This year, students are getting a behind-the-scenes look at the process of choosing a musical.

The Reading Committee, run by director Stefan Farrenkopf and co-director Amy Brooks, was open to all upper school students. Those who signed on to commit to the readings received one of seven scripts, read their show for the next week, and developed pros and cons to share.

Despite some level of controversy in each show, students debated the pros and cons of their musicals of choice. Their passion for the theater program was evidenced through animated discussions about dream casts and solutions for issues related to cast size, content, and dynamic.

According to Farrenkopf,  Brooks and he are moving in a different direction than originally planned.

“The reactions weren’t quite what I anticipated,” Farrenkopf said. “So we’re shifting priorities based on what we learned during the meetings.”

The directors are still processing the students’ feedback. However, Farrenkopf believes that’s the point: getting surprising input from people who are invested in the theater company.

Reading scripts and lyrics gives students a chance to see the process behind choosing a musical, as well as allowing them to express their opinions about which they’d like to perform.

Although the directors will have the final say on which show they will cast, they’ve been left with plenty of information regarding students’ ideas, necessary edits, and committee-wide concerns.