A hallmark of St. Michaels University School is the thread of music and theatre that links the Junior, Middle and Senior school campuses. From youngest to oldest, each school puts on a musical performance at the McPherson Playhouse in downtown Victoria each year. The Senior performance will drop in late February, followed by Middle School in early March and Junior School in June. We are excited to announce all three of these productions:
- Senior School: The Prom (Feb. 27 to Mar. 1, 2025)
- Middle School: Rock of Ages (Mar. 6-7, 2025)
- Junior School: Disney’s Frozen Jr. (June 5-6, 2025)
The Prom
The Prom features four eccentric Broadway stars in desperate need of a new stage. When they hear that trouble is brewing around a small-town prom, they know that it’s time to put a spotlight on the issue and themselves. The town’s parents want to keep the high school dance on the straight and narrow—but when one student just wants to bring her girlfriend to prom, the entire town has a date with destiny. On a mission to transform lives, Broadway’s brassiest join forces with a courageous girl and the town’s citizens and the result is love that brings them all together.
“It is an experience like no other,” described Morgan McLeod, Head of Theatre at the Senior School, about the value of the students participating in an annual production. “A cast and crew are a team that work collaboratively and collectively to create something that will be memorable for both audiences and themselves. Theatre, in general, instills confidence and creativity. This is a modern musical with modern themes that directly relate with the world we are living in today.”
McLeod, who saw the Broadway version of The Prom in 2019, was confident that this choice would be relevant for a high school production. He describes it as funny, heartfelt and current. Senior School wasted no time with their preparations, diving into auditions over three days in September. Students sang 30 seconds of a song in their first rehearsal and moved on to try out choreography from the show. Nearly 20 students were called back and a final casting list was posted at the end of the third day.
Of course, no production is possible without a coordinated team and this year that will include Ian Farish (Music Director), Christina Banman (Vocal Director), Kelli McLeod (Choreographer), Simone Kuklinski (Production Manager), Krista Jones (Set Design), Peter Leggatt (Set Construction), Alana Green (Costumes), Ali Higginbotham (Props), and Anna Kratofil (Rehearsal Accompanist).
Rock of Ages
A middle school edition of Rock of Ages will bring audience members to the late 1980s to follow a group of aspiring musicians in Los Angeles. The story revolves around Drew, a young rocker working at The Dupree Room, and Sherrie, a dreamer who moves to LA to pursue her own music career. Together, they navigate the challenges of the music industry, including the threat of demolition to The Dupree Room, as well as personal struggles.
“Middle School students are at an important point in their development exploring self-expression, gaining confidence, and learning to work collaboratively,” described Tom Hollingworth, who takes on his first year as the musical’s director. “Being part of a musical like Rock of Ages allows for growth in so many skills. As students manage rehearsal schedules, memorize lines, coordinate with their peers and adapt to direction changes, they actively build these skills, which are essential for success both in and out of the classroom.”
Hollingworth narrowed in on Rock of Ages as this year’s choice because it is based on music that embodies energy, resilience and the pursuit of dreams—themes he says resonates with middle schoolers as they explore their own identities and aspirations. The rock genre will be exciting for the Grade 7 to 8 students to find their bold, spirited expressions, while parents will relive the iconic 80s hits—an opportunity for a shared experience and energy across generations.
The performance will need the support of the entire Middle School. Hollingworth extended special thanks to Duncan Frater and David Enns, both with previous musical director experience, as well as Arabella Martin for support with all things on stage. Casting for the performance has already taken place and students will put in intense hours per week to sync their singing, acting, dancing and blocking.
“The student's hard work and passion for bringing Rock of Ages to life is already evident in their dedication to the performance but also their growth in discipline, resilience, and teamwork,” added Hollingworth.
Frozen Jr.
There were squeals of excitement when Junior School students found out that the Grade 5 musical would be the beloved Disney show, Frozen Jr. It’s safe to say that most are well attuned to the story of love and acceptance that happens between two sisters, Elsa and Anna. The story will also bring out the values of being true to oneself and accepting others as they are, while there will be no shortage of chuckles for the beloved characters of Olaf and Sven.
Stephanie Geehan, the musical's director, conducted extensive research over the summer and, with input from other teachers, decided on the hit show featuring “Let it Go.”
“Doing theatre at any age has so many benefits like increasing creativity and confidence, giving experience in public speaking, and encouraging teamwork,” said Geehan, who also directed the wonderful performance of Annie Jr. in 2024. “I think it is especially beneficial for children to do theatre to get that exposure and experience before any self-consciousness starts to set in too deeply.”
Every single Grade 5 student will be involved in the musical, a unique feature for the Junior School production. Whether students are belting out a solo, acting out a part, or enjoying some sort of fun stage business—every student is involved.
There is heavy lifting from a number of people to make this musical happen including Duncan Frater (Music Director), Grade 5 teachers Brandon Hawes (Set Designer and Builder) and Matt Kiel who move the sets and check props during the run of the show, Junior School staff who help with make-up and hair, teams of parents who find and make costumes and props, as well as the admin work behind the scenes from Delina Squire and Nicole Tripp. It’s a full team effort that results in a highlight memory for Grade 5s before they move on to Middle School, while the younger students in Junior School are filled with excitement in the anticipation of their Grade 5 year.
The Finale
Musical theatre brings together so many different people and their skills and talents. The Grade 5 performance gives every student an opportunity to find their confidence and learn new skills. It truly sets the stage for what is possible in the Middle and Senior School performances. Students find their role and their place and each year the performances seem to raise the bar in calibre.
Look forward to updates on each musical’s rehearsals and mark your calendars for all three 2025 performances. They always sell out fast.
