Mainstage Productions
Vanities (2021)
The Director's Notes
A long, long time ago...I can still remember... "Vanities" takes us on a journey of friendship set against the backdrop of three crucial times in our country's recent history. Times that changed us as a society as a whole and demanded that we grow-up and see who we were and what we were going to be. --Sabrina Switzer-Wareing
A long, long time ago...I can still remember... "Vanities" takes us on a journey of friendship set against the backdrop of three crucial times in our country's recent history. Times that changed us as a society as a whole and demanded that we grow-up and see who we were and what we were going to be. --Sabrina Switzer-Wareing
The Ugly Duckling (2021)
"The things that make me different are the things that make me." - A.A. Milne
The Director's Notes
This play will offer a breath of laughter to all (cast and audience alike). "The Ugly Duckling" has the flavor of a farcical Shakespearean romance with a touch of insight. - Sabrina Switzer-Wareing
This play will offer a breath of laughter to all (cast and audience alike). "The Ugly Duckling" has the flavor of a farcical Shakespearean romance with a touch of insight. - Sabrina Switzer-Wareing
The Laramie Project (2021)
The Director's Notes
Set against the backdrop of the pandemic and diverse rifts within our world, we staged “The Laramie Project”. Confined by Zoom and the mores of Documentary Theatre, the production provoked conversations, inspiring student action and reflection. The relevancy of the work was strengthened by a community-wide cast that included students, faculty, parents, and alumni.
-- Sabrina Switzer-Wareing
Set against the backdrop of the pandemic and diverse rifts within our world, we staged “The Laramie Project”. Confined by Zoom and the mores of Documentary Theatre, the production provoked conversations, inspiring student action and reflection. The relevancy of the work was strengthened by a community-wide cast that included students, faculty, parents, and alumni.
-- Sabrina Switzer-Wareing
All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten (2020)
The Director's Notes
These outdoor performances are about being together, yet safely distanced, in order to once again experience the joy of live theatre.
The Directing in Action students have been workshopping this production to select which heartwarming stories to incorporate in the final performance. These stories celebrate our existence, from the whimsy of childhood to the wisdom of old age. And it is still true -- no matter how old you are -- that when you go out into the world, it is best to stick together -- even six feet apart. -- Sabrina Switzer-Wareing
These outdoor performances are about being together, yet safely distanced, in order to once again experience the joy of live theatre.
The Directing in Action students have been workshopping this production to select which heartwarming stories to incorporate in the final performance. These stories celebrate our existence, from the whimsy of childhood to the wisdom of old age. And it is still true -- no matter how old you are -- that when you go out into the world, it is best to stick together -- even six feet apart. -- Sabrina Switzer-Wareing
Story Staples (2020)
The time has come to show ourselves for who we truly are: Cracks included.
The Director's Notes
This was a webinar performance of original material written by the Storytelling & Stagecraft theatre students. The idea behind "Story Staples" was to embrace that which we are. The work was inspired by the art of kintsugi, wherein cracked pottery is filled with gold dusted lacquer, and the aesthetic of Wabi-sabi, where one learns to understand and appreciate one’s life as a whole. Taken together, they bring focus to the beauty of change rather than hiding it. The students created a powerful and personal work that sparked both laughter and tears.
-- Sabrina Switzer-Wareing
This was a webinar performance of original material written by the Storytelling & Stagecraft theatre students. The idea behind "Story Staples" was to embrace that which we are. The work was inspired by the art of kintsugi, wherein cracked pottery is filled with gold dusted lacquer, and the aesthetic of Wabi-sabi, where one learns to understand and appreciate one’s life as a whole. Taken together, they bring focus to the beauty of change rather than hiding it. The students created a powerful and personal work that sparked both laughter and tears.
-- Sabrina Switzer-Wareing
A Thousand Cranes (2020)
Performance & Production Ensemble
Eliana Pandelakis* Aydan Wong* Laird Oliver* Danika Bussey* Will McCollum Chariot Waddell* Wyatt Lambert* Marydith Sudkamp* James Holt* Lola Tahan JP Tate* Clara Marques de Mesquita Kris Anderson Sophia Hatsell*** Omkar Bharath* Elise Van Etten* Tadhg O’Brien Sage Schaffer* Alexa Finnie* Yahli Zarchi* Mikey Cozza Annika Sarma* Mischa Norton* Rohn Layton Sarah Archambault Spencer Wareing* * Denotes Membership in the International Thespian Society and/or the HYSA Thespian Society – An AZ Thespian/ITS Gold Honor Troupe ** Denotes AZ Seal of Arts Proficiency Capstone Project –See Mrs. SW for details |
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Take a Peek "Behind the Scenes" of the Production https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xeo_q533row
Audience Comments
"I’m in tears."
"It was beautiful, and all the more haunting because of the quarantine. The fact that they were each alone, connected by the cranes made the story all the more poignant."
"Amazing job on Paper Cranes!!! I don’t understand how you guys pulled that off so well on ZOOM!"
"Loved the play! The medium worked wonderfully well! Everyone was brilliant! Music was evocative. The “sets” really worked."
" The play was outstanding....I loved the charcoal transitions!"
"The play was beautiful, sad and powerful. I cried. I cannot imagine the amount of work it took to offer this as a zoom production. Congratulations on a wonderful performance."
"What a fantastic performance and creative way to create the experience virtually."
"What an amazing performance!!! It was PHENOMENAL!!!"
"I was so impressed by the performances, art, singing and instruments."
"Thank you for putting so much time and effort into this production. It really paid off and was lovely to watch."
"I’m in tears."
"It was beautiful, and all the more haunting because of the quarantine. The fact that they were each alone, connected by the cranes made the story all the more poignant."
"Amazing job on Paper Cranes!!! I don’t understand how you guys pulled that off so well on ZOOM!"
"Loved the play! The medium worked wonderfully well! Everyone was brilliant! Music was evocative. The “sets” really worked."
" The play was outstanding....I loved the charcoal transitions!"
"The play was beautiful, sad and powerful. I cried. I cannot imagine the amount of work it took to offer this as a zoom production. Congratulations on a wonderful performance."
"What a fantastic performance and creative way to create the experience virtually."
"What an amazing performance!!! It was PHENOMENAL!!!"
"I was so impressed by the performances, art, singing and instruments."
