One night only

Hundreds filled the Goodrich Theater as part of a one-night show put on by students with the Cameron Community Players Youth Theater Workshop.

For the first time since February, spectators filled the auditorium as part of the CCP Youth Theater Workshop’s Broadway review ‘We’re all in this together’, giving many young actors an opportunity to showcase their skills before a live audience for the first time. 

“It was a fun two weeks, but a lot of hard work in two weeks,” said Cameron High School student Mariah Anderson, who performed multiple solos Saturday night. “It all came together and worked out. I was a little nervous, but I’ve been doing this for 10 years. It does make you nervous knowing it’s a one-night performance.” 

The show wrapped up nearly a month of students, whose ages ranged from toddlers to high school students, learning the gamut of stage performance. The workshop began July 11 with lessons on the audition process, then later auditioning and receiving their roles July 16. With less than 10 days before unveiling their one-night show, and hindered by COVID-19 regulations, Workshop Director Teri Robinson marveled at her students’ dedication.

“The kids did amazing. I was really proud of all of them. We had a few technical issues, but the kids pulled through. They kept plugging on,” she said. “I am proud of all of them. During the song we did called ‘You will be found’ from ‘Dear Evan Hanson’. I didn’t think it was going to come together and the kids did it. Two days ago, I didn’t know if I was going to keep the number. I was worried. [Friday], but at the end of rehearsal they nailed it.”

One of the most challenging parts of the ‘Dear Evan Hanson’ tune is the soloist, Gabriel Hacking, hitting a crucial high note. Despite early struggles, Hacking found the right pitch during the last run of the final rehearsal and did not fret when he put it before a live audience Saturday.

“For me, it’s during rehearsals I’m really freak out. The day of the performance, I think, I got this. I can do this,” he said. “It was great. There were some times when I almost got there during practice, but not quite. I just practiced a bunch then when I do hit it, I love it … It went pretty great. There were some sound issues, but everything went great. There are lots of things I’m going to takeaway - the friends I’ve made during this time, the songs I’ve learned. It’s really fun. You get a new experience each time.”