CITY FOCUS:Edison back in show biz

Edison High School has not put on a play in at least a decade. Assistant Principal Ted Reid said it may be more like 15 years since they have done a musical.

But this school with no theater program and not even an auditorium has delivered an all-school production of “Bye Bye Birdie,” opening today at Dwyer Middle School and running through Saturday. Those involved say it took persistence, supportive parents and students, and a principal with a passion for drama.

“It’s a dream come true for many of the cast, who never thought they would be in something like this,” said director Diane Christensen. “There were cast members who had never done vocal work; for them it was new to understand harmonies or sing anything more than ‘Happy Birthday.’ ”

Its diverse 26-student cast includes athletes, Academic Decathlon participants and associated student body members, as well as some choir students. The ensemble also includes six adults — three faculty members, two vice principals and school principal D’liese Melendrez herself.

“That’s the best!” Christensen said of the adults’ participation. “The interesting thing was convincing the faculty to participate. They were stunned at first, but their willingness to participate told the students this project was worthwhile.”

Melendrez is a bit more wry about her participation.

“I’m thinking, ‘I don’t need this. I pretty much have finished my acting career,’” she said. “But when [Christensen] said it would really help, I said ‘Oh, OK.’”

Melendrez, a former assistant principal at the L.A. County High School for the Arts, said she came to Edison two years ago with drama as a high priority.

But after a review of the schedule found no room for a class, she pushed for a musical with after-school rehearsals that would allow a broad range of students to audition.

“It’s like watching magic happen,” she said. “Once the students heard about it last spring, they’ve been nagging us to make it happen ever since. Some of these kids without another activity were like lost little souls that needed that creative niche.”

Reid, who is in charge of student activities, said that opening young minds to theater had another goal — encouraging students to apply for the Huntington Beach Academy for the Performing Arts, the district’s performing arts magnet.

While Reid said the school would miss their talents, “the upside is the kids would have discovered something they love and would be able to pursue it further.”