"Thank you for putting so much time and effort into this production. It really paid off and was lovely to watch."
The Glass Menagerie (2020)
Director’s Notes
“The object of art is to make eternal the desperately fleeting moment.”
-- Tennessee Williams
“The Glass Menagerie" premiered 76 years ago. Its premier created a new lyrical style of theatre and became a pivotal part of the American Theatre canon. The memory play and plastic theatre were born from the imagination and life of Tennessee Williams. Based on his own family the play captured his reminisces of isolation and distorted familial love. Being a memory play “The Glass Menagerie” has always been performed with a rare freedom of theatrical convention. In creating the play, Williams sought to share his belief that illusion and reality are separated by a thin veil of light and memory. Time was a pebbled pathway that connected us with our true selves and our memory-self. Each valid. Each flawed. Each true. Each defining. - S. Switzer-Wareing
“Yes, I have tricks in my pocket, I have things up my sleeve. But I am the opposite of a stage magician. He gives you illusion that has the appearance of truth. I give you truth in the pleasant disguise of illusion.” – Tom Wingfield
“The object of art is to make eternal the desperately fleeting moment.”
-- Tennessee Williams
“The Glass Menagerie" premiered 76 years ago. Its premier created a new lyrical style of theatre and became a pivotal part of the American Theatre canon. The memory play and plastic theatre were born from the imagination and life of Tennessee Williams. Based on his own family the play captured his reminisces of isolation and distorted familial love. Being a memory play “The Glass Menagerie” has always been performed with a rare freedom of theatrical convention. In creating the play, Williams sought to share his belief that illusion and reality are separated by a thin veil of light and memory. Time was a pebbled pathway that connected us with our true selves and our memory-self. Each valid. Each flawed. Each true. Each defining. - S. Switzer-Wareing
“Yes, I have tricks in my pocket, I have things up my sleeve. But I am the opposite of a stage magician. He gives you illusion that has the appearance of truth. I give you truth in the pleasant disguise of illusion.” – Tom Wingfield
Audience Members
"I deeply appreciate being able to attend such high quality plays!"
The plays have offered a great opportunity for me to discuss history and issues with my son."
" So very thankful for the opportunities you provide for the kids to learn, experience and get familiar with theater"
"I deeply appreciate being able to attend such high quality plays!"
The plays have offered a great opportunity for me to discuss history and issues with my son."
" So very thankful for the opportunities you provide for the kids to learn, experience and get familiar with theater"
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Student Reflections
"Working on 'The Glass Menagerie' was an experience that I will truly never forget. Coming off of a year-long hiatus from acting, being cast in one of the greatest works in American canon was truly an honor...I will forever love this show. It is my first straight play, my first leading role, and my first classic. And if Mrs. Switzer-Wareing ever asks me to reprise my role, I have my cigarette in one hand, and ticket stubs in the other. " - Carson S. 'We all wanted to be there doing what we were doing... and I think with this show every single person who worked on it got something out of it to be proud of." - Gia DeYoung |
The Crucible (2020)
Director Notes “And wherever the play is performed on any of the five continents, there is always a certain amazement that the same terror that is happening to them or that is threatening them, has happened before to others. It is all very strange. But then, the Devil is known to lure people into forgetting what it is vital for them to remember - how else could his endless reappearances always come as such a marvelous surprise?” – A. Miller
Following opening night Miller’s new play was noted by some as an “unsettling night of theatre.” And why not? Arthur Miller wrote “The Crucible” as a reflection of Senator Joseph McCarthy and the House Committee on Un-American Activities' Communist witch hunts. In the 1950s, the Red Hunt was a paranoia that threatened to destroy the American psyche. What happens when society gives too much power to the wrong person? Why is a scapegoat so often desired to sustain the collective balance? In the transcriptions of the 1692 Salem witch trials, Miller found the inspiration for his desperate allegory and why one name is one name too many . . . Sabrina Switzer-Wareing “I have given you my soul; leave me my name!” |
Acting Ensemble
John Proctor Augie Stewart* Abigail Williams Sidney Ashby* Mary Warren Sophia Hatsell* Elizabeth Proctor Drew Kolber* Rev. John Hale Carson Stern* Giles Corey Royce Russell* Dep. Gov. Danforth William Ruff* Julian Pandelakis* Ann Putnam Ava Kowalski Reverend Parris John Demery Thomas Putnam Jared Schein* Betty Parris Katelyn John* Tituba Mattie Dyer* Gia De Young* Rebecca Nurse Natalie Carlson* Judge Hathorne Joshua Zakaras* Will Bailly* Francis Nurse Davi Gutkin Marshall Herreck Andrew Berles Colin Brooks Ezekial Cheever Liam Ryan Mercy Lewis Tessa Sharp* Susanna Wolcott Morgan Tefft* Salem Girls Danika Bussey* Marydith Sudkamp* Mischa Norton * McCarthy Carson Stern* Murrow Sophia Hatsell* Kipling Danika Bussey* Miller Joshua Zakaras* Prelude & Epilogue Voices Ensemble * Denotes Membership in the International Thespian Society and the HYSA Thespian Society – An AZ Thespian/ITS Gold Honor Troupe Production Team
Producer & Director Sabrina Switzer-Wareing* Assistant Director Drew Kolber* Stage Manager Sophia Hatsell* Lighting Don Nguyen* & Joshua Zakaras* Sound Joseph Norman* Rehearsal Understudies Sophia Hatsell* & Katelyn John* PR Poster Designs IGCSE Humanities Students House Manager Sophia Hatsell* Box Office Joseph Norman* & Mattie Dyer* Program Art Andy Medina Program Layout S. Switzer-Wareing* |
Parent Comments
"My son had a great time and it was such a good learning experience for him - particularly about how performance is significantly impacted by effort." "The Crucible' was simply amazing!" "The play was wonderful last night - all the kids did so well, such honesty and effort. Can I get tickets for tonight?" Student Comments "My experience with 'The Crucible' was nothing short of amazing. It was hands down the best performance that I was a part of...It was a great opportunity to bond with and make connections to people that I never would have otherwise. I’m super thankful that we were able to do it three times instead of the usual two because the feeling that you get when you are on stage is unmatched." - Royce R. "I will never forget it."- Augie S. "It was incredible." - Mattie D. |
Program Art - A. Medina
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Fools (2019)
Director’s Notes
"Nine o'clock! Nine o'clock in the village of Kulyenchikov and all's well!" But is it really? The people of Kulyenchikov live under a terrible haze - the curse of widespread stupidity. For two hundred years, hundreds of teachers have come, hoping to educate the villagers and free them from the curse of stupidity. Will the curse ever be broken? Will the cloud ever be lifted? Watch and see as IGCSE Level HALO theatre students perform Neil Simon's comic fable, "Fools" about the curse of foolhardy mindsets.
