From the moment the TPAC lights dimmed on December 12, members of the Bishops community, including family and friends, awaited the opening number of this school year’s Musical Theater 8 (MT8) performance titled “Good Trouble.” Seconds later the whole group of eighth graders involved took the stage to perform their version of Seize the Day from the musical Newsies both singing and dancing as one.
The annual MT8 show is a show based on months of hard work and collaboration, but also fun and growth. Not only was the group’s impressive singing, dancing, and acting shown, but also important themes that reflect the eighth-grade experience today making it clear that this performance was more than just a show, but also both impactful and memorable.
In recent years, MT8 has begun to focus on the schoolwide themes for the year. This year’s show, MT8: Good Trouble, was centered around justice. Coach Korneychuk, director of MT8 and member of the performing arts faculty at Bishops, explained that the students explored current-day issues such as racial equality, gender equality, and LGBTQ representation.
The key, they noted, was pulling these large issues from the eighth graders’ perspective. Coach Korneychuk said, “It has been really meaningful to start taking on these bigger topics that our whole school is having a conversation about and really think about, like, the 8th grade perspective on those issues.”
Some questions that came up while preparing the production included, “What does it feel like to be told you can’t do something because you’re a girl?” or “What does it feel like to be called gay right now?” they asked. Connecting worldwide themes to students’ lives allowed these “really big conversations from history [to be] very real to our day to day lives,” Coach Korneychuk explained.
Performer Charlotte Leach (‘30) shared that her favorite part of the show was, “Probably all the tech days,” adding, “When we got to hang out with the backstage crew. Before you go on, you can just talk to them and hang out with them, and that’s really fun.” Charlotte also emphasized how supportive the environment was, especially with her friends in the performance with her. She recommends participating in MT8 for all future 8th graders as she shares, “Get all your friends to do it.”
Charlotte also highlighted the independence that the eighth graders get while in the show, especially when preparing musical pieces or writing your own monologue. While Charlotte herself didn’t perform a monologue, she on the other hand worked closely with her duet partner Scarlett Nielsen (‘30) to prepare their performance of [double check on song]. She said, “We had to do it kind of on our own a lot,” explaining how they often practiced over FaceTime. Even though the production called for responsibility, Charlotte describes the process as fun and, in the end, very rewarding.
Another performer, Brooke Donnelly (‘30), echoed many of the same aspects. As a dancer who trains and competes competitively outside of school, Brooke appreciated being able to bring her experience into MT8. “It’s especially fun to share what I know outside of school,” she said. Brooke also recommended the class, stating that, “it’s truly the best experience.” While she enjoyed rehearsals, to her, the actual performance stood out the most. “You can finally see all the hard work we put into everything,” Brooke said.
Brooke also highlighted the responsibilities that come with taking on her more independent role as a smaller group dancer. Brooke shared, “I had more of a dancer part, so just, like, making sure that’s all together, so when me and Charlotte or the group dance together, I know what I’m doing to be able to execute properly.” From memorizing assigned vocal parts to perfecting her choreography, she explained that everyone had to come prepared individually so the group could flourish.
Codi Lucas (‘30) echoed that idea by saying, “Everyone put a lot of effort into this show, and it turned out great, with especially polished numbers like Seize the Day, Revolting Children, and you can’t stop the beat.” Codi sang a solo song called Stars from the famous musical Les Misérables. He said, “This song is about a police officer in France who is swearing to never give up until he catches the main character of the show.” Showing how the theme of Justice was spread throughout the production.
From the audience’s perspective, Kaia Wood (‘29), a former participant in MT8, shared how exciting it was to see the performance this year. “Everyone in there was so talented,” she said. “I was grooving the whole time.” Kaia shared how she was impressed by the monologues and performances, noting the actors had strong stage presence and emotional depth. Kaia also encourages upcoming eighth graders to join MT8, sharing, “It’s such a fun process. You can do anything.”
Although the students do a lot of the work throughout the semester to prepare for the show, Codi shared, “We couldn’t have done it without our choreographer, Ms. Lux and our director Coach K., and especially Phil [Daniels], our piano player,” representing the shared appreciation of all of the people involved in the final production is MT8.
Coach Korneychuk, MT8 director and member of the performing arts faculty at Bishops, reflected on how this class has evolved over the years. One of the biggest changes, they explained, is the growing diversity of students involved. “It hasn’t always been just the through and through theatre kids,” they shared. Athletes and students trying theatre for the first time have become a major part of the program, helping bring together a wide range of perspectives.
The December 12 MT8 performance was a powerful reflection of creativity, courage, and collaboration. Whether on stage, backstage, or in the audience, students walked away with a deeper appreciation for musical theatre and also for each other. As many interviewees agreed, MT8 is not just a class or show; it is an experience worth doing that teaches lessons about putting yourself out there, and also teaches important lessons about the world as a whole.
