Brothers play brothers in school’s musical production
Brothers Oskar and Thatcher Ellmoos will have little acting to do when their school production starts after being cast to play, well, brothers.
It’s the first big production for Thatcher, 11, and the first time they’ve been in a show together, Oskar, 14, said.
“It’s kind of like he brought out a new vibe of confidence in me then the confidence is shared around the group,” Oskar said. “It’s a good vibe.”
Francis Douglas Memorial College was putting on Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat at the Repertory Theatre in New Plymouth in May.
Oskar has one solo in the musical, One more angel in heaven.
“And that’s my first performing singing a song ever. It’s quite exciting,” he said.
Oskar plays the eldest of Joseph’s 11 brothers, Reuben, and Thatcher plays the youngest, Benjamin.
“I love acting. It’s fun,” Thatcher said. Performing arts teacher Lisa Stuck said last year was the first time Francis Douglas Memorial College had put on a school production since anyone could remember.
“It’s my passion. I love it. It’s something I’m trying to develop through the school.”
Their first production was Godspell, last year, which involved 18 students. This year 38 boys are involved, Stuck said.
“And there are 11 girls from different schools.”
They have been rehearsing every Sunday since February.
Ben Bartlett, 14, has the lead role of Joseph.
“Last year I did Godspell and got a solo in that and got hooked on theatre,” he said.
“Then I did Seussical with the New Plymouth Operatic Society.“
The show has two narrators, Cooper Grainger, Year 13, and Cynan HuiramaGlennie, who is in Year 9.
They split the role, Cooper said.
“I’m on stage the whole time and we’re singing the story to the audience. And the way I think about it is there is a line in the prologue that says we can tell this story another way. We’re telling it through song.”
The show runs from May 6 to May 11 at the New Plymouth Repertory Theatre. Tickets are $25 from trybooking.com.