Although Fondy High has traditionally held a musical in the fall and a play in the winter, this year the school performed the play, “Fools,” first and pushed the musical, “Mamma Mia,” into February. Theater Director Steve Wilson decided to do this to give the choir more time to prepare for the musical, which is a large production this year. 

“Both Zeitler and Schneider felt that it would give them more time at the very beginning with their choirs and get some good vocals, basses laid, and all of that because we would cast the musical before school ever started,” Wilson said.

Having the musical later could present some new opportunities. “I feel like it works better for the stuff we are doing this year because it gave us more time over the summer to work on lines for the Fools play, and the winter musical with auditions held in late October will give freshman and more students the opportunity to participate in Mamma Mia in February,” junior Athen Schneider, who is playing the main role of teacher Leon Stephonavich Tolchinsky in the play “Fools,” said.

Senior Koreanna Klausen feels the same. She has played viola for musicals in the past, including “Seussical” and “Cinderella.” She was excited to see the play and musical this year. “I don’t have an opinion on the switching,” she said. “It feels weird for sure, but it’s worth a try. One benefit I can see is that it may give more people a chance to join the musical because auditions are during the school year and not the summer.”

The play and the musical season came up quickly. “I hope you got a chance to see the ‘Fools’ performance at the PAC on Oct. 17, 18, and 19,” Athen said, “If anyone is interested in being a part of the winter musical, auditions for ‘Mamma Mia’ will be held in late October.”