Junior Bessie Bulman, who plays Natalie in the production, continues pre-opening show traditions her 22 year old sister participated in when she went to Park in 2010.

On Friday Nov. 9 the cast of the fall musical, “All Shook Up,” gathered in the cafeteria for opening night potluck. Bessie Bulman said the potluck was an energy booster and a fun activity.

“We hang out, bond and eat before the show,” Bulman said. “We have a fun time together.”

Junior Emmett Bongarts said the potluck was a good experience before opening.

“Good food, good friends, good times,” Bongarts said.

After the potluck, the cast went to get into costume, put on makeup, and perform a pre-show focus exercise, which has been a long standing tradition at the high school.

“We have done the same thing for years,” Bulman said. “Basically, we dance around and do focus exercises so we can become one unit.”

Bulman said on opening night there was a lot of adrenaline and energy but as a cast handled it well.

“We used the opening night energy to our advantage and it came out as excitement on the stage,” Bulman said.

There was also a great turnout at the show Bulman said.

“We had an awesome audience and we fed off of that energy,” Bulman said.

Bongarts was skeptical that the show would come together but in the end it did.

“At the beginning of the week the show was patchy, but it came together and the audience was into it and we fed off of their energy,” Bongarts said.

The play continues this weekend, and will show Nov. 16 and 17 at 7 p.m. and Nov. 18 at 2 p.m.