By KATIE LEFEBVRE, Globe staff reporter
April 1, 2004

GRANVILLE - Students at Spalding Catholic High School are using the talents that God gave them to prepare for an all-school musical titled "Christ's Last Days." The musical will be performed on April 3 and 4 at Spalding.

"I think it is a really good idea, especially because it is on Palm Sunday," said Margie Hansen, a junior at Spalding. "It is about Jesus. There is no other play that could show how God helps us better than one about him."

This will be the fifth all-school musical that Spalding has done. Since 1995 they have prepared a musical every other year. Before beginning in 1995, they had done a needs assessment and decided that something the school needed to emphasize for the students was fine arts, commented Judy Stokesberry, a teacher at Spalding. Since the musical includes music, acting, speaking, set design, painting, writing and so on, the fine arts need is being met.

The director of Spalding's drama department, Bill Miller, wrote the musical. The musical is about the last days of Jesus' life beginning with Palm Sunday through the crucifixion.

Miller is the drama director for the musical, and Janet Klein is the music director. There are about 97 students in the high school and all of them will take part in some aspect of the musical.

"We've learned a lot through choir," said Hansen, a member of the choir. "The shy people are coming out and singing. People that normally aren't on stage, get up on stage. They are nervous, but they still do pretty well."

The students are divided into six groups referred to as families. They took a survey to see which students were interested in each family. There are two teachers in charge of each family.

"It is good to get people to use their gifts and talents," said Angela Pohlen, a junior at Spalding and part of the publicity family. "Each family has something that everyone can do. It is for everybody, not just the people in the play. Everyone gets a chance to work together."

The responsibilities of the design/set family include painting backdrops, constructing some of the larger props such as the tomb and rock, and coming up with the other props.

The logistics, sound/lighting family is responsible for setting up and running the spotlight, microphones and all other equipment. They are also in charge of supplying the other groups with the goods and tools they need.

The duties of the costumes/meals family are to make and alter the costumes for the entire cast and also plan, prepare and serve the dinner to be held on April 4.

The business/marketing family's function is to solicit ads from local businesses and also keep all the financial records of the musical. They also take ticket reservations and usher at the musical.

The program design family is in charge of the graphic design and creation of the program. The students in this family type out cast lists, ticket information and also create the different ads placed in the program.

The publicity/make-up and hair family is responsible for getting all of the information to different newspapers and other media sources. They have made many posters, written letters and posted material on the school Web site, http://ww2.spaldingcatholic.pvt.k12.ia.us/. They are also in charge of the makeup and hair during the production.

The students work in their families on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays in the morning and Tuesdays and Thursdays in the afternoon. During the opposite time, they are in regular classes.

"One of the things that they learn is life skills," said Stokesberry, one teacher in charge of the publicity family. "They learn how to work together in groups. They learn how to have a goal and to achieve it."

For example, the publicity group had to make phone calls so they learned how to present themselves on the phone. Stokesberry added that they are learning skills that they will be able to use once they graduate.

The students are part of a family as well as most of them being part of the cast or choir.

Hansen said this is an important tradition to continue at Spalding "because it gives you a chance to do different things that you wouldn't normally do." One example she explained was that there are people who are good at construction but the school doesn't have a shop class, so this is a way for them to show their talents.

"It takes everyone to work together," said Pohlen. "It's not just one person, it's everybody."

The students will perform the musical April 3 at 7:30 p.m. and April 4 at 1:30 p.m. in the gym at Spalding Catholic High School. Cost for the event: adults $4, students $3 and children five and under free.

Prior to the performance on April 4, a meal will be served consisting of 1/2 a Cornish hen with stuffing, garlic ranch mashed potatoes, green beans, Chinese salad, butter horn rolls, assorted pies and cakes and beverages.