Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
Two Portales High School students with a passion for the performing arts have spent many of their waking hours in Lubbock this summer, honing their acting skills in preparation for a musical that opened last weekend across the state line.
Liam Hurley and Mackenzie Privett are both rising seniors at PHS. They hope that eastern New Mexico theater-goers will make the drive they’ve practically memorized to see the Moonlight Children’s Theater production of “Shrek the Musical Jr.” that runs for three more weekends in the outdoor amphitheater in Lubbock’s Mackenzie Park.
Between them, Hurley and Privett are two of the Three Blind Mice; Privett also plays one of the Three Little Pigs, and Hurley said he has additional stage time as “a dead knight.”
Privett auditioned for and was selected for Moonlight Directions in Lubbock in the spring. It’s a training ground for the long-established Lubbock Moonlight Musicals organization, and is aimed at performers ages 13-18.
“Being a member of Moonlight Directions automatically reserves you a spot in the summer program,” Privett said. She tipped off her regular cast-mate Hurley about the opportunity for a summer role, and he auditioned in the spring.
For a light-hearted production that revolves around familiar fairytale characters, the process has been nothing less than intense. The two rehearsed from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. five days a week for three weeks in June, Hurley said, and “we didn’t have much down time during the day.”
Privett said preparation also included master classes in singing, acting, and dancing.
Unlike high school productions where “we usually get a week with costumes and mics and makeup,” Hurley said, “we did all that in one day.”
The two are the only New Mexico students in the production, “which I think is pretty cool,” Hurley said. Both plan to pursue musical theater after graduation, and Hurley has his eyes set on Broadway.
“I love musicals because I love the singing and dancing and how energetic everything is,” Hurley said.
This production is an ideal first show for young theater-goers: Seating is outdoors, food is allowed, and curtain time each Friday and Saturday for the remainder of July is 9 a.m. (CDT) — early enough to beat the summer heat.
More information may be found at lubbockmoonlightmusicals.org or by calling 806-638-5706.
Betty Williamson hopes these Blind Mice have a dazzlingly bright summer. You may reach her at:
