Stepping onto the stage—or working tirelessly behind it—comes with a sense of magic that’s hard to find anywhere else. For the seniors in this year’s school musical, the experience was about much more than just putting on a show. It was about growth, friendships, leadership, and the unforgettable moments that made all the rehearsals worth it.
LTHS Theater co-president, Nikhil Aluri elaborates on his personal experience as a senior in “Matilda”.
“I’m a senior this year so I was one of the oldest people there, so I was able to see all the younger talent that‘s in the department who are going to carry the department on for future years,” Aluri said. “So I think that was really nice to see.”
Senior stage manager Nadeen Sainju reflects on ‘Matilda’ and feels confident in their work as a team.
“By the time we did the show, we felt confident that we’d do well, which I’d say we did,” Sainju said.
Putting together a production takes dedication, hard work and cooperation. Senior Jacob Chang talks about the work that went into the production behind the scenes.
“[The practices] were a lot. There were times where I was reluctant to go, but it paid off,” Chang said. “It was nice to do so many different things—even moving a prop became quite fun.”
In addition, Sainju elaborates on his experience in his new role in the show this year.
“The past three years, I was just kind of doing what I needed to, but this year, I was really in charge,” Sainju said. “A lot of people look up to seniors, especially in theater, so that was a really cool experience.”
As “Matilda” was the final show of their high school career, students in the theater program were reminiscent of their performances and journey throughout the past years.
“My experience with theater is very different than everything else,” theater co-president Jackson Benovitz said. “It’s just something you can’t get out of anything else. You make a lot of friendships, meet really good people, and it’s just a really fun time.”
Beyond the performances, adding to Benovitz’s initial sentiments, Aluri notes that the theater program was a crucial aspect of his growth throughout his high school experience.
“I think it’s also about the life skills you pick up along the way,” Aluri said. “[Skills] like collaboration, working with people, confidence and being able to to put yourself in front of a crowd and having fun with people in theater.”
Chang echoed that sentiment, encouraging newcomers to be open and confident.
“Try it out because I think it’s really fun when you get involved.” Chang said. “If you’re open, it’ll be great. You just have to have a lot of energy and confidence.”
Lastly, having been in theater for the past four years, Aluri passes on his words of wisdom to the underclassmen in the program.
“I would just tell them the same thing Davenport told me which was the most important part about theater, which is having fun with your friends,” Aluri said. “So if you’re ever stressed during your performance just remember, the main part is having fun with your friends.”
Whether on stage, backstage, or somewhere in between, the seniors of this year’s musical leave behind a legacy of passion, dedication, and unforgettable memories—ones that will stick with them long after the final curtain call.
