Jordan Finds The Heart of Rock and Roll: Behind-the-Scenes of Jordan’s Next Musical

The Jordan High School theater program is piloting a musical for the second year in a row. The Heart of Rock and Roll will be, as Theater Director Ms. Bellido calls it, an “uplifting, upbeat, high-paced show.” The show blends Huey Lewis and The News’s 80’s music with high-octane, exciting choreography. 

Piloting two consecutive performances is not something that your average theater program accomplishes. “I think Jordan was selected for a pilot because of the hard work and dedication that the program consistently shows… I would also like to think that we are selected due to the incredible caliber of talent of our children,” Ms. Bellido commented. 

Actor and singer senior Jalen Diggs weighed in on going back-to-back, saying, “I guess it’s because we’re so great. We did so great with Water for Elephants, I guess [the licensing companies] just wanted to give us another one.”

The cast rehearses (Photo courtesy of Darryl Moyo)

Attendees to The Heart of Rock and Roll can expect “seven staple big dance numbers” throughout the show's two hour and four minute duration, per Bellido. To prepare, the rehearsal process started in August during choreography week, which, for junior dancer Jordyn Wenger, has been the best part of the process so far. Diggs also noted that this year’s dancing and choreography is a major highlight. Theater is a curricular program, so students work on dance numbers, movement, lines, and character chemistry in Honors Musical Theater every day in fourth period. Approaching closer to showtime, students start after-school rehearsals until 7:30. Even for Jordan Theater, greatness doesn’t come easy.

For those interested in a fun, 80s-themed musical experience, be sure to stop by JHS on Nov. 5th-7th, and Nov. 12th-14th, with the show kicking off at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are online and can be purchased on the Jordan Theater Instagram page or by scanning the QR codes on the posters scattered throughout the school. For those looking for a discount, there will be two weeks of 25% off promotions for pre-release tickets. When Ms. Bellido was asked who will be starring in the musical, she replied, “There is no star; they’re all starring in it.”