JSA

The Phantom of The Opera (performance)

By: Ariela Nonnamaker
Published December 2nd 2025
The Phantom of the Opera was an amazing performance. Starting the show with fire on stage to seeing the chandelier fall. Parker Seemean was able to capture the audience with his great story telling. While playing the character of the Phantom he was able to show the hurt the phantom was feeling while still showing greed. Allison Agee who played Christne did an amazing job. She showed raw emotions and made the audience be able to connect with her. Xavier who played Viscount Raoul showed up and did an excellent performance. Overall the whole show was amazing. Mrs. Rissler did a great job of picking out the cast and pulling all kinds of different special effects. One special effect was Christne and the Phantom rode across the stage on a moving boat with smoke trailing behind them. The music of the show was also amazing. To hearing all the different instruments with the singers and hearing the actors hit those high notes.

The Phantom of The Opera

By Emersyn Dennis
Published November 1st 2025
Spectacle, dramatic, and suspense. These are three words that musical director, Mrs. Rissler,would use to describe Jackson High Schools production of The Phantom of the Opera. Each year the JSA program puts on a musical performance led by Mrs. Rissler along with other staff in the arts program. In a recent interview with Mrs. Rissler, I got some behind the scenes information on The Phantom of the Opera and all the work that goes into it.

Mrs. Rissler explained that picking The Phantom of the Opera as the musical this year was not the original plan. With retirement of staff, uncertainty on new teachers, and the 25th anniversary of JSA, The Phantom of the Opera was eventually chosen, though it was not a simple process. Usually the JSA staff tries to create variety in the musicals each year, making sure that all students have a chance to shine during their high school years.

The JSA staff comes together using dance, music, acting, visual art, and more to create a cohesive show year after year. I asked Mrs. Rissler what it is like to have a diverse academy of JSA students and staff when staging a musical and how all forms of art are helpful. To this Mrs. Rissler explained that the talents of students are very prominent in every show. For example, certain dance solos or hidden talents may be utilized in a show to allow students to showcase their amazing abilities.

As one can imagine, preparing a musical can be a very stressful process, with many bumps in the road. Mrs. Rissler said that when she has a challenging or stressful rehearsal, her and Mrs. Gardner “handle” their stress by taking a trip to Handels. Acquiring props, costumes and special effects for a musical is a tricky process. A process in which Mrs. Rissler has taken trips to New York, Indiana and more to pick up various items for The Phantom of the Opera. Mrs. Rissler expressed that the different special effects, confetti cannons, fog machines and more have come to be one of the most difficult aspects of the show.

However, the same special effects have been extremely exciting. Mrs. Rissler looks forward to the finalization of all the exhilarating set pieces and effects that The Phantom of the Opera has to offer. One part of the musical that Mrs. Rissler can’t wait for the audience to see is the recurring theme of mirrors that will come to life in the show. Mrs. Rissler and the staff have been playing with the idea that the presence of mirrors in The Phantom of the Opera reiterate the Phantoms disfigured appearance. But, all of these mirrors can also be used as to show the true reflection of all who look upon the Phantom with judgement. These ideas stem from the book that The Phantom of the Opera was based on.

I highly recommend that everyone attends a performance of The Phantom of the Opera November 6-9 2025. Tickets can be purchased here: https://jacksonpolarbears.org/teams/other-performing-arts