Succeed without really trying

With about a month of work put into rehearsing, the Waseca High School is presenting its one-act play How to Succeed in High School Without Really Trying in the school Performing Arts Center Saturday, Jan. 21 at 7 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m.

In addition to giving public performances, the crew will also participate in the Big South Conference One Act Play Festival in St. Peter Monday, Jan. 23. They are also preparing for a subsection competition in Medford the following Saturday.

“These kids have worked so hard every day to prepare for their performances,” Director Anna Pollock says. “They are great to work with.”

How to Succeed in High School Without Really Trying is a humorous play poking fun at stereotypes in high school such as roll call, finding a math partner, and learning French. Sixteen students are involved in this year’s production. Out of those, five are seniors: Sophie Farris, Thyme Lang, Lindsey Kopetzki, Arianna Krogseng, and Ava Norland. Farris, Lang, and Kopetzki have been active in theater for years while Norland is trying it out for the first time this year.

“Getting to develop the character and seeing how everyone else develops their character as well has been my favorite part,” Farris shares. “It’s interesting seeing how it all plays out.”

Lang agreed. “I’d love to see everyone’s characters, too. But for me, getting ready for the play is the most fun part.”

“The excitement surrounding this play…there’s a lot of energy,” Kopetzki adds.

A lot of that has to do with the content of How to Succeed in High School Without Really Trying. “It’s such a fun show that’s lighthearted,” Kopetzki says. “Because of that, it’s been so fun to come to rehearsal every day and know you’re going to laugh.”

Krogseng agreed. “This is our first comedic show this year, so it’s definitely fun to see character developments and how they portray their parts.”

“I like how fun everything is,” Norland adds. “The people here are amazing.”

Even though the setting of the play is in high school, the cast claims it’s a great watch for people of all ages. “Anyone from a middle school kid to an adult in our community will enjoy this,” Kopetzki said.

“Anyone that’s gone through high school recently will get a lot of the humor,” Farris says.

“I feel like it pokes fun at a few different kinds of stereotypical high school students,” Lang shares. “But I think it’s, like, in a good way.”

“It’s poking fun at it,” Farris elaborates. “It’s hilarious because it’s wrong.”

So, if finding out how Tom Cruise can help you memorize science terms, legally changing your name to get around roll call, and organizing a protest against phy-ed sounds like a fun time, check out Waseca’s production of How to Succeed in High School Without Really Trying this weekend.