DUNGENESS — The striking thing about this Broadway-style show was its theme, danced and demonstrated, that a stage production isn’t necessarily about stars.
A good show is greater than its parts. And it’s really great when one of those parts is youthful exuberance.
“Take Us to the World,” the show capping the first-ever Musical Theater Intensive for teens at the Dungeness Schoolhouse, has an impressive pedigree: two New York City-bred performers, plus a Seattle dancer, teaching 10 youths from Chimacum, Port Townsend, Port Angeles and Sequim.
Together, they spent 10 days learning songs, steps, improvisation and audition skills, and Friday at the schoolhouse, they staged a comedy-song-dance revue.
“As you all know, we don’t get here alone,” Linda Dowdell said at the top of the show.
Dowdell, who moved to Dungeness from New York four years ago, has served as musical director for the Mark Morris Dance Group, Mikhail Baryshnikov’s White Oak Dance Project and other internationally known ensembles.
On the North Olympic Peninsula, she’s begun a glee club at Port Townsend High School; directed the musicals “Oliver!,” “Bat Boy” and “Urinetown” there; created the “Here’s to the Ladies!” Tin Pan Alley revue at Key City Public Theatre; and plays jazz piano at venues such as Wine on the Waterfront in Port Angeles.
Under the umbrella of Sequim’s Olympic Music School, Dowdell put together this summer’s Musical Theater Intensive, with intern Jessica Reid of Port Townsend, New York City-based singer-actress Elinore O’Connell and Seattle dancer Annuel Preston as her co-instructors.
After just two weeks, the teens swept onto the stage to sing out dreams set to music: George Benson’s “On Broadway,” “42nd Street” from the show of that name, “Follow Your Heart” from “Urinetown,” “A Whole New World” from “Aladdin” and “Where Is Love?” from “Oliver!”
A crescendo — and a message — came in “For Good,” from the musical “Wicked.”
“I’ve heard it said/That people come into our lives for a reason,” the teenagers sang. “Because I knew you/I have been changed for good.”
The love of music streamed fast throughout the production, as the performers jammed 20 songs into less than an hour.
With the sun pouring in the schoolhouse windows, the students strutted and spun, trading classic lines from numbers such as “Broadway Baby” from “Follies” and “Home” from “Phantom of the Opera.”
Sequim’s Sara Jackson, 16, and Port Angeles’ Jaden Rockwell, 15, were the picture of poise in “Memory/Errinerung” from “Cats,” as were their fellow performers Ayla Iliff, Rosie Lambert, Holly Brownfield, Vallen Barber, Joey Ripley, Misha Cassella-Blackburn, Ciel Pope and Emerys Shaw.
And to add one more burst of inspiration, the students belted out another fitting song about the performer’s life: Jimmy Cliff’s “You Can Get It If You Really Want.”
Following the teens’ and teachers’ bows, audience members left donations toward a scholarship fund for next summer’s Musical Theatre Intensive.
Information about it and other Olympic Music School offerings awaits at 360-681-0232 and www.OlympicMusicSchool.com.
Features Editor Diane Urbani de la Paz can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5062, or at diane.urbani@peninsuladailynews.com.
