Braden River High School presents 'Godspell'

By Madison Bierl
| 8:15 a.m. April 18, 2026

Senior Alexis Huffstutler says she enjoys helping younger students, like freshman Naya Cordero, to come out of their shells and express themselves through acting.

East County
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Braden River High's production of the musical "Godspell'' was the 23rd production directed by Tabetha Walter, the school's theater and dance director, but her first here.

The shows were performed on April 16, 17 and 18.

Senior Alexis Huffstutler has been part of the theater department for the past three years. When she first joined, she had a lot of stage fright.

"Throughout the years, I've learned that through expressing myself on stage, I become alive," Huffstutler said. "I feed off of audience interaction and I love when people laugh at me."

Throughout the rehearsals of "Godspell," Huffstutler tried to be a role model and help out the students who were new. She said she was especially proud of freshman Naya Cordero.

Cordero had never sung in front of a live audience before "Godspell." She appreciates being able to learn and get critiques from older students in order to improve in both singing and acting.

"I just love theater, and it brings it's given me so much confidence," Cordero said. "Before I joined theater, I would never talk to anybody. Now I feel so confident on stage, and the presence and the atmosphere is so amazing."

John Franco, a senior at Braden River, played the lead role of Jesus. He was part of the ensemble in "Hadestown: Teen Edition" last year, but this is his first time as a lead.

"It was really excited and was a surreal moment, because I saw the crowd before everybody else did," Franco said. "It was really amazing.

Franco encourages anyone interested in theater to come support the Braden River High School program.

Freshman Regan Abdulla and senior Aaron Gordon perform in the Braden River High School production of "Godspell."

Senior John Franco, who plays Jesus in "Godspell," says it was surreal to perform in front of an audience as the lead.

The cast of "Godspell" strikes a pose as the song "We Beseech Thee" comes to an end at Braden River High School.

Freshman Sarah Vargas and sophomore Polly Jessop sing "By My Side" in the Braden River High School production of "Godspell."

Sophomore Alyssa Morales and junior Valerie Rettig perform in Braden River High School's production of "Godspell."

Polly Jessop, a sophomore at Braden River High School, has performed in a wide variety of musicals in community theatre including "Matilda," "The Lion King" and "Mary Poppins."

Senior Alexis Huffstutler says when she first began theatre, she had stage fright. Now she comes alive on stage and feeds off of audience interaction.

Sarah Vargas, John Franco and Wesley Murrell perform in the Braden River High School production of "Godspell."

Braden River High School seniors Aaron Gordon and John Franco play the lead roles of Judas and Jesus in "Godspell."

Sophomore Lizzy Vogt went into the production as stage manager, but also stepped in to cover two roles on stage as well.

The crew for Braden River High School's production of "Godspell" includes Trace Secord, Carter White, Lizzy Vogt, Vanessa Juarez and Auggy Vogt.

The Braden River High School's production of "Godspell" had 22 students in the cast and crew.

Tabetha Walter, the theatre and dance director, has directed 23 productions but "Godspell" is her first show at Braden River High School she has directed.

author

Madison Bierl

Madison Bierl is the education and community reporter for the East County Observer. She grew up in Iowa and studied at the Greenlee School of Journalism and Communication at Iowa State University.