Shows Go On Despite Obstacles

“Things are coming together, finally,” said theater teacher Clark Sayre as he surveyed the more than 40 Dos Pueblos High School students sitting and standing on the auditorium stage before him. They were preparing to rehearse scenes from In the Heights, the Broadway musical director Sayre has chosen to showcase the high school’s multiethnic theatrical talent this month.

“The singing sounds good; the band is amazing. I’m really feeling good about the production,” he told the mostly female cast as he ran a hand through his unruly red hair. But they had yet to master some complex choreography before opening night. It was time for everyone to push their own and each others’ performances, time to go for the heights.

Reinforcing that notion was no-nonsense music director John Douglas. From the orchestra pit in front of the sparsely set stage, he growled, “And if I give you a note [to sing again], no back talk; just do it.”