The Acting Troupe of Lambert’s (ATL) fall production of “Between the Lines” is coming up this weekend. The show will be spanning over October 10th, 11th, 16th, 17th and 18th, and expectations could not be higher.
“Between the Lines” is a musical that was created in 2021 by director Jeff Callhoun. This show follows Delilah McPhee, a junior in high school, as she is having trouble fitting into her new life with an absent mother and a new school. As a result, she begins to read a fairy tale to escape her reality. Then one of the characters in the book, Prince Oliver, starts talking to her, and she develops feelings for him. The show flips from real life to the world inside of the book, and both worlds pull Delilah back and forth. Musical numbers such as “Happily Ever After Hour,” “Crazy Chemistry” and “Allie McAndrews” keep the stakes high and the story engaging.
Auditions for this show began during the first week of school, with the casting and after school rehearsals following not long after. The cast was expertly crafted by creative director Ms. Sabrina Lloyd to showcase as much talent as possible.
“We were looking for something that had more characters so that we could get a larger group of kids exposed to the limelight,” Lloyd said. “To give more opportunities for people to shine and show off their stuff, because we are beyond triple-packed with talent this year.”
Needless to say, ATL has been working tirelessly since August to bring this show to life. Junior Leita Clark plays the main role of Delilah, and she has taken this challenge head on with an open mind.
“I love getting to be inside of someone else’s world that is nothing like my own,” Clark expressed. “[Delilah] has a lot of struggles and character traits about her that are nothing like me, but it’s really cool to be in someone else’s shoes.”
This show is quite challenging in multiple aspects. On the technical side, the challenges include a projector that portrays what happens in the background, rolling set pieces that need to be intricately placed and the task of flipping seamlessly from the real world to the fairy tale world and back again. On the actor side, the chemistry between Delilah and Oliver needs to be extremely captivating, as they have a lot of duets and scenes that focus on their relationship. There also aren’t a lot of ensemble numbers in this musical, which leaves less distractions from the main plot, therefore putting the spotlight on the central two even more. The work that happens behind the scenes is usually something that can get overlooked, but with a show on this scale, the unseen work is extremely crucial to bringing the show to life.
There is a lot to be excited about in this show. The comedic aspect shines through in many moments, with multiple jokes that are sure to keep audiences laughing. Emotional moments will be just as impactful, with songs and dialogue that may leave the crowd with misty eyes. The talent being showcased on these nights, either on stage or behind the scenes, is sure to leave a lasting impact on the crowd. Tickets are available now at atldrama.com!
