Get ready to let it go!

After two long years, the wait is over — Estancia’s new theater is finally open and preparing for its first-ever production.

For around two and a half years, students at Estancia have been eagerly waiting for the new theater to open. Now that it’s ready, the first production will take place in late November. The debut show will be Frozen, directed by drama teacher Mrs. Reyes. With interviews from Mrs. Reyes and cast member Amelia Zuniga, who plays Oaken, I was able to gain a deeper understanding of what to expect from the show.

First, we interviewed Mrs. Reyes to see how she’s feeling and to learn about the rehearsal process so far. For those who may not know, Mrs. Reyes is the director of the production and an Estancia graduate from the Class of 2017. She had always dreamed of becoming a drama teacher herself. When asked why she chose Frozen for the first play, she replied, “I wanted a show that would include many other people from the community, so everyone had an opportunity to be a part of the grand opening. Something Disney so then all ages could come and see it.”

She also talked about how rehearsals have been going, explaining, “The first month was just learning the music, and then they will learn the choreography.”

Next, I interviewed Amelia Zuniga, who has been a part of the Estancia drama program for two years and will be playing Oaken. She expressed how excited she is for the show and how all of the hard work she has put into the production will pay off. Since Mrs. Reyes wanted students from different grades to participate, I asked Amelia her opinion on having younger cast members involved in the first show. She said, “Having grades younger is super exciting and it is very fun to be a role model for them.”

The first production will be performed in the new theater, and Amelia shared, “I’m just super excited to perform in the new theater. It will be very nostalgic leaving the other area in the past and moving forward.”

I am thrilled to share this exciting news with everyone at Estancia—just as much as Mrs. Reyes and Amelia Zuniga are. The opening show will be on November 20th, and it’s sure to be a huge success. Hopefully, many will come to enjoy and appreciate all the hard work that the cast and crew have put into bringing Frozen to life.