On April 25, 26, and 27, Wentzville Middle School performed Aladdin Jr. in Holt’s own auditorium. This production has been in the works for months, with the help of everyone from the students themselves, to the middle school’s teachers, to our own students and staff here at Holt. It seemed that this year’s musical made a big impact on all who partook in it.

Stella Scanlon, one of the makeup artists on the musical’s set crew, said working behind the scenes was rewarding.

“I loved how fun and amazing all the cast and crew was,” Scanlon said. “This was my first year doing (the school musical) and I will definitely do it next year.”

It seems, to Stella, that the people involved in Aladdin were really what made the production special.

“I can’t pick a specific person (to shout out), everyone in the cast and crew, the high schoolers helping, and all the teachers helping were amazing and super helpful,” Scanlon said.

To other students, such as Kellie Steele, who played a shopkeeper, being in this production even helped her in finding what she loved to do.

“Honestly, I really enjoyed meeting new people, and just learning the ups and downs of the production. Being in the show also helped me find myself,” Steele said.

Brody Cline, who played the Sultan of Agrabah, has been acting since childhood, and the musical only made his love for it grow.

“As a kid I’ve always loved to act, and to finally be on a stage and act a character that I kind of like to play, and wanted to play, a funny character like this, it really makes my dreams come true,” Cline said.

Even the lead himself, Reese Calvin as Aladdin, felt the musical was a big part of his life.

“(What I most enjoyed was) just getting to work on something and then build on it with friends, and getting to see other people grow,” Calvin said.

Overall, the Wentzville Middle School students put on an amazing rendition of a classic we all know and love, and I, personally, can’t wait to see what these kids do in the future!