Grand Forks’ Summer Performing Arts programs boast record participation – Grand Forks Herald

GRAND FORKS — Instead of watching TV or lounging by the lake one recent summer afternoon, dozens of Grand Forks high school students gathered on Central High School’s stage to rehearse “Super Trooper,” a dance they had just choreographed.

They are members of the Summer Performing Arts (SPA) production of “Mamma Mia,” one of the two annual musicals staged by SPA every year. It is one of myriad summer programs meant to engage kids of differing ages and ability levels in the performing arts.

This year, SPA has 1,030 participants ages pre-K through 12th grade, not including the wait list. That total beats last year’s record of 975.

“This year, we’re already at over 1,030 kids involved for the summer,” said SPA Director Allison Peterson. “So it’s a big number to keep track of.”

This year, SPA’s two main stage productions are “The Little Mermaid” and “Mamma Mia” — the former is for the freshman and sophomore students while the latter is performed by juniors and seniors.

“The Little Mermaid” will show at 7 p.m. on July 13-15 and at 4 p.m. on July 16 at Red River High School. “Mama Mia!” will show at 7 p.m. on July 22, 24, 25 and at 4 p.m. on July 23 at Central High School.

Directors select the shows each year based on the size of the cast and the vocal range and skills of the participants. This year, they had to select shows with a cast big enough to suit 60-86 students.

The different programs vary from elementary to high school. The elementary programs focus more on performing arts fundamentals like projection, movements and improvisation.

Many students start young and continue throughout the program, including Peterson.

“I was in the SPA program,” she said. “I started working for it immediately after I graduated from high school, and I’ve been here ever since. … I’ve been here over 25 years.

“Our retention rate is really high,” Peterson said. “The majority of them come back year after year.”

Ashtyn Auch, 17, who plays Donna in “Mamma Mia!,” has participated in the program since she was in middle school.

“I honestly look forward to it every day, just going and talking to people,” Auch said. “There are people I sit next to every day during rehearsal and I never get sick of it.”

Being back to normal is important to the SPA team and participants after three summers of coping with COVID-19.

“We did not have a program in 2020, sadly,” Peterson said. “In 2021, we did run but we had limitations on audience size. … And so you can just feel that it’s a different era this year that everybody is just smiling and happy and eager to be able to get back to normal.”

Having the SPA programs back to normal is important to the participants who receive not only a creative outlet but an opportunity for learning and growth.

“We’re teaching confidence,” “Mama Mia!” Director Richard McFarlane said. “We’re teaching students to have the confidence to get up in front of a massive amount of people in an audience and put themselves in a vulnerable position.”

The participants learn more than just confidence.

“SPA has taught me how to maintain a friendship,” said 17-year-old Virginia “Ginny” Hutton, who plays Sophie in “Mamma Mia!” “When I joined high school SPA, it was right after the pandemic and I didn’t come in with a lot of friends. But I came in and I had the lead, so I had to get to know people quick. … I ended up inviting them all to my house for the cast party.”

Mirko Drago, 16, who plays Sam in the upcoming “Mamma Mia!” production, said SPA has made him more optimistic and less competitive.

“I used to be a pretty competitive. … If I didn’t get the role I wanted I thought I wouldn’t have as much fun.” Drago said “But I’ve been incredibly fortunate to learn that it doesn’t matter. … They’re good about making each person feel like they matter.”

The community can continue support SPA by attending the upcoming shows.

“We’re working hard on it,” said 16-year-old Abbey Kinneberg, who plays Tanya in “Mamma Mia!” “So it’s nice when people come and get to support it.”

Following is the full list of cast members and the technical teams for “The Little Mermaid” and “Mama Mia!”

Zaynab Anvari-Clark, Mackenzie Brown, Izzy Clough, Emerson Eastman, Alexander Haar, Austin Hardersen, Henry Haugen, Theo Lents, CJ Leroux Peters, Hudson Murphy, Jet Simek, Evelyn Sperle, Annabelle Straub, Amber Will, Zeke Shannon, Caleb Perez.

Name followed by 2023-24 grade and school

Ariel: Rowan Olmstead-10-GFC.

Prince: Eric Jack Berry-10-GFC.

Sebastian: Natalie Buchhop-10-RR.

Ursula: Kenai Auch-9-GFC.

King Triton: Jaded Halvorson-9-GFC.

Flounder: Rilyn Thompson-10-RR.

Scuttle: Andrew Foerster-10-RR.

Chef Louis: Owen Berglund-10-GFC.

Flotsam: Niska Kempenich-10-RR.

Jetsam: Isaac Hong-9-RR.

