AFTER MoNThS of rehearsals, costume designs, and set construction, and with all premium and preferred seats already sold out, Mount Carmel School’s Theatre Club is all set for its next big musical, Disney’s Mulan Jr. The show will run on Friday, December 1, and Saturday, December 2, on campus.
The show stars Theresa Schweiger as the lead title character, Mulan. As a veteran member of the Theatre Club, Schweiger is no stranger to the stage, but this will be her first lead role. As the show approaches, she said, “While I’m anxious, I feel ready because we’ve been practicing and rehearsing for months now.” Asked about how she feels about playing this role, she said, “This means a lot to me because before I was too shy to express myself, but finally I can show everyone what I can do in singing and acting.” She added, “This is such an important story because it shows that girls can do more than just stay at home cooking; they can get out and make a difference.”
Joining Schweiger are Kyla Cabrera as Mulan’s sidekick Mushu, Sinahi Cepeda as Shang, the leader of the Emperor’s army, and William Año as Shan Yu, the story’s main villain and leader of the hun army. on Mulan’s side of the family are Brent ortizo as Fa Zhou, Mulan’s father, Brandee hunter as Fa Li, Mulan’s Mother, Jewel Combinido as Mulan’s Grandmother Fa, and Trinity Cruz, Kina Dela Cruz, Chloe Lopez, Miyuki Takayama, and Ma- lina Tenorio as Mulan’s ancestors. Shang’s lead soldiers are played by Alyson Camacho, Lynzey Green, and Dylan Santos, with some help from Carlo Diaz as Chi Fu and Javon Gersonde as the Emperor. The show also includes dozens of extras playing dressmakers, hairdressers, groomers, soldiers, and townspeople. All in all, there are over 100 cast and crew members involved in the production.
The show is being directed by first-time director, Reica Ramirez. Ramirez was the assistant director for the Theatre Club’s last major production, Disney’s The Lion King Jr., which was a huge hit last year with over 1000 audience members in attendance for two sold-out shows. Now that the show is just around the corner, Ramirez is feeling nervous and anxious, but also confident. As she put it, “I trust that my cast and crew will deliver one of the best shows ever in the history of the Theatre Club.” More than putting on a great show, Ramirez is proud of how the cast and crew have come together. “This show is about unity, and nothing brings more unity on our campus than a club like Theatre Club, one that brings together elementary kids and high school kids all for one show.”
Based on Disney’s oscar-nominated film and the story, “Fa Mulan” by Robert D. San Souci, Disney’s Mulan Jr. tells the story of Mulan who saves her elderly father from fighting for the emperor by disguising herself as a male soldier to fight in his place. With her dragon sidekick, Mushu, and a motley band of misfit soldiers, Mulan discovers herself as she grows as a soldier and a heroine along the way. Since the original film’s release in 1998, Mulan has been a favorite of kids and adults alike who appreciate the story’s mes- sage of empowerment and courage.
The show features music and lyrics by David Zippel, Jeanine Tesori, Stephen Schwartz, Matthew Wilder, and Alexa Junge. Music for the show was adapted and arranged, with additional music and lyrics provided, by Bryan Louiselle. The show’s book was adapted and additional lyrics provided by Patricia Cotter. The Mount Carmel School Theatre Club production of Disney’s Mulan Jr. will be presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI). All authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI (mtishows.com).
Disney’s Mulan Jr. will be performed on December 1 and 2 at Mount Carmel School at 7:00 pm each night. Front row premi- ums seats and preferred seats are already sold out, but $5.00 general admission seats are still available for purchase at the school’s Business Office.
