“They're originating these roles, which both excites and terrifies them," Hutchins said. “I keep telling them that there's no right way because it's never been done before. They get to decide and show the world.”
"The Bliss Effect" is described by Hutchins as a “funny” and “lighthearted” production that belies a depth felt by both students and teacher over weeks of rehearsal. Students were brought in to provide input on characters they were playing, which allowed Hutchins to both challenge and highlight strengths and was “cool,” but has, since, become more, according to MJCA junior Abigail Whicker, who will play the character Marilynn.
“Knowing she trusted us enough to let us perform her show, to me, will be one of the greatest experiences and the most joy-filled,” Abigail said. “But also one of the most humbling to realize she has gifted us with so much more than we could have asked for.”
The production includes new music that will be played live by Middle Tennessee Sinfonietta, and that is more unfamiliar territory, which requires “a lot more movement and musical connections,” said junior Chandler Meacham, who will be playing Haven.
Music arrangements are by Rick DeJonge.
“I think it’s more nerve-racking actually doing an original because it’s from (Hutchins') mind, and she has a vision for the show ,” said senior Sage Pollard, who is playing Bliss. “I think some part of us is (that) ‘we’re hoping we can bring this to life.’”
The Bliss Effect plot
The play follows an inspired dreamer, Bliss, who is thrilled to work at Wholesale Horizon, a company whose sole purpose is to make the world a better place. Co-worker Mortimer is described in a constant state of sadness.
Because the company is going under, staff is tasked to devise one last world-saving product that leads to a happiness serum to help the company and Mortimer. The office becomes guinea pigs for the serum and learns that happy may not always be a solution.
“Finding content that is age appropriate, audience appropriate that can be funny without inserting innuendo that has decent moral arc or something redemptive about it is a challenge,” said Hutchins, who is in her first school year at MJCA. “I would love to see it published. It’s funny, lighthearted, but still has some depth to it.
“The roles could be played by adults, but it’s not asking them to act up or age up for experiences that they couldn’t imagine."
Who's the student cast?
Bliss – Sage Pollard
Mort – Gentry Dayton
Lexie – Ellie Gee
Marilynn – Abigail Whicker
Haven – Chandler Meacham
Roxanne – Claire Pollard
Olive – Sadie Jennings
Neil – Evan Kleinmann
Aubrey – Caroline Woolson
Boss Rob – Principal Bob Sladek
Ralph – Jaden Miller.
If you go
7 p.m., May 10
1 p.m. and 7 p.m., May 11
At Mt. Juliet Christian Academy, 735 N. Mt. Juliet Road, Mt. Juliet
Tickets are free and can be requested at https://payit.nelnet.net/form/Z18i0m4K.
Reach Andy Humbles at ahumbles@tennessean.com or 615-726-5939 and on X, formerly known as Twitter @ AndyHumbles.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Mt. Juliet Christian Academy students to perform original musical