NASHUA, NH – As show weekend approaches, the cast and crew at Nashua High School North have been rehearsing from 2:30 to 10 p.m. five days a week for the two weeks leading to opening night of their production of The Secret Garden – The Musical, running from Friday Dec. 14 through Sunday Dec. 16,
The Secret Garden musical – based on the 1911 novel by Frances Hodgson Burnett of the same name – follows 10-year-old Mary Lennox. After her immediate family dies, Mary is sent to live with her uncle at his manor in Yorkshire, England, where she finds a key to a secret garden.
“It’s definitely a lot of work and dedication put into this,” said Matthew Lisa, who plays the roles of Ben Weatherstaff and General Albert.
Preparing for the show has been a community-wide effort with hard work on the part of the students, staff and parents, a group of which volunteer their time in whatever way they can, from helping with the set, to providing snacks and dinner.
The Secret Garden is a departure from the more contemporary shows the high school has put on over the last few years, such as Elf, Freaky Friday, and The Addams Family.
“The classical switch that is The Secret Garden’s music is quite a challenge, but we’ve been handling it really well and everything’s really thriving and growing with it,” said senior Mia Powers, who plays the lead role of Mary Lennox.
It is for this reason that director and musical director Brianne Biastoff chose to put on The Secret Garden.
“We’ve done a lot of happy, funny shows and this has been a challenge, but a good one for them,” she said. “I wanted to challenge them in a different way and because I had the kids that I knew their voices could do this show.”
“As serious of a show as it is, it’s also very lighthearted. It’s definitely about finding your people, finding family [and] growing,” Powers said. “I definitely think people are going to find it beautiful [with] the message of family and that family doesn’t always have to be blood. Family is what you make it.”
Tickets for the show can be purchased at https://tma.booktix.com/