It is in itself rare that leads in a West Forsyth musical ever get double casted; it’s doubly exceptional that the leads of this year’s double cast of the Titans’ spring musical, juniors Addison Nix and Reese Gardner, are both the first two underclassmen to ever be casted as leads in a musical at West in over 4 years.
It [Anastasia] has been one of my dream shows since I was seven. Even when I was just dancing, my mom and I had always listened to “Once Upon A December” and she was like “you’re going to do something with this song one day and I know it”. So it’s very surreal to be playing Anastasia,” Gardner said.
Both Nix and Gardner are playing the role Anastasia in “Anastasia: the Musical“ alongside their co-stars seniors Sam Brandon, Garrytt Ard, Noah Cantrell, Morgan Spaulding, Riley Womer and juniors Chadwick Holmes, Tanner Young, Andrea Estrado Erazo, Lavender Rogers and Matthew Amade.
freshman year.
“The idea of being a Disney princess, or being somebody that someone else could look up to in the future just makes me happy,” Nix said.
Nix started performing in the fifth grade at her church and began school performing her freshman year.
“Working with Addison is really fun. She has great energy and is always positive. She does a great job in her role and with her characterization,” Ard said.
Similarly Gardner started performing when she was 2 and danced for nine years. While she started theatre in sixth grade, she did not become passionate about it until seventh grade.
“I’d say she [Reese] is a very dedicated person to getting her role right and she definitely inspires me to work hard on what I am doing,” Cantrell said.
Recently Nix and Gardner were invited by the school board on Feb. 27 to perform their opening song “In My Dreams” from the musical. This performance was to advocate for arts education in the county.
“I was in disbelief at first but then it sounded like it was really happening and I was like wait a minute, hold on, you’re serious? It was disbelief then excitement,” Gardner said.
Both girls will perform on their selected days at 7:00 pm,except for March.20 which is only open to local drama departments and not West students. Be sure to come out and support your fellow students.
March 20/22 Nix
March 21/23 Gardner