In April, a decades long tradition continues. Anderson High School’s 60th spring musical is “Bring It On, the Musical,” a high-flying look at competitive cheerleading. Originally directed and choreographed on Broadway by Cincinnati native Andy Blankenbuehler, it boasts lyrics and music by Lin-Manuel Miranda, and was inspired by the 2000 movie “Bring It On.”
“Bring It On the Musical” centers around Campbell, a high-achieving cheerleader who is forced to spend her senior year at a new school very different from her own. There she meets Danielle, the headstrong leader of the school’s Dance crew. The girls form a powerhouse squad for the ultimate cheer competition, but need to learn from each other before they can become true winners.
Anderson High School’s spring show has been a township event since the first, “Bye Bye Birdie” in 1964. Director Chad Weddle has brought together a huge cast of student actors, athletes, singers, and performers to celebrate this milestone in style. “Community is very important to all of us,” says Weddle, “and this show illustrates that. Only when we work together with respect can we achieve great things.”
“Bring It On!” runs April 27-30 at Anderson High School. Tickets are $15 at the door, with special $10 senior and student pricing available now at www.ShowTix.com. For more information, visit AndersonTheatre.com.
Anderson High School senior and film student Devin Lands was inspired by Stephen King’s novel “The Shining” when he wrote the screenplay for this year’s mainstage Film project. His film tells the story of teenagers Michael, Rose, and Freddy as they spend three months house-sitting an off-season B&B for Michael’s Uncle. The house has a dark past, but so does Michael, and all too soon that darkness rises to threaten them all.
Harry Witherspoon is an unassuming English shoe salesman who is forced to take the embalmed body of his dead uncle on a vacation to Monte Carlo, all to inherit six million dollars. If he fails, the money goes to the Universal Dog Home of Brooklyn—a result dearly hoped for by Annabel Glick, who is watching him like a hawk! Throw in a jilted mistress, her hapless brother, and a mysterious Italian, and you have an old-fashioned, madcap night of pure fun. Don’t miss Lucky Stiff!
An alien living among us. A teen struggling with guilt and grief. A man whose life will be changed by his next coffee order. These are the seeds for the short films that will make up Anderson Film’s 2022 Film Festival. This year each film will be directed and edited by their student writers, working with a team of student technicians and actors. The stories they tell are heartfelt and vivid, comic and tragic, and a remarkable look into the imaginations of our youth.
ROT ‘N GRUB
Behind the Curtain Cincinnati 