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ST. CLAIR SHORES — Get ready for a tail-flipping performance at Lake Shore High School’s production of Disney’s “Little Mermaid.”
Ray Filipek, director of musicals at Lake Shore High School, said they started working on the production at the end of February. They performed another show in January that they started working on around September of last year. This is the first time in Filipek’s three years they’ve completed two shows in the year. He said it’s been interesting to see the students grow and mature.
A lot of the students he started with are now seniors in the production.
“They’ve been a major part of everything,” Filipek said.
This is an extracurricular musical and is separate from the drama curriculum in the high school.
Filipek said he loves working with the students from year to year. Some students who started off in smaller roles have grown to get some of the major roles.
Halleigh Fountain, a senior, is playing Flounder, and Filipek said she really came out this year. She played a lead in their previous production “Little Shop of Horrors.”
“Just the persistence of them growing from when they were young to now has been really cool to see,” Filipek said.
Filipek said the students are a great mix of people with kids from all walks of life and he said it’s a really accepting group.
“I try and treat them like adults, and I expect them to act like adults,” Filipek said. “It’s kind of an environment where they can be free. They don’t have to worry about the things that are going on outside; they can just stay here, be here and be a part of everything. It’s a great opportunity for just a ton of things to blossom and meet new friends.”
Lauren Maciejewski, a senior playing Sebastian, said it’s been a great experience performing in the play.
“We’ve had a lot of ups and downs, but I know that we always pull it together and it’s always a great show,” Maciejewski said. “There’s always a lot of laughs and that’s I think what helps through the tough times we have.”
The students are allowed to ad lib in the show, creating memorable and funny moments.
Brielle Starks, a sophomore playing Ariel, started performing in fourth grade, but the director allowed her to perform with the high schoolers when she was in eighth grade. She said it’s been a great experience.
“All the shows we’ve done, each of them have a very special place in my heart because I’ve got to explore different characters and obviously, I love these guys so there’s nowhere else I’d rather be,” Starks said.
Jimmy Sheen, a senior playing King Triton, said the show has the biggest cast they’ve ever had as they are including elementary students
“So we have fourth through 12th grade students,” Sheen said.
Some of the students stay at school from the early morning to the evening, but they all say it’s worth it in the end and some call the theater their second home.
All the students shouted out Filipek who continued the theater program.
Performances are at 7 p.m. on May 15, 7 p.m. on May 16 and at 1 p.m. and 7 p.m. on May 17. The understudies will perform at 1 p.m. on May 17. Tickets are $12 in advance through www.ticketleap.events/tickets/22980-e-13-mile-rd/the-little-mermaid and $15 the day of the show. The production will be performed in the Lake Shore High School auditorium located at 22980 13 Mile Road.
Filipek said he’s passionate about the program and he thinks arts and sports together are a great thing.
“These kids put in so much hard work, I really let them kind of create the show and their characters,” Filipek said. “So it’s so much of their work that they put in and I hope that’s reflective.”
