It probably goes without saying that if the governor proclaims a day in honor of you, well, you’ve done something worthy of recognition; such is the case for the Edina High School Thespians, whereby June 17, 2011 was proclaimed “Edina High School Theater Day” by Governor Mark Dayton.
Yep, a day just for them.
This honor came on the heels of an announcement that the group (through an adjudicated process) won the opportunity to perform a number from their award-wining production of Anything Goes on the main stage at the International Thespian Society Festival in Lincoln, Nebraska. Did I mention they were the first school from Minnesota ever to be granted such a distinction? Or that 130 schools had vied for one of the 8 coveted spots?
As it turns out, this is just one in a long list of extraordinary accomplishments achieved by this group of uber-talented individuals. Besides winning 54 Spotlight Awards for their last five fall musical productions alone, including Outstanding Overall Musical award every year, there have been a plethora of other awards for everything from Best Lead to costumes to set design to lighting.
All of this talent has been honed under the watchful eye of Tony Matthes, Edina High School Theater Director/Producer extraordinaire. Matthes, who has been in his role at EHS since 1997 and recently completed his Masters in Theatre Education, is as humble as he is passionate about the program he’s helped to create.
“I’m just the guy who opens doors and turns on lights,” he says with a smile. “The credit goes to the 250-plus kids who are involved in theater during the year, and the parents, the set designers, the costumers, the lighting and sound crew; everyone who helps make it a success.”
One of those kids who made that trek to Lincoln, Nebraska, and also won a Spotlight Award for Best Lead in a Musical for his role of Billy Crocker in Anything Goes, is Will Lidke, who’s thankful for all he learned in the EHS program and is now putting all his skills into practice at Roosevelt University: Chicago College of Performing Arts.
“I didn’t truly appreciate what we have here with this program until I got away and talked to other kids,” says Lidke, who was visiting the school during a break from college. “It’s just incredible that we have this space, the Black Box Theater; I really learned so much while I was here.”
Patrick Solberg, another student and Spotlight Award winner for his role as Bobby Strong in this year’s Urinetown, is anxiously preparing college applications—his first choice is Roosevelt University.
“I can’t imagine my life without theater,” Solberg says. “I’ve learned not only about singing, dancing, acting, but how to work with other people, and how to develop leadership skills.”
Besides these two award-winners, the program has also produced actors who are performing or have performed at the Guthrie, on Broadway in productions including Hairspray, Rocky Horror Picture Show, A Chorus Line, Billy Elliot, Wizard of Oz; there are alum who are professional actors locally and college students in some of the best performing arts schools around.
“We just have a lot of talent,” says Matthes. “But that being said, we are so much more than what happens in this room. I had a kid write a play about human trafficking. We’ve done flash mobs out in the community. Some kids created scenarios to warn others about the dangers of drinking and driving. They do ComedySportz performances; other kids have put on productions outside of school. There are a million ways to get involved.”
Matthes and his cadre of talented souls are gearing up for their spring show, Side by Side by Sondheim, with performances on April 26–28 at 7:30 p.m.
“I love doing revues, they’re fun and exciting,” says Matthes. “And I think once again it will be a great opportunity to showcase all the wonderful talent we have here.”
