Bright lights, and a quiet crowd filled the room, a nervous energy surging through the cast. The spotlight shined on her as she sang, her character taking the stage and charming the audience.

Senior Blakelee Brownd played a lead role as Polly Baker in the school’s production of “Crazy for You.” A four-year veteran of all-school musicals, Blakelee played Cinderella’s step-sister Joy in last year’s production. 

“I am Polly Baker and she’s kind of the lead character,” Brownd said. “Bobby is the main lead, but Polly is kind of the thing that makes him crazy.”

Brownd said she relates to her character in the way she presents herself.

“I like how she changes,” Brownd said. “She is a country girl, but then she falls in love and slowly changes into a more sophisticated character.” 

Brownd is a member of both the varsity choir and the show choir.

“I’ve been a singer my whole life,” Brownd said. “I sang the national anthem for a rodeo when I was five, and I did TEXAS for a really long time as a child actor. I really like the theater world. The people are really cool. It’s really enjoyable.”

Being involved in musical has taught Brownd time management.

“We have rehearsals Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays, and you have to learn how to do other things on top of that,” Brownd said. “You have to keep in mind when to take care of things and plan around rehearsals.”

Brownd said she enjoys being in musical with her best friends, Christian Theiss, who plays Bobby Child, and Libby Belcher, who plays Patricia.

“It’s been so much fun,” Brownd said. “I’ve been with these people for four years, and this is like our final hurrah. Musical is my life, and I couldn’t imagine doing it without them.”