ONTARIO — Emma Henderson never needed help coming out of her shell. In fact, the junior at Ontario High School joked she was never in one.
Getting involved in her school’s fledgling theater program helped her embrace that outlook.
“I felt more like I could be who I was and have people enjoy that personality,” Henderson said.
“I put so much of myself into the character I played last year, and subconsciously that really helped with my own self-esteem,” she added. “People liked my character so much and I was like, ‘Well this is just me.'”
Henderson is a member of Ontario’s symphonic band and the school’s show choir, but she’d never ventured into acting until the district brought back its theater program last year.
This year, she’s pulling double duty on the stage and in the pit orchestra for “Big Fish,” which opens Friday at Ontario High School.
Jonathan King, assistant principal at Ontario High School, is directing the production, along with assistant director Condrea Mason, Ontario’s food service director.
“I think what’s most special to me about Ontario’s music program and theater program specifically is how involved we are in everything,” Henderson said.
“Students are pits, students are backstage, students are tech, students are acting. It’s all student-run. I really appreciate how much Mr. King confides in us about important decisions surrounding the show.”
King, Mason partnered to bring back theater
“Big Fish” is the second musical theater production at Ontario High School since King and Mason joined the staff three years ago.
At the time, King said the school district had had occasional productions, but no consistent theater program. That intermission came to an end last spring with a production of “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown.”
“It had been roughly 20 years or so since a full-scale production of any sort had been put on here,” King said.
Mason is well-known for her involvement in local music theater. She’s the lead singer for CONNE and regular performer at the Renaissance Theatre.
King’s theater background was less obvious. A former football coach at Madison and Crestline, he said the administrators who interviewed him didn’t know about his theater background going in — but once they found out, they were eager to help him revive the program.
“(Supt. Keith Strickler) is a huge supporter of the performing arts,” King said.
“He has poured in all kinds of resources to improve (the auditorium) and he loved the idea of getting drama back on the stage.”
King grew up on stage, participating in church plays, school plays and community theater. His favorite role was playing the Rev. Shaw Moore in Footloose at Clear Fork High School during his senior year.
King said he hopes to create a theater program similar to his alma mater’s — one that welcomes students of all backgrounds.
“That was my experience there. Being an athlete involved in football and tennis and also mock trial and the spring musical and show choir — just being in an environment where it really was encouraged to be involved in things that interest you,” said King, a 2006 Clear Fork graduate.
“By having something accessible here, working with their athletic schedules and things, we’re able to really reach kids that otherwise would probably not ever find the stage.”
“Big Fish” cast said theater program creates community, boosts self-esteem
Senior Dean Morrison said his past self would be shocked to see him at play practice. When Morrison entered high school, his priorities were wrestling and football. He eventually shifted his focus to track.
Last year, he attended Ontario’s combined middle and high school production of “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown.”
He said his classmate Payne Schwartz’s performance in the lead role convinced him to audition for this year’s musical.
“I was watching the show and I was like, ‘That is not Payne,'” he recalled. “For him to be able to do that — that kind of talent, kind of voice, kind of acting skills like that … I was like, ‘Wow, I want to get into that.'”
Morrison said he’s grown as a person since joining the cast of “Big Fish.”
“I’ve made friends I’ve never thought I’d be friends with, and I’ve tried new things I never thought I’d try before,” he said.
He even managed to rope in a fellow track athlete, Ryland Baker. Baker said he’s never acted, sang or danced on stage before.
“I almost thought (the theater kids) would be kind of judgmental of me, but it’s entirely the opposite,” Baker said. “They’re some of the most supportive people I’ve met.”
Several Ontario theater students said being involved in a school production helped them build confidence and make new friends.
“Theater is just about being alive, being happy, being free to be whoever you want to be,” said sophomore MaKayla Lawrence.
Jalynn Craze said playing Woodstock in last year’s production not only made her happy — it made her realize the joy she could bring to others.
“I really want to put in all my effort into something to make other people happy, not just myself, but people I’m sharing the stage with and people that are coming out to see the shows,” the eighth grade student said.
“Big Fish” runs this weekend, tickets available online
Ontario Local Schools will present a joint middle and high school production of “Big Fish” this weekend. Performances start at 7 p.m. on Friday and Saturday at 2 p.m .on Sunday.
The show is based on the novel by Daniel Wallace and screenplay written by John August. It tells the story of Edward Bloom, a traveling salesman whose tall tales delight his wife Sandra and confound their son Will.
With Edward on his deathbed and his own first child on the way, Will seeks to understand who is father truly is and separate the truth from the tall tales.
“I think that high school theater allows that bridge into starting to address some real topics,” King said.
“That’s really what I guess attracts me to the performing arts, is the ability to kind of talk about real life, address real issues in a way that is still entertaining and maybe allow for some conversations that wouldn’t otherwise happen.
‘This show is an example of that. We’re dealing with some real life stuff here. Yes, there’s lights and music and dancing, and it kind of makes it more approachable. But then there are moments, in this show in particular, that will cut you to the core.”
Schwartz, who plays the lead role of Edward Bloom, said audience members are in for a great performance.
“I had done a lot of shows from a really young age at the Renaissance, the Playhouse. around my community. But I think there’s definitely something to be said about doing a show with your school,” said Schwartz, a senior.
“The theater program (at Ontario) really just speaks to how much talent there is and how vibrant our community really is.”
Cast
The cast includes Payne Schwartz (Edward Bloom), Dean Morrison (Will Bloom), Sophia Fraley (Sandra Bloom), Jonathan Winans (Young Will), Adison Viers (Josephine Bloom), Zachary McChristy (Karl the Giant), Nicky Morabito (Amos Calloway), Rylan Baker (Don Price), Andrew Thomas (Zacky Price), Emma Henderson (The Witch), MaKayla Lawrence (Jenny Hill), Steliana Kruer (Dr. Bennett), Maddy Hocker and Alyssia Pickett (Alabama Lambs) and Maddy Hocker (The Mermaid).
The ensemble includes Jalynn Craze, Jailyn Decimus, Alyssa Racer, Allison Seymour, Kaitlin Seymour and Trinity Spackey.
Tickets cost $10 and are available for purchase at https://olstheater.booktix.com.