The Parker student experience is steeped in tradition. From the earliest moments as a Parker student, certain practices mark the passage of time and important events. Bagpipes signal celebration in the same manner that curriculum based events, such as the fourth grade Greek play, signal the completion of certain curricula unique to Parker. This year, the Middle School Musical added to its role an annual event connecting current Middle School students with alumni performers.
On March 25 through March 28, the Middle School presented “Shrek, the Musical” to the school community. A musical and comedic adaption of the 2001 animated movie, the story follows the ogre Shrek as he overcomes obstacles and learns about himself while attempting to rescue Princess Fiona. Other central characters include Donkey, Lord Farquaad, and Dragon, as well as a full ensemble of fairytale characters.
The option to participate in the Middle School musical begins in the sixth grade. Sixth grader Celia Hesselgesser was given the role of the Bishop. Prior to participating in this year’s production, Hesselgesser frequently attended the Middle School Musical, including productions of “SpongeBob,” “Newsies,” and “Matilda.” She looked forward to participating in the production, as “everyone always looked like they were having so much fun. I love being onstage and singing, so it was a perfect fit for me,” Hesselgesser said.
In her second year participating in the musical, seventh grader Penelope Charfoos assumed the role of Dragon. After performing in “Newsies” as Tommy Boy, Charfoos said she looked forward to the “100 percent collaborative experience” again this year.” Hesselgesser echoed this experience. “We just generally are being really supportive of each other,” Hesselgesser said. Charfoos compared the musical production process to the teamwork between athletic team members. “Everyone plays an equally important part and everyone contributes to the end result,” Charfoos said.
While participants agree that the Middle School musical lives up to Parker’s goal to work collaboratively across the entire Middle School, each participant has different favorite experiences from the musical. From the process of learning elaborate songs and dances to the thrill of watching all the hard work come together in the final live performance, both Charfoos and Hesselgesser expressed satisfaction and excitement with the entire process.
Even before the final performance, some students were already prepared to commit to participating in future Middle School musical productions. “I’m looking forward to participating in the musical again next year because I know it builds community and helps me develop skills like public speaking, being comfortable in front of a large crowd, and taking constructive criticism,” Charfoos said. Hesselgesser is committed to another year of work on a Middle School production. “The experience of watching the musical come together is magical and I want to do it again,” Hesselgesser said.
This year’s production of “Shrek, the Musical” is not Parker’s first staging of this production. On March 23-25, 2017, the Middle School also presented “Shrek, the Musical.” Parker does not regularly repeat productions, which created a unique opportunity for community connection across Parker generations. Although the performers of the 2017 production no longer regularly fill the halls at Parker, the alumni office extended an invitation to connect the current and past performers of “Shrek, the Musical.”
Having performed as Fiona in the 2017 production of “Shrek, the Musical,” Alumnaus Bella Charfoos ‘21 was excited to see the production once again fill the stage of the Heller Auditorium. She appreciated the invitation to attend this year’s production and see a new group of Middle School students on stage, sharing a sentiment similar to that of the current performers, “Parker does a great job of choosing middle school musicals that are fun and accessible to everyone in the community.” The opportunity to reconnect with Shrek alumni allowed not only cross grade connections, but also connections within families. “The invitation to return is extra special since my sister is doing the same show I did almost 10 years ago, which has been a fun connection between us,” Bella Charfoos said.
The final performance of “Shrek, the Musical” on Saturday afternoon was also attended by one of Parker’s well-known alumni, Jeremy Sisto ‘92. While Sisto was not available to share his thoughts with the Weekly, he reportedly told the performers that their onstage presence and chemistry made the show successful.
As a returning alumni, Bella Charfoos highlighted the unifying nature of the Middle School musical, and musical productions in general. “Revisiting [a musical] seems like the perfect way to involve alumni, current students, and parents,” she said. Current musical participants also appreciate the return of past performers, as the shared experience of performing the same roles and songs creates a connection across Parker generations. Some performers expressed a hope that “Shrek, the Musical” might repeat again in the future. Middle school performers expressed gratitude for the opportunity to share their work with previous performers. “It was an honor for the original cast to take a break from their busy lives and come and see the musical!” Penelope Charfoos said.
