After seven years in theatre, you’d think she’d be tired of all the work; think again. Now heading into her ninth musical, she still has her passion for performing.

However this time, it’s her last hoorah.

Senior Andrea Martinez has chosen to embrace her last semester of high school theatre. She successfully auditioned for the leading role of Dolly in the spring musical Hello, Dolly! and has chosen to make the most out of her last few moments on the SMCHS Dome stage.

“By being involved in Hello, Dolly!, you’re being incorporated into something so much greater than yourself,” Martinez said. “This musical is one of the biggest and brassiest of all the ones that we’ve done in the past, so playing Dolly is a big role that I’m excited to fill.”

The musical was chosen from the Golden Age of musical theatre and is a Broadway smash hit. Its central character, Dolly, is extremely fun yet very manipulative. She is a widowed matchmaker who decides to end her long term of grieving over her dead husband and step back into life.

Amy Luskey-Barth, director of theatre arts, believes that the heart of this musical is the main character Dolly who exemplifies the overall theme of the play, which is the importance of living life to its fullest through love and joy.

“This set of auditions was by far the best I’ve seen since I’ve been at Santa Margarita,” Barth said. “But with Dolly having some of the biggest shoes to fill, the choice for who’d be playing Dolly was an important one to make.”

Due to all of the enthusiasm and energy needed to do the show justice, the performers have been working hard to make this musical the best one yet. Generally, rehearsals are Monday through Wednesday, 2:30 – 5:30 p.m. Saturday rehearsals are for larger ensemble dance numbers and last from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. During tech week (the week before opening night) and show week, the performers start rehearsing from the end of school until 10 p.m.

“On top of all our scheduled rehearsals, I need to practice a lot in my own time in order to memorize and polish choreography,” said junior Julia Smith, who is playing the role of Minnie Fay. “There’s so much behind-the-scenes work of being able to interact well with those who you have scenes with, but it’s 100 percent worthwhile to see everything come together for a wonderful show.”

The performance isn’t the only work that goes into the play. The set design and stage scheme for Hello Dolly! must be done in bright colors and detail.

For the first time in SMCHS history, there will be a main curtain for the musical, enabling set changes behind the curtain and action played downstage in front of the curtain.

The music and intricate choreography also enhance the overall atmosphere of the musical.

“It’s definitely one of those shows in which the music is so enthralling that the audience comes out humming the tunes,” said senior Trevor Lown, who is playing Ambrose Kemper. “We have a fantastic cast that’s a mix of some of our veterans of past musicals like Pippin and also a lot of incredibly talented newcomers.”

With so many new Eagles looking to join theatre, the veterans can only hope to have left their mark on a program that had such an influential effect on them.

“For so many people including myself, being involved in the production is the best part of their high school career,” Martinez said. “It’s really a team effort to put up this huge production and hopefully leave a lasting impact on our audience.”

Martinez will be leaving her Eagle family to pursue a BFA in Musical Theatre at New York University next year, a decision she believes she made because of the Talon Theatre. As she looks forward to many more successful performances to come, Martinez only wishes the best to the theater where her ambition for performing all started.

“Theatre is my passion; there is a fleeting quality about theatre that always captivates me and breaks my heart when it finally goes away with the closing of each show,” Martinez said. “Theatre is my outlet, my safe haven and my rock. No matter what city or state I’m in, the stage is always my home.”

The spring musical will take place in the Dome at 7 p.m. on April 23-25 and 2 p.m. on April 26.