This is an old-school, stock character comedy, wherein zany, bold, and sheep rule supreme.
"Nine o'clock! Nine o'clock in the village of Kulyenchikov and all's well!" But is it really? The people of Kulyenchikov live under a terrible haze - the curse of widespread stupidity. For two hundred years, hundreds of teachers have come, hoping to educate the villagers and free them from the curse of stupidity. Will the curse ever be broken? Will the cloud ever be lifted? Watch and see as IGCSE Level HALO theatre students perform Neil Simon's comic fable, "Fools" about the curse of foolhardy mindsets.
This is an old-school, stock character comedy, wherein zany, bold, and sheep rule supreme.
The Acting Ensemble
Storytellers Drew Kolber* Augie Stewart* Leon Tolchinsky Anthony Tuccille Sophia Zubritsky Sophia Hatsell* Gregor Yousekevitch Nate Murphy Dr. Zubritsky Noah Burton* Lenya Zubritsky Shani Spector* Something Snetsky William Ruff* Snetsky Kunal Sharma* Magistrates Morgan Tefft* Leann Landkof* Slovitchs, the butchers Molly Kuhler* Emily Vasko* Mishkin, the postmaster Beatrice Allen* Postmasters in training Sidney Ashby* Mattie Dyer* Yenchna, the vendor Tessa Sharp* Talia Yenchna, the vendor Katelyn John* Bodashka Lucas Dewsen Bodashke Andy Medina Mikhail Zubritsky Anthony Allen* Casmir Yousekevitch Julian Bianchi* Sophia Zubritsky (the first) TBA Singers All Musician Leann Landkof* |
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Production Team
Producer & Director Sabrina Switzer-Wareing*
Assistant TD William Ruff* & Sidney Ashby*
Assistant Director Carson Stern*
Stage Managers Drew Kolber* & Augie Stewart*
Lighting Joshua Zakaras* & Julian Pandelakis*
Set Design Artist Andy Medina
Set Artists Andy Medina, Lucas Dewsen, Mattie Dyer*
Sidney Ashby*, Riley Lawrence*,William Ruff*
PR Poster Designers Leann Landkof* & William Ruff*
House Manager Sophia Hatsell*
Program Art Leann Landkof*
Program Layout S. Switzer-Wareing*
* Denotes Membership in the International Thespian Society and the HYSA Thespian Society – An AZ Thespian/ITS Gold Honor Troupe
Producer & Director Sabrina Switzer-Wareing*
Assistant TD William Ruff* & Sidney Ashby*
Assistant Director Carson Stern*
Stage Managers Drew Kolber* & Augie Stewart*
Lighting Joshua Zakaras* & Julian Pandelakis*
Set Design Artist Andy Medina
Set Artists Andy Medina, Lucas Dewsen, Mattie Dyer*
Sidney Ashby*, Riley Lawrence*,William Ruff*
PR Poster Designers Leann Landkof* & William Ruff*
House Manager Sophia Hatsell*
Program Art Leann Landkof*
Program Layout S. Switzer-Wareing*
* Denotes Membership in the International Thespian Society and the HYSA Thespian Society – An AZ Thespian/ITS Gold Honor Troupe
From the Globe, Around the Globe - Romeo & Juliet (2019)
Friends, Veronans,
scholars young and old, lend me your ears! As IGSCE STEM/HUM combines radio drama and live verse for their production of “From the Globe, Around the Globe - Romeo & Juliet". In this play within a play, the immortal bard is reinterpreted in a 30s pastiche, delving into the abstraction of the theater of the mind and live performance itself.Come see and hear this classic tale brought to life in the HYSA Black Box Theater. |
Rehearsal Photographs
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Wednesday Enrichment Experience
“Action is eloquence . . . to hold as 'twere the mirror up to nature . . .” -- Shakespeare The Wednesday morning ”Fine Arts Enrichment Experience" is a window into a diverse group of works that have opened the door for society to a deeper awareness of the human condition. As both an audience member and an explorer we will identify, and thus embrace, broader views and understanding with our global community. With regard to the IGCSE Cambridge curriculum, the Wednesday exploration, of the dramatic and literary texts, provides a concrete and creative analysis to optimize student success with the core curriculum. "Romeo & Juliet" is the first text. |
Director’s Notes
In “The Tragedy of Romeo & Juliet” Shakespeare creates a hectic environment, wherein accidental circumstances have fateful consequences and the force that passion has over reason is unequivocal. The audience is told, from the start, the star-crossed lovers’ destiny. Yet, we watch with a hopeful eye. Their first meeting is a breathless love sonnet. Each has half the sonnet. One without the other makes it incomplete. Romeo and Juliet are now whole. They have found each other and themselves. The backdrop of their families’ vendetta fades away. Their roles as daughter and son are abandoned. The steerage of their course may be predetermined, but it makes it no less poignant. -- Sabrina Switzer-Wareing
In “The Tragedy of Romeo & Juliet” Shakespeare creates a hectic environment, wherein accidental circumstances have fateful consequences and the force that passion has over reason is unequivocal. The audience is told, from the start, the star-crossed lovers’ destiny. Yet, we watch with a hopeful eye. Their first meeting is a breathless love sonnet. Each has half the sonnet. One without the other makes it incomplete. Romeo and Juliet are now whole. They have found each other and themselves. The backdrop of their families’ vendetta fades away. Their roles as daughter and son are abandoned. The steerage of their course may be predetermined, but it makes it no less poignant. -- Sabrina Switzer-Wareing
Student Reflections
I think that the actions of Lord Montague and Lord Capulet reflect actions of overprotective parents. I believe that their actions are trying to give their children the best out of them but they end up just working too hard to protect them, and the relationship becomes of a teenager-to-parent relationship, as the teen tries to give him/herself some independence while the parent continues to treat him/her like a child.-- Sean O.
