Bryan student participating in all-state musical
BRYAN, Texas (KBTX) – Recent Bryan High School graduate Josie Bettis can normally be found working at the Savage Diva in downtown Bryan.
“I typically sit behind the counter, and I am nice to people and I’ll dust and I’ll sweep and I’ll clean the bathroom,” Bettis said.
Now, she’s preparing to be a part of Theatre Under the Star’s all-state musical “Les Misérables: School Edition.” The show is set in the 19th century and explores the aftermath of the French Revolution.
“It’s just such an iconic show,” Bettis said. “I feel like it’s one of the shows, if you’re a theatre person, you just have to see it.”
Theatre Under the Stars is located in Houston, and the show is only two nights: July 5 and July 6.
Bettis is playing Fantine on the first night. The character is a poor, working-class girl who doesn’t fit society’s standards.
“She sings this song, ‘I Dream a Dream,’” Bettis said. “It’s about having this dream and fighting for it and how she used to view the world as beautiful and now nothing is beautiful anymore.”
Bettis said she and others can relate to the role.
“We’ve all had a rough patch, and I think I am able to resonate with that, maybe not on the same extreme that she’s on, but I think that’s where I dig on deep into to really emote on stage,” Bettis said.
The show has a lot of meaning, and the audience will be impacted, according to Bettis.
“It’s gonna feel real,” Bettis said. “I hope that the audience is blown away by the fact that this is all high school students because I was blown away just being in everyone’s presence.”
Bettis said she’s grateful for the opportunity and how it’ll propel her acting career going forward.
“This is one of my first things where I’m like, oh, I can do incredible things too,” Bettis said.
For more details on the show and tickets, click here.
Bryan High student Paige Perrone will also be in the show.
