By Marissa Hein

Graphics Editor

Los Gatos High School Wildcat Theatre just can’t stop the beat! On Nov. 12 and 13, LGHS’s drama and choir departments showcased the school’s first musical revue, All Together Now. The department put on the show to raise funds that would have been earned from the high school’s 2020 spring musical, Mamma Mia!, which was canceled just days before opening night.

However, Los Gatos High School was not the only theatre department utilizing this show as a fundraiser. Musical Theatre International (MTI), a popular theatrical licensing agency, offered up the show, free of charge, to theatre companies around the world to help them get back on their feet in light of the pandemic. According to a statement MTI issued, over 2,500 theatres in all 50 states and over 40 countries performed their own renditions of All Together Now from Nov. 12-15.

Three of LGHS’ finest thespians act their hearts out!

The revue included uptempo numbers and ballads from popular musicals including, but not limited to, “Be Our Guest” (Beauty and the Beast), “Sit Down You’re Rocking the Boat” (Guys and Dolls), “Seize the Day” (Newsies), “Let It Go” (Frozen), and “You Can’t Stop the Beat” (Hairspray). The setlist also featured “Take a Chance On Me,” sung by senior Riya Narain, who was set to play Rosie in Los Gatos High School’s Mamma Mia!. A year and a half later, Narain’s magical voice finally dazzled audiences with the song.

Excited to take the stage was sophomore William Radkey, who performed in a variety of songs such as “A New World” and “Writing Down the Story of My Life,” to name a few. However, his favorite number from the show was the finale, “You Can’t Stop the Beat.” When asked why, he explained that “there was so much life in that song. Although [I was] on stage it felt like I was just hanging out with friends. The dance was so much fun and every time we did it, we felt like the stage came alive.” Radkey’s enthusiasm, along with that of the other performers, translated incredibly well to the audience. In fact, the performers’ energy was so infectious that one audience member even felt compelled to do the worm in the aisle during the show’s finale!

The show was an incredible opportunity for high schoolers to jump back into musical theatre after the pandemic, improve their acting, dancing, and singing skills, and grow as performers. Many students gained valuable lessons, including Radkey, who stepped outside of his comfort zone and learned “to go out for every solo no matter if [he thinks he] can do it.” Radkey and his castmates will undoubtedly carry their newly polished skills to the spring musical, which has not yet been announced, but will be as incredible as All Together Now.

(Source: Musical Theatre International)