Gateway High School to perform 'The Theory of Relativity' to live audience starting April 22

A slice of normalcy will come to Gateway School District as the high school prepares for its spring musical premiere April 22.

The cast of 23 Gateway High School students will perform “The Theory of Relativity,” a contemporary musical written by Brian Hill and Neil Bartram in 2015.

The musical includes a seemingly unrelated lineup of songs, scenes and monologues to show the interconnectedness of human life, said Jim Hoeltje, musical director.

Each character is unnamed in order to focus in on the universal experience of people in various predicaments. Lexi Amore, 18, a senior, plays the role of a toxic best friend who comes to realize the importance of treating others with respect.

“We start out as friends, but in reality I’m really mean to her — I pick at her to make myself feel better and pick out her insecurities. She comes to realize that it’s important how you treat other people,” she said.

Jonah Steele, 17, also a senior, plays the role of a college student who notices that something seems different every time he returns home for a visit from school.

“It’s really something to think about,” said Steele, who anticipates going through the same sort of thing soon when he graduates from high school. “But (my character) ends up finding out that the footprint that he left back home will always be there. And that footprint comes with him throughout the rest of his life.”

Hoeltje said he is excited for people to experience the musical.

“It’s not the old and tired theater performances they’ve seen from different schools. It’s got music they’ve never heard before. It’s a style we’ve never done. It’s new, fresh. It offers a musical look at real life today,” Hoeltje said of the musical.

Lauren Harper, 18, also a senior, agreed. She thinks the show will be relatable to many.

“It’s relevant to now, so I think everyone in the audience can relate to the issues being sung about,” Harper said.

Hoeltje said choosing the musical was partly influenced by the uncertainties surrounding the pandemic, which led to the cancellation of the high school’s fall play and myriad other changes to normal school life.

This musical, he said, didn’t require a huge cast. Gateway musicals are typically around 60 students. It also didn’t require an orchestra and elaborate set. And with restrictions still in place for indoor gatherings, Hoeltje wanted something that the theater department could realistically afford.

It also didn’t require a huge amount of time to rehearse. The cast began rehearsals the second week of March through a virtual group call. Since then, the students have rehearsed in person while wearing masks and adhering to covid-19 guidelines, Hoeltje said.

Students will still be required to wear masks during the performances, but they will be transparent, he said. Audience members will also be required to wear masks.

The show will be performed in-person at the high school’s auditorium, with the live audience capped at 250 people. Tickets cost $15 for adults and $10 for students and seniors. The musical will also be available to stream online. A family can stream the show for $25, while an individual can stream it for $15.

Run times will be 7 p.m. on April 22, 23 and 24. On April 24, there will also be a matinee showing at 2 p.m.

For more information, call Hoeltje’s at 412-373-5751, or visit showtix4u.com/events/gatewaymusical.