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WINTERSVILLE -- Indian Creek High School Drama Club members received some words of encouragement from a Broadway star after their spring production was halted by the coronavirus pandemic.
Adviser Sarah Bolen's students were surprised with a video message from Tony Award-nominee Rob McClure, who has appeared in productions including "Beetlejuice," "Something Rotten" and "Chaplin" on the Great White Way. The curtains have remained down on his latest effort, "Mrs. Doubtfire the Musical," due to the COVID-19 outbreak and he empathized with the youth since their performance of "Beauty and the Beast" was shelved.
"I reached out to him about a week before what would have been our opening night on April 16 through an app called Cameo," Bolen said. "I made a donation to the Actor's Fund and Rob sent a video greeting. The kids have been dealt a really bad hand this year between the spring musical being canceled and our trip to New York City being postponed. We were supposed to leave May 1 and I thought a video greeting might be a nice surprise for them."
She believed McClure was the perfect choice to address them since New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo's lockdown order left Broadway dark and theater productions on hold through June 7. McClure, who portrayed Adam in the stage version of the hit Michael Keaton movie, was initially set to open his new vehicle on April 5.
In his video, the actor said his fondest memories of high school were of the bond he established with his drama club and he still kept in touch with them today. Despite not being able to stage their play, he encouraged the ICHS group to enjoy the connections they have made.
"I can't imagine the heartbreak of working on something, pouring your heart into something and not being able to share it," he said. "The thing I take with me when I look back at high school is the people and the friendships and the love and the family that you build building a show together. Rehearsal is a big part of that bond … that lasts throughout your life. The good news that is you guys get to keep that. You get to keep those people, you get to keep those relationships and friendships which are the No. 1 thing to come out of doing a show in high school. Hang on to them, Cherish them. Comfort each other. You guys got to keep the best part, the most important part: Each other."
McClure suggested they gather in the future once the pandemic passes, sing Broadway songs and share it on social media and with him. His message of warmth and understanding helped lift the spirits of Bolen's estimated 40 club members, particularly seniors Katelyn McCord, Shawn McClurg, Angelo Madden, Kaleb Swearingen and Thurman Gross, and she shared it on her Facebook page and with the school district's social media.
"Rob's message was a compassionate, appropriately toned message of empathy for their loss and also reminded students that the best part of theatre programs are the friendships and memories you create along the way. Rob also took time to acknowledge our senior students, listing their names in his greeting," Bolen added. "It's been a difficult week for all drama club members, whose reaction to the video was emotional, but we are staying active and connected by having weekly Zoom calls and theater challenges to continue doing what we love most. I'm so proud of everything the drama club can do, especially their dedication to each other."
Senior showcases and other activities can be viewed on Instagram at @ichs--drama--club and McClure's message is available on that platform.