Senior Ely Reitz has contributed much of his time, energy and efforts to the Milton theatre department. As he departs from high school this year, he reflected on his career in theatre arts, and looks toward his pursuits in the future.
Ely has been featured in Milton’s plays and shows, including The Adams Family (2021), Musical Comedy Murders of 1940 (2021), Mama Mia! (2022), She Kills Monsters (2022), Chicago (2023), White Christmas (2023) and he will be featured in Makin It in late March as Hunter Dunbar.
His favorite performance was Billy Flynn in Chicago, said Ely. “The show itself just had so much flare to it. I really enjoyed that aspect of theatre,” he added.
Ely said he estimates that he takes six hours per week to practice outside of rehearsal, which includes practicing his lines and vocals.
According to Ely, one of his biggest ongoing challenges has been his dancing. “I still struggle with it, but it’s passable,” he added. He explained that over time he has improved, and theatre had given him a solid base to work with.
Ely said that he first discovered his interest in theatre during quarantine of the COVID-19 pandemic. “I feel like we all got our own hobbies over the quarantine, and for me that was watching musicals. After watching so many, it began to look fun,” he added.
“My favorite musical at the time was definitely Mary Poppins because of how frequently I watched it with my mom,” said Ely.
According to Ely, he knew his future was for theatre on the night of April 30, 2021, when he received his first ever applause on stage for The Adams Family while playing as Fester Adams.
“After the opening number on opening night, there was a pause, and it was only a few seconds but to me it felt like forever, and then all I could hear was applause. That was the most gratifying moment I’ve ever had in the drama program,” added Ely.
“He was one of the younger ones at the time but found something he really wanted to be a part of,” said Ely’s father and Milton Computer Science Teacher Mr. Seth Reitz. “Since then music and theater have been what he works for.”
“Theatre has taught me how to sing in a multitude of different styles as well as how to incorporate more emotion into my singing,” said Ely.
According to Ely, much of his inspiration has come from Milton Theatre Director Mr. Stephen Aguirre. “He’s an incredible actor who has taken on so many different paths. I really aspire to be him someday,” added Ely.
Ely said that theatre has taught him plenty of life lessons such as leadership and perseverance. “Theatre has really shaped how I carry myself outside of theatre,” he added.
“Ely always conducts himself in the best interest of not only himself, but of the others around him. He is always seeking to elevate his peers, cheers their accomplishments and wants to help them grow when there’s room for improvement,” said Mr. Aguirre.
Over time, Ely said that he has seen many people shy away from theatre. He added that students have great opportunities on stage even in an ensemble role. “You never know what you can do until you try,” he added.
According to Ely, he will be attending Mansfield University for music education. He added that he plans to find acting opportunities both in and out of college if he finds the time for it.
