Story By DRUW GIAMALVA

The Albertville High School Aggie Theatre is set to present their upcoming production of Disney’s Tarzan on April 17 – April 19. The production is led by Aggie Theatre Director Sara Argiro. The cast and crew features around 60 students from grades 3-12. During the event, six high school students will engage in theatrical flying and will also showcase various floor stunts.

Before joining the Albertville Aggie Theater Department, Argiro was making an incredible impact in DeKalb County, as she was the only theater teacher for all seven schools.  

“In high school, I thought I was going to become a performer. So, I went to Northeast and then I went to New York, where I studied at the American Musical and Dramatic Academy. I figured out that I didn’t like the lifestyle, but I loved the art. I loved watching my teachers teach up there and I found myself watching them instead of watching the performance. I guess that is what really led me to this,” Argiro said.

“I came back to Alabama and got my Masters in English. My first teaching job was at Lee Magnet, where I was only there for a year. I was at DeKalb County Schools for a majority of my career, where I became the only theater teacher for all seven schools. I found my way over here to Albertville as an English teacher first. Last year, I was given this wonderful opportunity here. I am really glad that I took it.”

When asked about how proud she is of her students, there were not enough words for Argiro to say about her students. 

“There are not enough words to say how proud I am of them. When I see what has become of this production, it is just incredible. It blows me away at how invested they are in the program and in the show. I love my job and they make me love my job.

“The hours that they have put into this, Braedon [Burke] has been working on this since November. I don’t think people understand how many hours that we put in over here, not just when we are here at school and not the hours we put in at rehearsal, but the hours that we put in at home. I know Braedon’s mom has told me about all of the work he is putting in at home on the trampoline working on his stunts.

"Malea [Glaze] has been at home working on her songs. I have been at home figuring out costume designs because there is not enough time in the day. It is so collaborative and so dependent on everyone doing that outside work, so when we come together, we can do the whole work. Yes, I am their teacher and their director, but I learn from them every day and I try to give them as much creative freedom that I can.”

The production of Tarzan will be a show for anyone to see, as it is filled with fun, laughter and maybe even a few tears.  

“It is going to be an incredible journey through the jungle. It is going to be an incredibly fun show filled with so much heart. It is a story about family, it is a story about motherhood, it is a story about feeling that you don’t fit in but finding that place where you belong. It is filled with fun and laughter, but there are also moments in the show that will bring you to tears. There really is something in this show for everyone.”

The lead role of Tarzan was given to Braedon Burke, who believes that Tarzan is a role that you truly must work for.

“I was excited, but Tarzan is such a hard role that you have to work for. It is not something that is natural, as I have had to learn so much with controlling my emotions, it is hard, but it is a lot of fun. Mrs. Argiro has had a huge impact on what I am growing into. I wasn’t always a good student, but she came up to me at our last show and asked me to be in the class. The community needs to come see us because we have worked so hard on this. I know Malea has worked so hard on her singing, as she has been doing a whole bunch of stuff. She has helped build some of the sets, like the waterfall and the gorilla nest. All of us have worked really hard and it is just a really beautiful show,” Burke said. 

Malea Glaze will be playing the role of Kala, the wife of Kerchak.

“It is definitely hard in some scenes where I am with Kerchak, who is my husband in the show. It is hard to express us being in love because I have never actually been in love or an actual romantic relationship where I am married. The mother-son stuff is very easy to do because I am the mom of my friend groups. It makes me feel like I am at home. I used to not feel safe in the old theater department that I was in. The environment is so much happier, and Mrs. Argiro makes everyone feel safe and makes you feel at home. If you are uncomfortable and you tell her that you are uncomfortable with something, she will fix it right away,” Glaze said.