Senior Isaac Eberly is in his third HHS musical this year, but this is the first time he has been a named character. Eberly was a member of the ensemble for HHS’s productions of Cats and High School Musical On Stage!, and this year, he plays the role of Mr. Bratt, the vice president in charge of personnel, in How To Succeed in Business Without Really Trying. Eberly has enjoyed embracing his character during the preparation of the production.
“I’ve enjoyed embracing Mr. Bratt’s strictness, as he is the second hand man of the company. I get multiple opportunities to raise my voice and shout at people during the show, so it’s really fun to just be loud and act tough every now and then,” Eberly said.
With a bigger role in a show also comes the task of memorizing lines and cues. Eberly has developed a strategy that works for him over the course of rehearsals.
“I’ve developed a system where I read [the lines] a bunch of times in my head and then speak them out loud over and over, then leave it for a couple days and come back to see how much I remember. I’ve also asked some of my friends for help, but overall, it’s just basic memorization tactics,” Eberly said.
In addition to his lines, Eberly also has a song solo, and he has never sung by himself on stage before. He detailed how he deals with his nerves.
“I usually don’t get nervous when I’m on stage, but right before we start the show, the nerves definitely kick in. I feel confident in my lines, but I’m super nervous for the song part, because it is the first time I’ve had a solo. But usually, it’s just the standard deep breaths and jumping around a lot to get the blood flowing,” Eberly said.
In addition, Eberly is also the most advanced male dancer in the production, as he is the only male to have taken dance classes all the way through Dance 4. He is grateful for the opportunities he has been given, and appreciates that all his hard work has paid off, but also recognizes the importance of staying humble.
“It’s super fun and really gratifying because I know the most, but I’m able to then use that and help others get better at their craft. Selfishly, I like being able to be more in the front of dances, but I do enjoy helping other people and just having that knowledge so other people can get better as well,” Eberly said.
All the hard work and determination of the cast members will come to fruition when HHS performs How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying on February 12-15 at HHS. Eberly says there is a lot to be excited about and hopes to see people there.
“This is definitely my favorite show that I’ve been a part of, and is a great show to end on for senior year. It’s a comedy, so there’s a lot of funny moments, the singing is great and the choreography is really fun to watch. I’m really proud to show this to my family and friends, and I think everyone who comes out will enjoy it”.
