Mexico High School theatre earned its ears this weekend.

The fall production of Disney’s Dare to Dream Jr. followed a group of inspired and eager trainees on their first day at the Imagineering Studio.

Dare to Dream Jr. was a highly technical play that leaned on its ensemble and featured 22 musical tracks that spanned a century of Disney. From nods to the classics such as Winnie the Pooh to more contemporary pieces such as Encanto, the musical review appealed to a variety of audiences.

Jasmine Reeves, Player 2, shared the Imagineer spotlight with Landry Cooney, Player 1. Together, they prepared the trainees for their role as Imagineers in a seminar that taught them about different types of dreams and the challenges that may come with dreams.

“Rebecca (Stanford), the lovely lady who plays Player 3, has some very open struggles with her dreams,” Reeves said. “She’s struggling to come to terms with having no dream at the moment.”

Stanford’s fellow players, who all met that day, comfort her and teach her that she doesn’t have to realize her dream right away.

“It’s a hard thing to do and you just have to be patient and, as my player says, you have to go with the flow,” Reeves said. “Hakuna Matata.”

Off stage, Reeves found the structure of the play both unfamiliar and exciting.

“Usually, during the audition period and just reading through the script, especially in the beginning of the show, it’s really nerve-racking when you have to compete with your peers,” Reeves said. “But because everyone’s on the same level as far as lines and singing the songs, it was basically stress free.”

Director Sidny Groves was originally on the fence about whether or not Dare to Dream would be a good fit, but as a former Imagineer, Disney holds a special place in her heart, and after reading the script, she was confident in the team.

“I have enjoyed my time with the kids and they have done a spectacular job,” Groves said. “They have worked so hard to get the show on its feet.

The three-night production ran from Nov. 21-23 and Groves called it a success.

“Honestly, we’re all dreamers in our own ways,” Reeves said.

Dare to Dream Cast and Crew

Cast:

Player 1 - Landry Cooney
Player 2 - Jasmine Reeves
Player 3 - Rebecca Stanford
Player 4 - Payten Owen
Player 5 - Sophie Hamm
Player 6 - Melody Peterson
Player 7 - Adara Snow
Player 8 - Addison Bowling
Player 9 - Lauren Jurgesmeyer
Player 10 - Bailey Christianson
Player 11 - Abbey Hamm
Player 12 - Abbie Case
Player 13 - Miah Sprock
Player 14 - Sebastian Matuz
Player 15 - Jacob Douglas

Ensemble - Elsie Acree, Madison Bickell, Ash Lee, Alex Mottin, Jazmine Torres, Scarlet Snow and Taylor Wyman
Stage Manager - Hunter Feger
Assistant Stage Managers - J’Zaria Fountain and Natalie Isgrig
Lighting Designer - Adara Snow
Microphone Technician - Ian Whortan
Light Board Operator - Max Coulson
Spotlight Technicians - Sydney Wyman and Robbie Lopez
Board Assistant - Landon Whitworth
Backstage Crew - Ella Connell, Matti Hager and Abigail Rider
Set Construction Crew - Isaiah Batsell, Isabella Chowning, Emma Dominguez Cortez, Landon Donaldson, Payten Owen, Alex Pfeiffer, Ella Storrjohann and Anna Washburn
Tech Expert Extraordinaire - Michael Moore

Director and Choreographer - Sidny Groves
Assistant Director - Mel Hamm
Music Director - Julie Pappas