I think that the actions of Lord Montague and Lord Capulet reflect the actions or behavior of a small child who would hold major grudges and fits for very trivial reasons. -- Anthony A.
Tybalt was driven by intense, powerful rage. Mercutio was just another casualty of this rage and didn't grant Tybalt a catharsis. Killing Mercutio didn't change how Tybalt felt, and he felt just as enraged after as before.--Kunal S.
I think in that second when Tybalt killed Mercutio he would have felt triumph. But then he realizes what he has done. He has, for what is likely the first time in his life, killed another human. He would have felt horror, especially considering he is young. After he kills Mercutio he flees because of fear and guilt. -- Anthony T
Tybalt was blinded by anger at the moment when he killed Mercutio. He only saw a fight, not a human. It all connects to their vendetta, they don't see each other as human, but each house considers the other as monsters who gave the other suffering. Tybalt only felt anger, and because he died only minutes later, he didn't get that catharsis that could have changed his perspective. -- Shani S.
Romeo and Juliet resist their families struggles and feuds to be with each other not only for their passion for each other, but for their duty to their families, who, despite not recognizing what benefits this marriage may entail, have much to gain and little to lose from ending their longtime feud and being able to cooperate for each other’s mutual benefit. -- Nathan N.
Romeo and Juliet had a connection to each other that was greater than the one that they had to their families and this drove them to go against their families to pursue that connection. -- Gabe J.
Romeo and Juliet would risk their families’ support and go against their families’ names for one another because they truly believed each other’s companionship and trust was worth more than their relationships within their blood families. --Morgan T.
Although there are many forces that influence my actions, I feel that love has the biggest effect. Love is always at the center of everything I do, whether it is an abundance of love or a lack of it. Without love being present, life wouldn't really have a meaning, because you wouldn't have connections with other people that drive your actions. -- Leann L.
I think that the actions of Lord Montague and Lord Capulet reflect actions of overprotective parents. I believe that their actions are trying to give their children the best out of them but they end up just working too hard to protect them, and the relationship becomes of a teenager-to-parent relationship, as the teen tries to give him/herself some independence while the parent continues to treat him/her like a child.-- Sean O.
I think that the actions of Lord Montague and Lord Capulet reflect the actions or behavior of a small child who would hold major grudges and fits for very trivial reasons. -- Anthony A.
Tybalt was driven by intense, powerful rage. Mercutio was just another casualty of this rage and didn't grant Tybalt a catharsis. Killing Mercutio didn't change how Tybalt felt, and he felt just as enraged after as before.--Kunal S.
I think in that second when Tybalt killed Mercutio he would have felt triumph. But then he realizes what he has done. He has, for what is likely the first time in his life, killed another human. He would have felt horror, especially considering he is young. After he kills Mercutio he flees because of fear and guilt. -- Anthony T
Tybalt was blinded by anger at the moment when he killed Mercutio. He only saw a fight, not a human. It all connects to their vendetta, they don't see each other as human, but each house considers the other as monsters who gave the other suffering. Tybalt only felt anger, and because he died only minutes later, he didn't get that catharsis that could have changed his perspective. -- Shani S.
Romeo and Juliet resist their families struggles and feuds to be with each other not only for their passion for each other, but for their duty to their families, who, despite not recognizing what benefits this marriage may entail, have much to gain and little to lose from ending their longtime feud and being able to cooperate for each other’s mutual benefit. -- Nathan N.
Romeo and Juliet had a connection to each other that was greater than the one that they had to their families and this drove them to go against their families to pursue that connection. -- Gabe J.
Romeo and Juliet would risk their families’ support and go against their families’ names for one another because they truly believed each other’s companionship and trust was worth more than their relationships within their blood families. --Morgan T.
Although there are many forces that influence my actions, I feel that love has the biggest effect. Love is always at the center of everything I do, whether it is an abundance of love or a lack of it. Without love being present, life wouldn't really have a meaning, because you wouldn't have connections with other people that drive your actions. -- Leann L.
Acting Ensemble
Radio Musician & Romeo Julian Bianchi* Radio Actor & Juliet Riley Lawrence* Musician & Friar Lawrence Sean Sadeghi* Singer/Rosaline & L. Montague Beatrice Allen* Actor 1 & Lady Capulet Shani Spector* Actor 2 & Prince Molly Kuhler* Actor 3 & Nurse Tessa Sharp * Dad & Chorus Anthony Tuccille Mother & Capulet Servant Emily Vasko* Child & Apothecary Leann Landkof* W-O-W MC & Musician James Logan * Sampson, Capulet Servant Evan Bramer* Abraham, Montague Servant Sean Oh Gregory (T) Adam Spangler* Tybalt & MC Noah Burton* Benvolio Nathanial Murphy Lord Capulet Anthony Young* Lord Montague Anthony Allen Mercutio Morgan Tefft* Paris Kunal Sharma* Balthazar Andy Medina Friar John Nathan Nakaji MC Aliyapadi Hariadi Prince’s Men Gabe Johnstun* Lucas Drewsen Pierce Liestemfeltz |
Production Team
Producer & Director Sabrina Switzer-Wareing* TD Marco Bianchi & Joseph Norman* Assistant Director Tessa Sharp* & Emily Vasko* Lighting Joshua Zakaras* & Adam Spangler* Joseph Norman* SFX Mix Artist/Tech Nathan Nakaji 1930s MC Monologues James Logan* Set Construction Marco Bianchi IGCSE HUM & MY Students Props Payton Leather* & Natalie Carlson* Joseph Norman* & Kenna Hatsell* Rehearsal Work Dr. Leonard Maximon* Meter Coach Nathan Nakaji Prompter & Understudy Gabe Johnstun* SFX List Evan Bramer*, Nathan Nakaji, Sean Oh Makeup Jane Tran* & the Cast House Manager Sophia Hatsell* House Aliyapadi Hriadi & Drew Kolber* Program Art & Rose Andy Medina Program Info Aliyapadi Hariadi, Gabe Johnstun* Anthony Tuccille Program Layout S. Switzer-Wareing* Rehearsal Photos Aliyapadi Hariadi Production Photos S. Switzer-Wareing * Denotes Membership in International Thespian Society and HYSA Thespian Society-- An AZ Thespian/ITS Gold Honor Troupe |
Melodrama & Mystery One Act Festival (2019)
In the 1800s Melodrama was “the” popular form of theatrical entertainment. The genre was often described as the “people’s drama”
and reflected the heightened Romanticism of the era. Playwrights and theatre companies always included a Melodrama in their repertoire. Music was an essential staple as it amplified the emotion. In fact,
melo in melodrama denotes drama with music. These “musical dramas” offered audiences stock characters they could “cheer” or “boo”
all the while knowing all would be well in the end.
