As spring rolls in to Billings Central, many winter activities are wrapping up as new ones are taking the stage. However, there is one spring activity that is literally taking the stage. With music teacher Branden Martinez as the director, the school musical is back, this time as Anne of Green Gables.
“Very exciting, getting a whole production together,” is how senior Julia Reger-Brown describes the preparation efforts this far. Reger-Brown has been cast as the show’s lead, Anne Shirley. She has been in three of Central’s performances, in 2021, 2022, and now 2024. Last year, she says, she was too busy with Speech and Drama. Julia first got into musical theater when she watched the show Les Misérables with her parents for the first time in first grade. She has worked with most of the cast and crew of this year’s musical, though there are some new faces.
“We have great senior leadership this year,” says Martinez. “Julia is going to be fantastic, and her leadership is going to inspire others.” Martinez has been a part of Central’s musicals since he first started working at Central. For the past four years, he has been directing the performances. Martinez’s favorite performance at Central was The Ark, but he’s very excited for Anne of Green Gables this year. He’s worked with most of the cast and crew before.
In the past, the annual musical was performed at MSUB, but the play last year, The Audition, was performed in the basement of Central. While Anne of Green Gables similarly won’t be at MSUB, it also won’t be in the basement. Instead, this year, the musical will be performed in the small gym.
“It’s going to be a new experience for sure,” says Martinez, “But I am highly optimistic and excited to create our own theater space.” Martinez also mentioned that he is very excited about the stage, lights, and sound system he has for the musical. Reger-Brown agreed that it’ll be an exciting experience and also commented on how the musical might make a profit this year because of being in the small gym.
As for tickets, Martinez says they’ll be “Central pricing”, the same price as sporting events held at Central. Tickets will most likely go on sale the first week of March, slightly before Anne of Green Gables will be shown on March 15th and 16th.
