Ponderosa Players PresentsRide the Cyclone (High School Edition)

Ponderosa Players is bringing the cult hit musical RIDE THE CYCLONE (HIGH SCHOOL
EDITION) to Central Oregon. RIDE THE CYCLONE is a small, unique musical that amassed a
dedicated following during the COVID-19 pandemic, when several clips from a Washington DC
production of the show went viral on TikTok.

Ponderosa Players caught wind of this and
Co-Founders Grey Conant they/them and Kisky Holwerda she/her were delighted to learn that a
high school edition of the production had been released for licensing mid-2023, making the
content accessible for their high school performers. “The edits they made to the show are really
smart,” says Holwerda, “it’s a truly hilarious show and they preserved the quality of the original
script amazingly well.”

The hilarious show in question is a dark comedy centered around the lives (or deaths) of six
high school students who perish in a freak roller coaster accident. Trapped in a sort of
“purgatory” between life and death, the students meet a sentient fortune telling machine – The
Amazing Karnak – who offers an opportunity for one of the six to return to Earth. Each student
proceeds to sing and dance for their lives.

The production features a cast size of seven local 14-18 year old students, plus two swings that
cover a total of five out of the seven roles. The incorporation of swings is a new approach for
Ponderosa Players and presents an exciting educational opportunity for these two students.
While swings will not perform except in the case of illness or injury to the principal cast, they
attend all rehearsals and memorize dialogue, music and choreography for multiple roles. A skill
most professional actors must acquire in order to find success in the industry.

The show itself is a technical feat, with projections, lights, and music interwoven throughout the
story. Ponderosa Players approached the challenge of such a technical show with creativity and
dedication. One of the biggest challenges was how to make a character “fly” – something central
to the original musical but difficult to accomplish without the proper rigging in Open Space.
Ponderosa Players put their own twist on the stunt by bringing in former University of Oregon
cheerleading coach, Kasey Holwerda, to teach a series of lifts.

The result is an awe-inspiring
feat of movement and dance, creating the effect of flying while working within the constraints of
the theater space. It is also Ponderosa Players’ first musical with a live band. Holwerda hints
that the band acts as an additional member of the cast, saying, “The audience is in for an
exciting surprise. I can’t wait for them to see the way the band takes part in the action.” Staged
in the round, where actors are center and audience surrounds the stage, this production will fully
immerse theater goers in this action-packed story.

This production follows Ponderosa Players’ sold-out runs of THE ADDAMS FAMILY: A NEW
MUSICAL COMEDY and TUCK EVERLASTING. Having cemented their position in Bend’s
theater scene with a reputation for excellent pre-professional youth theater, Ponderosa Players
is excited to continue bringing unique, high-caliber productions to Bend with RIDE THE
CYCLONE (HIGH SCHOOL EDITION). And they’re not losing any momentum!

Students ages
11-18 can currently register to audition for their Spring production of GUYS AND DOLLS,
performing in June of 2025. They have also announced a full menu of summer programming for
2025, including an opportunity to perform at the historic Tower Theatre. Information on their
entire upcoming season can be found on their website: www.ponderosaplayers.com.

Don’t miss RIDE THE CYCLONE (HIGH SCHOOL EDITION), produced by Ponderosa Players
and performing at Open Space Event Studios, February 19-22! Tickets available now at
www.ponderosaplayers.com/tickets.

This story is based on submitted information and has not been verified by our news team.

This article appears in The Source Weekly January 9, 2025.