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The Callaway High chorus and drama team will soon take the stage at the newly renovated Royal Theater in Hogansville.

The Cavalier thespians will perform the musical Once on this Island at the Royal Theater on April 17, 18 and 19.

“This vibrant and uplifting musical celebrates love, hope, and community and will bring together students, educators and local residents for a truly special event,” Callaway High Drama Teacher Michael Proffitt said.

Proffitt said the musical is essentially a Haitian retelling of The Little Mermaid. It’s about a girl who is saved from a hurricane and is left as an orphan. She is sent on a journey to determine if love can conquer death. 

“She falls in love with a boy, and she saves his life and they put her on a path to see if her sacrificing her soul for his to see — if that love — can overcome death,” Proffitt said.

Since Callaway High doesn’t have an auditorium of its own, partnering with the Royal Theater provides an opportunity for students they wouldn’t otherwise have. They would perform shows in classrooms and set up a black box theater with lights and sound and a little stage, or they’d go to Hogansville Elementary, but they didn’t get to have a fine arts experience, Proffitt said.

Callaway High is a big part of the Hogansville community, so it’s a good partnership. Proffitt said when he reached out to the Royal Theater, they welcomed the students in with open arms.

“They said we’d love to have you,” Proffitt said. “Now we get to use like an actual auditorium with real lights and sound.”

The students will do three public performances on April 17 and 18 at 7 p.m. and April 19, at 2:30 p.m. They will also perform two private morning shows for elementary schools.

Tickets for the shows are available at the door or online at https://gofan.co/app/school/GA4870.