The Prelude to Mystery
Beatrice Allen* Danika Bussey* Clara Marques de Mesquita* Julian Bianchi* Gabe Johnston* Murder at The Grey’s Hound Mansion by Maxine Holmgren Julian Bianchi* Alexa Finnie* Clara Marques de Mesquita* Mischa Norton* Laird Oliver* Annika Sarma* Sage Schaffer* Tessa Sharp* Aydan Wong* Anthony Young* The Marriage Proposal by Anton Chekhov Noah Burton* Laird Oliver* Tessa Sharp* The Prelude to Melodrama Beatrice Allen* The Old Cookie Shop by Joe M. Charles Danika Bussey* Gabe Johnston* Carter Kim* Mischa Norton* Sage Schaffer* Adam Spangler* Anthony Young* * Denotes Membership in the International Thespian Society |
Our Town (2019)
Our production of "Our Town" offered the audience a moment to note the significance of day to day life. Since all of one's beautiful and defining memories combine to be the grace of one's life. To depict these moments required attention - appropriately - to all the tiny and eloquent details, such as . . .
Director's Notes
Rehearsal Pictures Reflect Wilder's Concept
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American classic is the term that often follows Thornton Wilder's Pulitzer Prize winning Our Town. Many make the assumption that this description is applied because it is performed practically every day of the year in the United States and abroad. Due to its minimalist staging style and its good size cast, the majority of high schools and middle schools make sure to include it in the roster of perennial school plays. Yet, its simplicity is deceptive. It is so much more than a slice of Americana. It is a carefully crafted exploration of what the legacy of a life can be. Wilder’s frank theatricalism serves to heighten the themes. There are no walls onstage because there is an inherent impermanence in life. The time and space between birth and death can be wasted or realized. Love is a necessity. Human beings are eternal. How the people we meet change us and how we all learn to say goodbye. If one is truly present throughout all these tiny significances, the repetition -- within one's life -- can be the peaceful and defining strength to it. – Sabrina Switzer-Wareing
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“It is the life of a village against the life of the stars.” -- Thornton Wilder
“I regard the theatre as the greatest of all art forms, the most immediate way in which a human being
can share with another the sense of what it is to be a human being.” -- Thornton Wilde
can share with another the sense of what it is to be a human being.” -- Thornton Wilde
Thoughts from the Company of “Our Town"
Sidney Ashby*
In the play Our Town, there is more than what the surface shows about the town life in Grover's Corners. Grover's Corners town life represents that everything in life can gradually change. The Stage Manager subtly reveals changes that take place over time, such as the population in Grover's Corners growing and the adolescent characters in Act One marry in Act Two. Just as in any person’s life, we all experience change, whether it’s from changing your favorite song to changing schools. But, Our Town shows us that change can lead to many great things.
William Bailey*
Just an ordinary day: wake up go to school for eight hours return home, waste my time and sleep, just to return the next day and repeat. Before you know it, it has been weeks without anything significant. Time flies…..in our small, irrelevant lives, we make no huge impacts on the outer world, just repeating our days like a ripple.
Natalie Carlson*
One of the central themes of Our Town is love. What we see of Emily’s life circles around love. The first day we see of her life seems to be the day she realizes she loves George; the next time we see her is their wedding day. Finally, the story ends on the day she dies, where she looks back on her life. She can’t handle it, though because it becomes apparent that the living live too quickly to properly take in time with loved ones when they have it.
Cartier Del Castillo*
Family is a very important aspect of my life. Many of the things that I do daily involve my family in one way or another. Your family are the people who are there for you in both good times and not so great times. When all others let you down, your family is still there to support you and encourage you to keep moving forward. Ultimately, your family is what makes you feel complete, because without loved ones, life is rather boring.
Mattie Dyers*
When I was 10, I decided to make some banana bread. After mixing and putting it in the oven, after about an hour, I took it out. I left the oven mitt on the back burner of our gas stove. Later that day I decided to try my hand at making eggs. I didn’t realize I had left the oven mitt on the stove, and it soon went up in flames. I freaked out and threw it in the sink. My mom was a little disdainful and not quite as excited when I wanted to cook other things.
Robert Dykes*
A fond memory of my family I have is whenever we all come together for someone’s birthday or other special occasion. This typically happens a few times a year, and I love being able to spend time with my brothers and see and hear about all the new things they’ve done. Regardless of the troubles that have come between us during the year, when we come together all the tensions drop and we can relax and simply enjoy each other’s company.
Sophia Hatsell*
Our Town is about enjoying life and living life to its full extent and is also about all the small things we miss. The first act is very basic representation of life in 1901. The mother gets up, makes breakfast, and struggles to wake the children. The father works and comes home to a wife who loves him. The town is small, and everybody knows one another and their quirks. There are people who deliver the newspaper and milk. The third act reveals the key parts of one’s life are missed and that if you take a minute to stop and really appreciate your time on Earth, you will see so much more.
Katelyn John*
Before my mom and I moved to Arizona, my family--including me, my mom, my siblings, aunts, cousins, and grandparents--would always come together every Sunday for family dinner. We would always talk and enjoy ourselves. After we finished, we would all go outside and look at the moon. We would admire it and all feel connected. Now, my mom and I are away, so we can’t have family dinners, but we still look at the moon. We all do. We send pictures to each other and know that even though we are far apart, we are all looking at the same sky, and the same moon. Through this, we are always connected.
Drew Kolber*
Our Town opened my heart to all of life’s emotions and invited me to think about the impacts of the way we go through life. I was warmed by George and Emily’s sweet love and gained insight from the way Mrs. Gibbs deflects Mrs. Soames’ gossip. My thoughts turned to how the characters move through life, noticing some but missing so much. I left Our Town thinking about the importance of living our lives fully, of being kind to ourselves, and of learning from our experiences and those we meet. Our Town is a meditation on life, and being a teenager in a fast paced world living a sometimes frustratingly busy life, I was grateful for the reminder of the importance of being present.
