Vernon Hills High School presents student-written spring musical, 'The Institute'
Submitted by Community High School District 128
From writing the script, to composing the music and lyrics, students at Vernon Hills High School have collaborated to not only perform but literally create this year's spring musical. Titled "The Institute," the show follows life at a high school that could not be more the opposite of VHHS. The school's motto is "We Are The Same," and all art and creative expression are forbidden - a notion that is ultimately challenged by a group of students known as The Studio.
In a school year that began in full remote learning, the VHHS Fine Arts Department navigated very particular challenges of how to perform and showcase student art, music, dance and theater throughout the year. Selecting and planning the school's musical theater production, however, presented very specific concerns.
"Because of the pandemic, we were looking for a musical that was flexible to produce," said Theater Director Kevin Phelan. The show had to be flexible in terms of rehearsing, producing, and streaming. Fortunately, Phelan made a comment during a brainstorming meeting that the school could just produce its own musical ... and the rest is history.
The school solicited students for ideas for the musical and received 20 pitches featuring everything from family drama to fairyland. The ideas were narrowed to 10, and the writing group narrowed them down to four finalists and ultimately, the idea for "The Institute" emerged the winner. Phelan oversaw the student writing team that met multiple times per week via Zoom.
Simultaneously, Heidi Joosten, Music Director for the production, worked with the team of student composers. She was excited about the idea of teaching students how to create a new piece of theater and started them off by saying, "If you can sing it into your phone, you're a composer."
The show was created remotely via Zoom by a team of 20 student writers from October through March under the direction of Phelan, while the music was composed by five student-composers and lyricists under the direction of Joosten. The production features 39 actors, 10 musicians, and 37 members of the crew.
COVID-19 restrictions, as well as the uncertainty of what the end of the school year would look like in terms of restrictions on gatherings, led to the team's decision to produce "The Institute" as a movie. Viewers will experience a show that takes them far beyond the VHHS stage to locations throughout the school.
VHHS alumnus Edgar Nevares-Flores (Class of 2012), a graduate of the NYU film school, served as cinematographer for the production.
"We didn't expect to have him helping us at first, but when he started helping us out we were like, oh, we can do this!" Stage Manager Amanda Rokosz said.
"Having to put all of us together to organize this huge product was difficult at times but it was really valuable," said Actress Tessa Kruczek. "That's how normal musicals are created on Broadway: they go through many different workshops."
The show premiered on May 21 as a double feature with the Spring Orchesis concert on a 40-foot screen at a live "bring your own chair" screening in the main parking lot. Following the premiere, the show may be viewed for free by going to www.showtix4u.com/event-details/51896.
For a behind the scenes look at the making of "The Institute," visit www.youtube.com/watch?v=xEFNm9RuXg8.
"We are fortunate to own the rights to the show, and can stream it as long as we choose," VHHS Fine Arts Supervisor Andrew Russell said.
In the end, the school is proud to present a fully student-created production that may be an option for other theater groups to perform in the future. And, as a pandemic bonus, the entire process brought together - even if remotely - the talents of many student-writers and musicians who may have not otherwise been involved in the spring musical.
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