The Ross School’s spring musical is the only performance of its kind on the South Fork. Rather than putting on separate middle and high school shows, Ross brings its sixth through 12th graders together for one big weekend of singing, acting, and dance.
“Musically, it is challenging, because oftentimes with a Broadway script and score you have multiple harmonies, and you have to pare down some of it and simplify things so that it’s more approachable for everybody,” said Amanda Jones, Ross’s musical director. “They still have to bring a level of excellence to what they’re doing, but you don’t need all of those harmonies to have a wonderful show. I don’t necessarily miss them, and it makes it easier and more age-appropriate for the cast as a whole.”
“Once Upon A Mattress,” a comedic take on “The Princess and the Pea,” was chosen as this year’s show. “It just recently had a revival on Broadway with Sutton Foster and Michael Urie,” Ms. Jones said. “It’s been on our list for a while, and we knew we had the right kids to pull this one off. It’s not always easy to find things that are age-appropriate for both groups.”
“It was my first musical when I was in high school and we’ve never done it together,” said Tamara Salkin, Ross’s theater director. “It’s good for middle school and high school because there are fun ensemble parts and great featured roles. We have the greatest cast this year.”
Mia Frohlich, a senior, plays Princess Winnifred the Woebegone. “She’s a little bit messy and witty and she’s not trying to be perfect. She’s a strong individual,” Mia said. “And it’s a comedy, so she has a very big personality and is a little all over the place, but that’s what draws people to her. What she’s trying to do is marry Prince Dauntless the Drab, so she has to go through a certain number of tests that the queen doesn’t want her to pass.”
Besides loving her character, Mia was thrilled with this year’s selection. “This show is very different from what we’ve done before. It’s very comedic, and so we’re able to just have fun with each other. It’s also my last show, and it’s a good show to end on because there’s nothing sad about it. We just want the audience to laugh. We want people to leave having a lighter day and a smile on their face.”
Besides giving the audience some great laughs, the musical is a unique opportunity for the upper and lower classmen to get to know one another, both on and off the stage.
“It’s been great working with the middle schoolers. It’s really cool to see how we can be great mentors for them,” said Myra Tracy, a senior, playing Lady Larken. “They bring a lot to the show. They’re super-talented. I’m so lucky to work with them, and I feel like we really support each other. It’s a great balance.”
The appreciation is mutual. “It is really fun working with the older kids because I can learn from them and learn
Mia “is a really good role model, definitely,” said Jesse Feldman, a sixth grader who plays Knight Number 1. “Very good actor, very good singer.”
Mia is certainly talented. She just finished the college audition process, doing 48 musical theater auditions and applying to 37 programs while also juggling academics and serving as the captain of the tennis and golf teams. She already has a few acceptances, but says it’s a long process. Myra, also a senior, has already been accepted at Berklee College of Music, which she called her dream school. She plans to study vocal performance.
Right now, the entire cast is focused on giving three thrilling performances, tonight and tomorrow at 5:30 p.m. and Saturday at 2 p.m., at Ross’s upper school campus in East Hampton.