For many Gateway students, this spring’s musical, “Once Upon a Mattress,” will be their final high school performance.
“It’s been such a blessing to be a part of all of this,” senior Scarlett Davis said. Davis has been part of the high school musical for the past four years.
Davis, who is playing Queen Aggravain, plans to participate in a yearlong ministry program after graduation.
“I’ll be traveling across the country, worshipping and singing,” she said.
This is Ethan Settlemire’s third year performing in the musical.
“I think it’s very rewarding,” Settlemire said. “There is a lot of life experience. You learn interviewing skills, communication, diction. And you get to work with lots of different people.”
The junior – who plays the alto and tenor saxophone, piano and clarinet — hopes to study music education at Duquesne University after graduation next year.
Senior Bailey Steele also wants to study music education and become a high school chorus teacher. Steele will start at Indiana University of Pennsylvania in the fall, where she also will dive for the swim team.
“Being on stage and performing has really heightened my love of music,” Steele said. “I’m definitely going to miss this a lot.”
The musical comedy is a witty adaptation of the fairy tale “The Princess and the Pea,” which was written in 1835 by Hans Christian Andersen. The show made its Broadway debut in 1959.
The high school musical is once again being directed by Diane Milo and produced by Mary Chase.
“Every year I feel even more amazed with the students, my production team and the support of the district,” Chase said. “The students continue to exceed my expectations with their dedication and drive to do their best of the Gateway stage.”
Performances will be at 7:30 p.m. April 2-5. There also is a 2 p.m. matinee April 5.
General admission is $15. Students and seniors 65 and older are $10. Senior citizens can attend a special free viewing April 2.
Tickets can be purchased at gatewayk12.org/ghs under Gateway High School Musical.
