Suzie HarrisonThere was no sign of spring...

Suzie Harrison

There was no sign of spring break this week at the Gallimaufry

Performing Arts’ youth theater group Generation GAP’s rehearsals.

While other students might have made a mad dash for a vacation,

die-hard company members stayed in Laguna to perfect the April 22 and

23 production of “Weird Romance.”

Generation GAP, a student-run theater company, provides Laguna

youth the opportunity to experience different aspects of theater

including producing, directing, performing, designing, managing and

fundraising.

Noah Plomgren, 14, is the company’s artistic director, as well as

being the musical director and actor for this production.

“I’ve been involved with Generation GAP since September 2003,”

Noah said. “You gain so much more an appreciation of what its like,

what you go through picking a show and raising money. It’s so hard.”

As musical director, Noah said, his job to teach the cast the

songs and harmonies, which can get quite complex.

“It’s a cool job to have to sit in on every rehearsal and coach

the actors with their songs,” Noah said.

Noah said though they’ve been rehearsing just since February, the

planning for the production dates back to July.

“Initially we had an idea to write an original show, ‘Disneyland

on a Dime,’ making fun of every ride and stupid stuff,” Noah said.

“It was short, a little over 30 minutes, and was a musical comedy. We

were writing it until the middle of November then decided this isn’t

going to work and scrapped it.”

After doing research, the company decided to produce “Weird

Romance,” featuring music by Alan Menken.

“He also wrote ‘Little Shop of Horrors’ and composed a lot in

‘Beauty and the Beast,’” Noah said. “The music is just awesome, so

cool.”

Noah said he immediately knew it was the perfect match, after

hearing the opening song.

“And the story is so different; it’s weird when someone comes up

with something that sophisticated and complex,” Noah said. “It’s a

totally cool story.”

Set in the future, “Weird Romance” consists of two completely

separate one-act musicals.

Jazz Brice, 16, of Laguna Beach, is the producer and an actor in

the musical.

“Being a producer entails fundraising, making sure your getting

enough money, production meetings and mostly making sure everything

is getting done,” Jazz said.

Jazz said she also had to get the rights to produce the show and

find theater space too.

“I’ve never done anything like that before,” Jazz said. “I’ve been

involved with technical aspect, never the production aspect.”

The hardest part of being a producer is that there is a lot of

responsibility, Jazz said.

“We actually have to make it happen,” Jazz said. “It’s rewarding,

I feel more attached to the show; it’s more of a sense of parenthood.

It’s a really good learning experience and is interesting to see

what’s involved.”

Jazz said she would produce again, but acting is her true passion.

She became involved with the Generation GAP last summer.

“I thought it was a good program, almost entirely student run and

produced,” Jazz said. “It really gives kids the chance to get

involved in every aspect of theater. You learn a lot of skills about

all areas of life not just theater.”

Noah echoed Jazz’s sentiments.

“I think it’s the best theater program around; we learn how a

theater company works,” Noah said. “We built our own theater company.

It’s kind of amazing actually.”

The Generation GAP will perform “Weird Romance” at 7:30 p.m.

Friday and at 2 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday at the Festival of Arts Forum

Theatre, 650 Laguna Canyon Road. Tickets are $12 for adults and $8

for students and seniors.

GAP is free to participate in. For tickets and information, call

(949) 499-5060 or go to https://www.thegeneration gap.org.