Bethpage High School is known for offering many clubs and sports that students participate in. A club that many gifted actors and singers join is the drama club! The members of the Masquers Guild have extraordinary talents and a huge passion for doing what they love! BHS Junior Amanda Schneider is one of those actresses with extraordinary talent! She has been doing drama club since a young age, and her hard work and determination has led her to the role of Elle Woods in BHS Masquer’s Guild production of Legally Blonde this March! Recently, The Eagle’s Cry sat down with Amanda to discuss her passion for drama and information on the upcoming musical, Legally Blonde!
Students in BHS have many different aspirations when trying something new or something they are interested in. Junior Amanda Schneider said: “So when I was younger, my parents put my brother into drama club at the elementary school and naturally I wanted to do everything he did so I asked to join too. I was too young for the Elementary production so I joined Annie at a local kids theatre. That show really started it and then I continued through high school. So I guess the simple answer is my brother. We got to do one show together and it was a super special thing and he’s always been a big influence in my life.”
When receiving a lead role, there is a lot of pressure that goes with it. With getting the lead role of Elle Woods, Amanda Schneider said: “I am super excited to be a part of the production, being Elle Woods is a dream role of mine and I am very glad that I am able to fulfil my dreams of being able to play her. It is very nerve racking and stressful. Tech week is starting up now and we have to be at the high school from 8 or 9 PM. However, I am super excited because the show will be great!”
There are many factors that lead to success in a student’s life. With Amanda, it has been with drama productions. Amanda Schneider said “I have been doing drama productions since elementary school, and it has always been a goal of mine to pursue. It has helped me find my confidence, and helped me meet my closest friends today. Without the drama productions, I would not be the person I am today. My directors, cast, and all the people behind the scenes lifted me up and helped me succeed in every way possible. This program really means everything to me and has helped me throughout all my years of high school.”
When doing drama productions for several years, every actor or actress at least has a favorite role. Amanda Schneider said: “I’d say probably Morticia in the Addams family. It was a super fun show and I met so many amazing friends during it. It was such an interesting character and super fun to play!”
Not many people know what goes on outside of a student’s life besides drama productions Amanda Schneider expressed: “I’ve played softball for about 10 years, I do shows at a theatre outside of Bethpage and I also bedazzle everything in my house when I’m bored.”
Some students who do drama productions may want to expand their career throughout college. Amanda Schneider mentioned: “I’m not planning on majoring related to that. Although, I hope to find a good college that has a minor option for that. I want to go for speech-language pathology or elementary education, so if I find a school that offers that and theatre that would be perfect. I definitely won’t just leave it behind after high school though.”
There are some students at BHS that may want to participate in the school’s play and musical next year, but are afraid. Amanda Schneider said: “DO IT!!!! It’s honestly the best decision I’ve ever made. All of my closest and most trusted friends are the ones I made in drama. It’s such a family of people who support you all the time. It gets chaotic at times of course but in the end we really put on something beautiful. It’s such an amazing club and it would be so amazing to get more people!”
Be sure to watch Amanda Schneider and the rest of the cast of Legally Blonde this week! You can see this year’s school musical on Thursday March 12th, Friday March 13th, and Saturday March 14th. All of these show dates will commence at 7 PM.
