They gotta dance

Nothing on the scale of Janet Jackson — it was just holding fast a decoration on the high school junior's dress — but distressing nonetheless. "Oh, my God! It's come undone again," she exclaimed.

When the curtain comes up Thursday night in Canyon del Oro High School's auditorium, it will rise on the collective efforts of roughly 100 student actors, musicians and technical workers and their ambitious production of the Broadway and film classic "42nd Street."

Not to mention a budget of about $22,000 — half raised from donated tax-credit money and half from proceeds from the school's musical two years ago — which allowed fine-arts teacher and director Carolyn Seidl to hire a professional set designer, choreographer, technical director and sound company to guide the students' efforts. CDO's production of "The Music Man" two years ago cost about $12,000 to put on, she said.

"This is a huge production," Seidl said of "42nd Street," as she watched the rehearsal for the school's spring musical from an auditorium seat next to music director Keith Koster. "I had no idea it would get as big as it is."

Kishi clutched her side and got back to practicing with the cast of "42nd Street," which opens Thursday. Dozens of dancers — many of whom just months ago didn't know how to tap-dance — practiced their steps on the hard floor, filling the room with the thunder of clackety-clackety-clack-clack-slide-clackety, a tap-dancing stampede.

Everyone who auditioned earned a part in the production, Seidl said.

"42nd Street," set in the Depression, is about a Broadway director striving for a hit show and about the adventures of an aspiring chorus girl. The production includes such musical classics as "Lullaby of Broadway" and "Shuffle Off to Buffalo."

"We've got kids here who aren't in any fine-arts classes," said Seidl. "The premise was: Anyone who wants to be in it can."

The work began last September, when students interested in being in the spring musical signed up for a twice-weekly tap-dancing clinic. Some of the eventual cast members already had dance experience, but many of the "42nd Street" hoofers are neophytes.

"I've been dancing since I was 2 and have been tapping for a long time," Kishi said. "Everyone has been working real hard, and it's amazing. Some people just learned for this, and you can't tell — they all look equally matched."

At a rehearsal last week, freshman Areanna Simnacher and sophomore Francesca Betancourt practiced their lines — they each have one — and went over dance steps while other cast members practiced their moves in clusters of two and three.

"It's a lot of work," said Simnacher, who plays a chorus girl. "They taught us the basics of tap and taught us the routines along the way."

Betancourt had a few years of dance experience under her belt before the production, but it's still been a lot of work.

The pair realized that opening night was fast approaching.

"The show is next week! Oh, my gosh! It's so soon!" Simnacher said, looking at Betancourt, "but I'm excited."

Senior Robert Flood plays the stage manager in "42nd Street." He's in a few dance numbers and had to learn to tap. He was in the CDO production of "The Music Man" two years ago.

"The last time, it was fun — and my friends dragged me along," Flood said. "This is just fun. You make friends, and it's just a good experience."

He said that he's a little nervous, but that he knows his part. "I have a lot of bit lines. I come in, say something and leave."

"I get to be a barfly, be in the rehearsal and I've got a couple solos, but mostly I'm just one of the crew," said sophomore Andrea Foley, a chorus girl in the musical.

The sense of camaraderie is a big draw for many of the cast and crew members.

The tech crew works on sets, props, lighting and making sure the curtain comes up.

"If it wasn't for us, the show wouldn't happen," said Emily Magofna, a senior. "This is my first musical — I've done other plays, but with a musical, it's a bigger stage, more stress."

Amber Bailey, a junior, was in the musical two years ago but this time decided to work behind the scenes. She and other stagehands were trying to make sure tables wouldn't wobble when the actors used them as props.

Eliza Vamos, a freshman, helped with the tables. "It seemed interesting to see what goes on backstage, and it's fun so far."

"We're a bunch of crazy, easily amused people!" Bailey said, laughing. "If you're new here at the school, it's the fastest way to make friends."

Gemma Krebs, 17, plays Maggie Jones, who writes and co-produces "Pretty Lady," the musical within the musical of "42nd Street."

"My character doesn't really dance, which is fortunate because I'm not very good," Krebs said, laughing.

Several of the lead actors plan to pursue drama in college and as a career. Marina Jarrette, 16, who plays Dorothy Brock, the leading lady in the musical within the musical, said she hopes to move to Los Angeles after high school graduation. She acts, sings and dances.

"Unfortunately, I got cast in a role that doesn't really dance," Jarrette said.

She and her castmates said they were excited for the show's run. "The most rewarding thing is the audience," Jarrette said.

Junior Sean Lamoreaux plays Broadway director Julian Marsh. His 24-year-old brother, Josh, is the CDO production's accompanist.

Lamoreaux said he feels compelled to be in theater.

"That feeling on stage is completely freeing. I'm more comfortable being someone else than being myself," he said. "There's a certain confidence in that."

Clark Jewett, a sophomore who plays Bert Barry, Jones' collaborator, said he loves being on stage. "I'm just a really terrible attention hog."

Sean Lamoreaux looked at the students rehearsing on the stage. "It's kind of scary; it's just now coming together, like little pieces being glued."

But the actors were all confident the show would come together in time for opening night Thursday. Senior Ross Gosla was beginning to realize "42nd Street's" three-day run would be one of his last CDO productions — and his last musical.

"It's all that leading up to it, like making friends," Gosla said. "To see it end is bittersweet."

● The Canyon del Oro High School production of "42nd Street" runs March 9-11. Curtain is at 7 p.m. each night, and tickets cost $6. Buy tickets at the high school office, 25 W. Calle Concordia. Call 696-5560 for more information. The show runs about 21/2 hours with an intermission.