Senior Lily Hubler has been actively involved in the theater and chorus programs for four years. From a young age, she developed a strong passion for singing and acting, leading her to lean into these interests more seriously as she grew older.
“I have been taking voice lessons since sixth grade, and I’ve been acting since elementary school,” Hubler said.
Hubler’s commitment to the performing arts has allowed her to gain skills and experience. Throughout her time in theater and chorus, Hubler experienced success in her roles and performances. Since her freshman year, she has learned songs at home and rehearses them later with her theater class. This benefits her by giving her another opportunity to continue what she loves and gives the chorus class more students.
“I did chorus my freshman year, first semester, and then after that, I haven’t been in the class, but I participated in all the district choir events, and state choir events,” Hubler said. “So a lot of times, Miss Perry will have me come in during class periods, [then] I’ll sing with them in concert so they can have some more sopranos.”
Hubler’s success has been an example for her classmates, and she’s been recognized in many competitions for both chorus and theater.
“She’s gone to the all-state chorus so many times, and then she’s won the state championship for ‘Peter Pan’ with me, and I’ve seen her achieve so many amazing roles in mainstage theater and musical theater,” senior and theater student Kelsey Lagon said. ”And it’s all deserved, She does great.”
Hubler’s peers in theater also value her leadership, skills, and experience as she helps the younger students stay focused and improve when they feel they’re having a problem.
“She’s a big leader,” senior and theater student Cole Harkey said. “She takes over a lot of our warm-ups, and when classes get rowdy, she’ll help calm them down. A lot of incoming freshmen are all over the place, so she kind of wrangles them in. And a lot of people go to her for advice with vocal things, like singing when they need help with that.”
The theater class has two productions every year: one in the fall and one in the spring. The fall class is called Mainstage, which produces one-act plays. In November, they perform these for the Virginia Theater Association and the community. They also participate in an elementary school tour in January and a regional competition in February. The spring class is Musical Theater, and the class performs three times for the public in April.
“Right now we’re working on a competition piece, it’s a one-act production, [called] ‘The Search For Delicious’,” Hubler said. “[In the play] there’s someone writing a dictionary, and no one can decide on what the most delicious food is. So this kid goes across the whole kingdom, and he learns life lessons and tries to find out what it was.”
