The Claremont High School theater program has been an integral part of the school’s culture. They spend months rehearsing and dedicating their time way beyond the classroom.
This level of dedication to the art can be seen in Sofia Porras, a Claremont High senior who took on the challenge of directing a musical all on her own this year.
The musical is titled “The Guy Who Didn’t Like Musicals,” and follows the story of an ordinary man named Paul. He despises musicals, but his life takes a chaotic turn when a meteorite crashes into his small town. It spreads a musical virus that infects everyone, turning Paul’s life into a real-life musical. He hates it, but is forced to embrace the musical chaos around him.
Though directing the musical was not all fun and games, Porras explained that she faced many challenges, such as being realistic about her expectations for this play and believing in herself. She had been told that producing the play was unrealistic.
These challenges were fueled by the time crunch they experienced. Porras, alongside her team, only had around three months to put the play together. Despite the immense pressure, she continued to feel the unwavering support of the cast who worked tirelessly to make this project come to life.
The main lead, Paul, was played by Moxie Moore, who is also a senior at CHS.
Moore was asked how it felt to be directed by a student instead of a teacher. “Sofia treated us with professionalism, but she also understood where we were coming from as students,” Moore said.
Another senior cast member, Amelia Wong, was asked the same question. “She made the process fun, but she also pushed us to do our best,” Wong said.
Energy was high on the day of the play. Families, students, and teachers alike arrived and filled the seats. The play went by smoothly, and people were abuzz about their love for the production as they left the theater.
