HUNTERSVILLE — Christ the King High School students are producing their first musical, performing Marvin Hamlisch and Howard Ashman’s “Smile” March 10 and 11.
The musical tells the story California’s Young American Miss Beauty Pageant in 1985.
This 1988 musical is highly underrated and underperformed. This show is undoubtedly dated (a single song references Gerry Ferraro, President Reagan, and Gorbachov) but captures an authentic youthful energy that still exists in today’s teenagers.
The girl-next-door protagonist experiences the very relatable process of growing up by simply realizing that she does not want to be a Young American Miss, but having tried for it, looks forward to figuring out what she will be. The interactions between the teenage contestants ¬ bonding, jealousy, gossip, consoling ¬ are all presented realistically and comically.
The performance are March 10 at 7:30 pm and March 11 at 2 and 7:30 p.m. at the Knox Theater in Mooresville’s Charles Mack Community Center. Tickets available at Christ the King website’s school store.
— Catholic News Herald. Pictures by Jeannie DeSena of jeanniedesena.com