Plant’s chorus performs a Madrigal concert every winter, a medieval-themed concert tied with various musicals. The 2024-2025 school year will mark the thirtieth anniversary of Madrigal concerts since Plant first began this tradition. Alternating each December between four different musicals, the 2023-2024 school year put on “Snow Queen,” with songs from “Frozen” such as “Fixer Upper,” “Let It Go,” and “Lost in the Woods.” The 2024-2025 year will be “The Ogre and the Princess,” featuring popular “Shrek the Musical” songs like “Story of My Life” and “I Know It’s Today.”
The entire circulation of musicals includes “A Search for the Holy Grail,” “Once Upon a Mattress,” “Snow Queen,” and “The Ogre and the Princess.” However, this routine paused during the 2022-2023 school year, as a “Multiverse of Madrigals” was put on as a tribute to the chorus teacher who was leaving. The “Multiverse of Madrigals” was a mixture of the four Madrigal shows set into one concert. To senior and chorus president Olivia Haynes, it was her favorite Madrigal she had done all of high school. “I think that’s awesome because we’re the only year that will ever have gotten to do that,” Haynes said.
After experiencing almost every rotation of different shows since her freshman year, Haynes will play the part of Pinocchio in “The Ogre and the Princess” for her final Madrigal. “There’s just something special about it being my last one since I’ve done it all four years of high school,” Haynes said. “I’m just looking forward to doing it one more time with my friends.”
Like Haynes, senior George Xenick has participated in Plant Madrigals from his freshman year, onward. “I enjoy these roles very much because the leads rehearsals are when I get to bond the most with my friends,” Xenick said of his Madrigal experience. In a past production of “The Ogre and the Princess,” Xenick played the titular role of the Ogre. For his last Madrigal, Xenick will once again play this part. “I am most excited to revisit the character of [the Ogre], and really use what I’ve learned about singing and acting since I last played him.”
Senior Addy Mickler shares Xenick’s enthusiasm with her first lead role as Donkey. “The other shows I’ve done I’ve only been small roles,” Mickler said. “This is my first big lead role!” In addition to her first lead, the musical choice is especially exciting because of its childhood significance in her life. “I’m excited that we are doing ‘The Ogre and the Princess’ because ‘Shrek the Musical’ is one of my favorites and I grew up on that.”
With the thirtieth annual concert representing not only a landmark in Plant tradition but a last hurrah for several seniors, “The Ogre and the Princess” will be an exciting and nostalgic conclusion for its graduating members.
Chorus Madrigal by caporcelli