The magic of Auradon and the grit of the Isle of the Lost are coming to the stage. This year the theater department is tackling Disney’s “Descendants”, a production that promises to bring familiar characters to life in a way audiences haven’t seen before.

  While many students grew up watching the Descendants movies, theatre director Mrs. Emily Mokrycki explains that this production isn’t just a carbon copy of the film. The script is a unique blend, primarily following the plot of the first movie while incorporating hit songs from across the entire trilogy.

“Our goal is to create our own vision of the show without beta direct copy”, Mokrycki said. To achieve this, she has enlisted a costume designer and a student crew to build a visual world that is unique to Burke. “I hope they enjoy seeing these characters from the movie in a new and fun way”.

For the students on stage, the production is both a thrill and a massive responsibility. Zayne Prusia, landed his first-ever lead role as Ben, the son of Belle and the Beast.

“The role I wanted from the start was Ben, and I am very happy and honored,” says Prusia. He describes his character’s motivation as a mission of unity, trying to bridge the gap between the privileged residents of Auradon and the children of the Isle.

For Prusia, the highlight of the show is the high-energy solo “Did I Mention.” While taking center stage can be daunting, Prusia says his secret to beating stage fright is simply time on the boards. “Experience and consistently being on stage got me very used to it… it feels like a rehearsal almost.”

A typical rehearsal at Burke is a grueling but rewarding process of “blocking” (positioning actors on stage) and “going off-book” (memorizing lines). However, the biggest challenges aren’t always the dance moves or the music—it’s the logistics of a large team.

Mrs. Mokrycki noted that student absences and illnesses often force the cast to adapt on the fly, with stage managers or other actors stepping in to cover roles during rehearsals. It’s this unpredictability that reinforces her favorite motto. Ensemble is Everything.

Catch Burke’s production of “Descendants” April 10th, 11th, and 12th.