Grimsby: Bricker McGillicuddy-10-RR.

Pilot: Ryan McMullin-10-RR.

Mersisters: Elizabeth Malott-10-GFC, Simone Legerski-10-GFC, Miren Burbank-9-RR,

Layla Swatlowski-10-GFC, Sonakshi Singhal-9-RR. Avery Spartz-10-GFC.

Kyla Aird-9-RR, Ashton Bangert-10-EGF, Kenley Beaudry-9-RR, Makayla Bell-9-RR, Morgan Bethea-10-RR, Kaia Boppre-9-RR, Levi Borboa-9-GFC, Marren Bremer-9-RR, Emmy Briggs-10-GFC, Emma Brown-9-GFC, Destiny Butler-9-GFC, Madison Clark-10-GFC, Josiah Dawes-9-GFC, Wyatt Dearinger-10-RR, Josie Dodds-9-RR, Cameron Dudgeon-9-RR, Frank Dusek-10-RR, Giselle Emerson-10-RR, Mairi Ferguson-9-GFC, Maryjane Flick-9-RR, Milo Gabrielson-9-GFC, Raghavi Garre-9-RR, Nora Gillespie-9-RR, Jasmine Hardersen-9-RR, Logan Hartze-9-RR, Finley Haugen-10-GFC, Jade Hobbs-10-RR, Isabel Hoffarth-10-GFC, Katelyn Hur-9-RR, Sophia Huschle Wendt-10-GFC, Espen Hutchinson-10-GFC, Aireana Jaimez-Harris-9-GFC, Landon Johnson-9-GFC, Alena Kolodka-9-RR, Ben Larson-9-GFC, Addyson Leddige-10-RR, Brooklyn Lemoine-10-RR, Jordan Lund-9-GFC, Caleb Machart-9-GFC, Kaitelyn McMains-10-RR, Renna McMullin-9-RR, Caroline Nyatuka-9-RR, Kaylee O’Connor-9-RR, Landen Oehlke-9-RR, Dave Onyeka-9-RR, Bella Petrovich-10-SHHS, Miley Piseno-10-RR, Georgia Price-9-RR, Nile Riedhammer-10-RR, Ahna Saenz-9-RR, Adriana Sargent-9-RR, Violet Spartz-10-GFC, Rubee Stanley-9-GFC, Asher Suriano-10-RR, Anna Tedford-10-RR, Genevieve Ulrich-9-RR, Aubrey Washington-9-GFC, Cody Wigestrand-9-RR.

Name followed by 2023-24 grade and school

Donna: Sheridan Ashtyn Auch-12-GFC.

Tanya Cresham-Leigh: Abbey Kinneberg-12-RR.

Rosie Mulligan: Jenna Post-12-RR.

Sophie Sheridan: Ginny Hutton-12-RR.

Ali: Reagan Gaukler-12-RR.

Lisa: Zoe Serna-11-GFC.

Sam: Carmichael Mirko Drago-11-GFC.

Harry Bright: Nick Bouvette-12-RR.

Bill Austin: Theo Sum-11-GFC.

Sky: Oakley Oss-11-GFC.

Pepper: Bobby Wek-12-RR.

Eddie: Brian Rains-12-RR.

Nora Anderson-11-RR, Cami Antonenko-12-RR, Bryanna Barkhouse-11-RR, George Beaver-11-RR, Abby Blomquist-11-RR, Miranda Bry-11-GFC, Isabelle Cebula-10-RR, Gabrielle Cormier-12-GFC, Ezra David-Schill-12-GFC, Nora Fevig-12-GFC, Kayleah Fleury-11-RR, Addison Foley-11-GFC, Olivia Giesbrecht-11-RR, Michelle Goulet-11-GFC, Ava Hager-11-GFC, Madison Hess-11-RR, Hailey Kalis-11-RR, Melanie Kayl-11-RR, Jack Knudsvig-11-CV, Eli Kurtyka-11-EGF, Lenora Larson-11-CV, Avery Lessard-11-CV, Emma Lyste-11-RR, James McArthur-11-RR, Meredith McCarthy-12-RR, Reilly McIntosh-12-BHS, Moss McSparron-12-Home, Brooke Meisel-11-GFC, Gigi Mooney-11-RR, Ollie Payne-11-GFC, Jayna Polries-11-GFC, Emma Prewitt-12-GFC, Tera Rains-11-RR, Rebecca Sather-11-RR, Jada Stafford-11-Home, Jack Stevens-11-RR, El Walsh-11-GFC, Braylahn Wiley-11-RR, Nevaeh Willey-11-GFC, Sophia Williams-12-RR, Violet Zirnhelt-11-GFC.