Molly Kuhler*
Although it’s often said, life is a gift, most people never stop and truly comprehend what that means. The details in each day are what makes life unique, but traditions are what last after you're gone. These traditions are repeated over time until they become your own legacy. The pie that your grandmother makes every Thanksgiving, the Saturday night bowling, or trips to I-Hop all seem trivial at first. You would think these traditions get boring and that people would forget them. What we often forget is how important traditions truly are.
Riley Lawrence*
Reading the play Our Town has led me to see how short life really is and how quickly time goes by and has demonstrated to me the importance of your community. Whether it be looking at the time and seeing that an hour passed in what seemed like only a few minutes or remembering times from years ago that feel as though they happened just yesterday, Our Town has taught me that oftentimes we rush through life too quickly. Sometimes, we need to slow down, take in our surroundings, and simply be present.
James Logan*
On the theme of “be present,” I can clearly remember a time when I wasn’t all there. I was running down a hallway in my house chasing a rubber ball, when I tripped and fell right into a doorknob with my two front teeth. I suppose I wasn’t mentally present when that happened. Today, I still have a mark from that incident. I have marks on my two front teeth, permanent bruises that remind me of that moment in time.
Ethan Miller*
Relatively recently, my great-grandfather passed away. He and I were familiar, though not close. He was in his nineties and though we had never wanted to believe it, his decline had come over a period of several months, if not a year of becoming less and less present. Even if, by the end, most of the time, he wasn’t fully present. My mother and so many of his family members were all around him. So many times, during the hospital stays and hospice care, we reassured him and stayed by his side. Even though I wasn’t there for his passing, I know he exited this world surrounded by family and loved, and we were all grief-stricken by his passage. In the month or so between his passing and the funeral, my family came together to support each other, and his funeral was full of emotional speeches by those closest to him.
Joseph Norman*
I believe family is important because they are the people I am closest with and who matter the most to me. Regardless of what happens during my day, they are always the ones I can come home to and rely on at the end of the day. One of my favorite family memories is the trip we took one summer to Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming. We spent weeks hiking through mountains and swimming in rivers fed by hot springs. I will always remember the many fun adventures we had.
William Ruff*
When one of my relatives comes over, we usually have a little bit of a party. My parents will make a big dinner, and afterwards we play a lot of board and card games. During all this, we learn about how things are going for everyone. So, while having fun and laughing, we are learning and growing closer to each other and learning about how life is for all of us, which brings us closer as a family. As a plus, it’s really fun.
Royce Russell*
Sound is amazing. It can evoke feelings of tremendous emotional value and has the potential to change how you are feeling at any given moment. When I was 7 years old, there was a certain sound, which, upon hearing it, instantly irritated me. I would become annoyed to no end with everything and everyone. The reason, you may ask? I started piano lessons. I hated it. It wasn’t the instrument itself, but rather the slow, arduous task of learning it. Before that, I enjoyed a piano as much as the next guy, but after lessons, the music was ruined. Eventually I moved on, but for years afterwards, I could not listen to piano without memories of my lessons resurfacing against my will. This experience made me realize how powerful sound can be, which is why we use it in performances such as Our Town. It adds to the overall experience and increases the immersion.
Jared Schein*
Time is an important part of life. It tells us when to get started and when to quit. Time can fly and time can crawl. When observing time it all depends on your outlook. When bored, time can feel like it has slowed down, but when having fun, time can fly by and disappear without a trace. I myself can relate to when time has sped by, specifically when I sat down to play chess with my grandfather. We played four games, and he won all of them. We were sitting down for three and a half hours and it felt like 30 minutes. Time is a vital part of everyone’s lives. It speeds up and it slows down, but it's always there and we should all take advantage of it when it is still around.
Kunal Sharma*
If I had a time capsule, a means of indefinite preservation, these are the things it would contain: my mother's smile, a conversation with my friends, the telltale smell of mattar paneer on the stove, my brother's eagerness, my father's determination, a model of my school with little wax students, a copy of Harry Potter, and a D&D Player's Handbook. These are the things I would put in a time capsule to preserve forever. These are memories that have shaped me. They will always be a part of me, past present, and future.
Shani Spector
When I was younger, all I thought about was growing up, being older. I loved being called older, I liked dressing older, and I just wanted time to speed up and automatically and be older. I didn't realize everything went so quickly, from running around on the playground to having anxiety over things. Then I realized that I was wasting so much time trying to be older that I was missing the point. The point is that life is short, and I shouldn't just wait for the future because life is ephemeral.
Augie Stewart*
Our Town has many themes, but the one that stuck out to me the most is appreciating life. I won't truly understand how much I have until it is too late. I complain about the little things, such as things I want, the things I have, things I don't have. I don’t really focus on what we DO have. I have family, friends… love. When you lose someone important to you, you can truly understand how important life is. You understand that you need to start appreciating life… because you don't know how much longer you have. Something I hope to take away from Our Town is to truly appreciate how much I have.
Angelina Tran*
When I was 7 years old, my family and I were driving back from L.A. in the summer. We were driving in a 10-year-old Toyota Sienna that we had since my brother was born. Arizona heat in the summer is no joke, and no one should have to live through 115-degree heat. About halfway back from L.A., the car’s air conditioning broke down. We were stuck in an oven with only ice and soaked towels to keep us cool. It was horrible, but because we were all together, it made it a little more bearable and now is something we can look back on and laugh about. Throughout the play, we get to see how no family is perfect but we have to be grateful for what we have because our time with them is short.
Tim Tran*
In Our Town, time is a concept that is shown in a scale that we don’t experience in our normal lives. Time is seen on a much broader scale, showing how short our lives actually are. Everything flies by, and by the end of it, you realize it’s all over. There is a lot of talk in the first act of the distant future and what people then will know about the present.
Alexa Twibell*
As graduation inches closer, I want to reflect on how grateful I am for my family and their unconditional love and support. Some of my happiest memories have been trips with them or a game night at our house. My parents have made me who I am today and I couldn’t have asked for greater mentors than them. I look forward to all the future has in store, but am so thankful for the family I know I can always come home to.
Ben Weinstock*
Time is a double-edged sword. Time can be great for letting you know that you need to live your life to the fullest. It’s pushy - it lets you know when you need to start enjoying life, but leaves you undisturbed when you are enjoying life. Time is also a bird. It is beautiful, but it flies away quickly, making you wish to see it again and enjoy it just a little bit more. I cherish time; I fear time. Most importantly, though, I waste time.
