Magic time

School stages two productions of ‘Aladdin.’Madness and magic take the stage as the Park Avenue Junior Players present the love story “Aladdin.”

This musical version of the classic Arabian Nights tale comes off in a big way for Thurston, with about 70 students forming two different casts and performing 10 shows.

The decision to do two productions resulted from a strong demand from kids wanting to participate, director Mark Dressler said.

The show features strong vocals, expansive set decorations and colorful costumes.

Walking into Thurston’s Black Box Theater gives the feel of stepping into a tent, with draped fabrics hanging above.

Harem girls wearing baggy pants and sequins share the stage with goateed guardsmen carrying swords.

The show’s pace is quick and the script humorous.

A genie, sorcerer and talking parrot add to a mix of magic and deception throughout the story.

The character of Aladdin, played by 13-year-old Spencer Freidenrich, sports a shirtless look while singing out his desires to win the love of the princess Jasmine.

Having taken vocal lessons to perform up to standards, Freidenrich has been encouraged by his improvement over the course of rehearsals.

“I joined the cast to hang out with friends; it’s been a lot of fun,” Freidenrich said.

“He was taken aback by how much work it is; it was a lot of responsibility for him,” Freidenrich’s mother, Leah, said.

Performing opposite Aladdin is Jasmine, played by 14-year-old Alison Azera.

She said she has adapted to her role nicely.

“I love my character. It’s a teenager with a lot of attitude,” Alison said.

With opening night approaching, some felt a little on edge but were confident that hours of rehearsal have prepared them.

“I get nervous once I get up there, but then it’s OK. It wouldn’t be the same without stage fright,” Alison said

As the evil Jafar, 14-year-old Sam Simon describes his character as one who wants to take over the world -- and will kill anyone who gets in his way.

“I can act out evil with no limits,” Simon said.

Practicing for an hour a day for two months, some cast members learned to draw on skills they never knew they had.

In the role of the Genie, 13-year-old Sophia Tuppy was asked to play the part of an important character with supernatural powers.

“I had to make myself a really huge character. I did everything to make myself come off big and fill the stage,” Sophia said.

With the show’s cast made up predominantly of females, the roles for males as sultans, princes, and guards were attractive -- but having to dance didn’t come easy.

For 14-year-old Luke Lacy, who plays a guard and a prince, learning the steps took a long time.

“I don’t like dancing,” Luke said.

Lacy’s comrade in arms, 13-year-old Sebastian Schott, had to perform a solo dance.

“It got on my nerves at first, but I got used to it,” he said.

Having two casts face off against one another also set a tone of competition, but this was considered beneficial by some.

“It makes us better when we compete,” said Lena Kardos, who plays a harem girl.

“Everyone is friends here, we have a lot of fun, we all help out with the set pieces,” 13-year-old harem girl Masha Goncharova said. “When we watch the other group we get ideas.”

Cast members praised parent volunteers who helped make costumes and set decorations.

Kira Burgess is credited with the costume designs.

“Aladdin” was chosen by the students, Dressler said.

“Everyone liked the soundtrack. What we do has never been a decision by me, it’s always the students’ decisions,” Dressler said.

“In the end, the production came out better than they thought.”

The show is at Thurston Middle School from Feb. 2 to 4 and Feb. 10 and 11, with show times at 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. Tickets are $5 for students and $10 for adults. (949) 497-7769. 20060203iu2z7incPHOTOS BY DON LEACH / COASTLINE PILOT(LA)20060203iu2z7unc(LA)Above, Jafar (Sam Simon), center, talks to his trusted parrot (Brett Linkletter) in one of the two Thurston Middle School productions of “Alladin.” Below, Jasmine (Alison Azera) and the sultan (Grayson Gurney) stroll across the stage as the parrot soars above.