Joshua Zakaras*
One of the central themes of Our Town is appreciating what we have. If we keep thinking about what we want to have, we won’t ever be happy. I think this is one of the reasons most of America is unhappy. Other countries are so happy, and yet, they have less. This is because of the culture in America. We compare ourselves to others, and we don’t realize what we have is great. Some countries don’t have clean water or food, and we take that for granted. We should be happy with what we have.
* Denotes Membership in the International Thespian Society and the HYSA Thespian Society
In the play Our Town, there is more than what the surface shows about the town life in Grover's Corners. Grover's Corners town life represents that everything in life can gradually change. The Stage Manager subtly reveals changes that take place over time, such as the population in Grover's Corners growing and the adolescent characters in Act One marry in Act Two. Just as in any person’s life, we all experience change, whether it’s from changing your favorite song to changing schools. But, Our Town shows us that change can lead to many great things.
William Bailey*
Just an ordinary day: wake up go to school for eight hours return home, waste my time and sleep, just to return the next day and repeat. Before you know it, it has been weeks without anything significant. Time flies…..in our small, irrelevant lives, we make no huge impacts on the outer world, just repeating our days like a ripple.
Natalie Carlson*
One of the central themes of Our Town is love. What we see of Emily’s life circles around love. The first day we see of her life seems to be the day she realizes she loves George; the next time we see her is their wedding day. Finally, the story ends on the day she dies, where she looks back on her life. She can’t handle it, though because it becomes apparent that the living live too quickly to properly take in time with loved ones when they have it.
Cartier Del Castillo*
Family is a very important aspect of my life. Many of the things that I do daily involve my family in one way or another. Your family are the people who are there for you in both good times and not so great times. When all others let you down, your family is still there to support you and encourage you to keep moving forward. Ultimately, your family is what makes you feel complete, because without loved ones, life is rather boring.
Mattie Dyers*
When I was 10, I decided to make some banana bread. After mixing and putting it in the oven, after about an hour, I took it out. I left the oven mitt on the back burner of our gas stove. Later that day I decided to try my hand at making eggs. I didn’t realize I had left the oven mitt on the stove, and it soon went up in flames. I freaked out and threw it in the sink. My mom was a little disdainful and not quite as excited when I wanted to cook other things.
Robert Dykes*
A fond memory of my family I have is whenever we all come together for someone’s birthday or other special occasion. This typically happens a few times a year, and I love being able to spend time with my brothers and see and hear about all the new things they’ve done. Regardless of the troubles that have come between us during the year, when we come together all the tensions drop and we can relax and simply enjoy each other’s company.
Sophia Hatsell*
Our Town is about enjoying life and living life to its full extent and is also about all the small things we miss. The first act is very basic representation of life in 1901. The mother gets up, makes breakfast, and struggles to wake the children. The father works and comes home to a wife who loves him. The town is small, and everybody knows one another and their quirks. There are people who deliver the newspaper and milk. The third act reveals the key parts of one’s life are missed and that if you take a minute to stop and really appreciate your time on Earth, you will see so much more.
Katelyn John*
Before my mom and I moved to Arizona, my family--including me, my mom, my siblings, aunts, cousins, and grandparents--would always come together every Sunday for family dinner. We would always talk and enjoy ourselves. After we finished, we would all go outside and look at the moon. We would admire it and all feel connected. Now, my mom and I are away, so we can’t have family dinners, but we still look at the moon. We all do. We send pictures to each other and know that even though we are far apart, we are all looking at the same sky, and the same moon. Through this, we are always connected.
Drew Kolber*
Our Town opened my heart to all of life’s emotions and invited me to think about the impacts of the way we go through life. I was warmed by George and Emily’s sweet love and gained insight from the way Mrs. Gibbs deflects Mrs. Soames’ gossip. My thoughts turned to how the characters move through life, noticing some but missing so much. I left Our Town thinking about the importance of living our lives fully, of being kind to ourselves, and of learning from our experiences and those we meet. Our Town is a meditation on life, and being a teenager in a fast paced world living a sometimes frustratingly busy life, I was grateful for the reminder of the importance of being present.
Molly Kuhler*
Although it’s often said, life is a gift, most people never stop and truly comprehend what that means. The details in each day are what makes life unique, but traditions are what last after you're gone. These traditions are repeated over time until they become your own legacy. The pie that your grandmother makes every Thanksgiving, the Saturday night bowling, or trips to I-Hop all seem trivial at first. You would think these traditions get boring and that people would forget them. What we often forget is how important traditions truly are.
Riley Lawrence*
Reading the play Our Town has led me to see how short life really is and how quickly time goes by and has demonstrated to me the importance of your community. Whether it be looking at the time and seeing that an hour passed in what seemed like only a few minutes or remembering times from years ago that feel as though they happened just yesterday, Our Town has taught me that oftentimes we rush through life too quickly. Sometimes, we need to slow down, take in our surroundings, and simply be present.
James Logan*
On the theme of “be present,” I can clearly remember a time when I wasn’t all there. I was running down a hallway in my house chasing a rubber ball, when I tripped and fell right into a doorknob with my two front teeth. I suppose I wasn’t mentally present when that happened. Today, I still have a mark from that incident. I have marks on my two front teeth, permanent bruises that remind me of that moment in time.
Ethan Miller*
Relatively recently, my great-grandfather passed away. He and I were familiar, though not close. He was in his nineties and though we had never wanted to believe it, his decline had come over a period of several months, if not a year of becoming less and less present. Even if, by the end, most of the time, he wasn’t fully present. My mother and so many of his family members were all around him. So many times, during the hospital stays and hospice care, we reassured him and stayed by his side. Even though I wasn’t there for his passing, I know he exited this world surrounded by family and loved, and we were all grief-stricken by his passage. In the month or so between his passing and the funeral, my family came together to support each other, and his funeral was full of emotional speeches by those closest to him.
Joseph Norman*
I believe family is important because they are the people I am closest with and who matter the most to me. Regardless of what happens during my day, they are always the ones I can come home to and rely on at the end of the day. One of my favorite family memories is the trip we took one summer to Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming. We spent weeks hiking through mountains and swimming in rivers fed by hot springs. I will always remember the many fun adventures we had.
William Ruff*
When one of my relatives comes over, we usually have a little bit of a party. My parents will make a big dinner, and afterwards we play a lot of board and card games. During all this, we learn about how things are going for everyone. So, while having fun and laughing, we are learning and growing closer to each other and learning about how life is for all of us, which brings us closer as a family. As a plus, it’s really fun.
Royce Russell*
Sound is amazing. It can evoke feelings of tremendous emotional value and has the potential to change how you are feeling at any given moment. When I was 7 years old, there was a certain sound, which, upon hearing it, instantly irritated me. I would become annoyed to no end with everything and everyone. The reason, you may ask? I started piano lessons. I hated it. It wasn’t the instrument itself, but rather the slow, arduous task of learning it. Before that, I enjoyed a piano as much as the next guy, but after lessons, the music was ruined. Eventually I moved on, but for years afterwards, I could not listen to piano without memories of my lessons resurfacing against my will. This experience made me realize how powerful sound can be, which is why we use it in performances such as Our Town. It adds to the overall experience and increases the immersion.
Jared Schein*
Time is an important part of life. It tells us when to get started and when to quit. Time can fly and time can crawl. When observing time it all depends on your outlook. When bored, time can feel like it has slowed down, but when having fun, time can fly by and disappear without a trace. I myself can relate to when time has sped by, specifically when I sat down to play chess with my grandfather. We played four games, and he won all of them. We were sitting down for three and a half hours and it felt like 30 minutes. Time is a vital part of everyone’s lives. It speeds up and it slows down, but it's always there and we should all take advantage of it when it is still around.
Kunal Sharma*
If I had a time capsule, a means of indefinite preservation, these are the things it would contain: my mother's smile, a conversation with my friends, the telltale smell of mattar paneer on the stove, my brother's eagerness, my father's determination, a model of my school with little wax students, a copy of Harry Potter, and a D&D Player's Handbook. These are the things I would put in a time capsule to preserve forever. These are memories that have shaped me. They will always be a part of me, past present, and future.
Shani Spector
When I was younger, all I thought about was growing up, being older. I loved being called older, I liked dressing older, and I just wanted time to speed up and automatically and be older. I didn't realize everything went so quickly, from running around on the playground to having anxiety over things. Then I realized that I was wasting so much time trying to be older that I was missing the point. The point is that life is short, and I shouldn't just wait for the future because life is ephemeral.
Augie Stewart*
Our Town has many themes, but the one that stuck out to me the most is appreciating life. I won't truly understand how much I have until it is too late. I complain about the little things, such as things I want, the things I have, things I don't have. I don’t really focus on what we DO have. I have family, friends… love. When you lose someone important to you, you can truly understand how important life is. You understand that you need to start appreciating life… because you don't know how much longer you have. Something I hope to take away from Our Town is to truly appreciate how much I have.
Angelina Tran*
When I was 7 years old, my family and I were driving back from L.A. in the summer. We were driving in a 10-year-old Toyota Sienna that we had since my brother was born. Arizona heat in the summer is no joke, and no one should have to live through 115-degree heat. About halfway back from L.A., the car’s air conditioning broke down. We were stuck in an oven with only ice and soaked towels to keep us cool. It was horrible, but because we were all together, it made it a little more bearable and now is something we can look back on and laugh about. Throughout the play, we get to see how no family is perfect but we have to be grateful for what we have because our time with them is short.
Tim Tran*
In Our Town, time is a concept that is shown in a scale that we don’t experience in our normal lives. Time is seen on a much broader scale, showing how short our lives actually are. Everything flies by, and by the end of it, you realize it’s all over. There is a lot of talk in the first act of the distant future and what people then will know about the present.
Alexa Twibell*
As graduation inches closer, I want to reflect on how grateful I am for my family and their unconditional love and support. Some of my happiest memories have been trips with them or a game night at our house. My parents have made me who I am today and I couldn’t have asked for greater mentors than them. I look forward to all the future has in store, but am so thankful for the family I know I can always come home to.
Ben Weinstock*
Time is a double-edged sword. Time can be great for letting you know that you need to live your life to the fullest. It’s pushy - it lets you know when you need to start enjoying life, but leaves you undisturbed when you are enjoying life. Time is also a bird. It is beautiful, but it flies away quickly, making you wish to see it again and enjoy it just a little bit more. I cherish time; I fear time. Most importantly, though, I waste time.
Joshua Zakaras*
One of the central themes of Our Town is appreciating what we have. If we keep thinking about what we want to have, we won’t ever be happy. I think this is one of the reasons most of America is unhappy. Other countries are so happy, and yet, they have less. This is because of the culture in America. We compare ourselves to others, and we don’t realize what we have is great. Some countries don’t have clean water or food, and we take that for granted. We should be happy with what we have.
* Denotes Membership in the International Thespian Society and the HYSA Thespian Society
Silent Sky (2019)
The Cast & Crew
Henrietta Leavitt — Carly Cairns*
Peter Shaw — Mattew Syms*
Margaret Leavitt — Emily Tenaglia*
Annie Cannon — Gia DeYoung*
Williamina Fleming — Angelina Tran*
Danika Bussey* - Natalie Carlson* - Sophia Hatsell*
Ethan Miller* - Laird Oliver*
Carly Cairns* - Robert Dykes*
Sidney Asbury*- Mattie Dyer* - Royce Russell* - Joseph Norman*
Adam Spangler* -Tessa Sharp *- Joshua Zakarus* - Ben Weinstock* Alexandria Finnie*- Gigi Ruiz*- Alexa Twibell*
* Denotes membership in the International Thespian Society.
Henrietta Leavitt — Carly Cairns*
Peter Shaw — Mattew Syms*
Margaret Leavitt — Emily Tenaglia*
Annie Cannon — Gia DeYoung*
Williamina Fleming — Angelina Tran*
Danika Bussey* - Natalie Carlson* - Sophia Hatsell*
Ethan Miller* - Laird Oliver*
Carly Cairns* - Robert Dykes*
Sidney Asbury*- Mattie Dyer* - Royce Russell* - Joseph Norman*
Adam Spangler* -Tessa Sharp *- Joshua Zakarus* - Ben Weinstock* Alexandria Finnie*- Gigi Ruiz*- Alexa Twibell*
* Denotes membership in the International Thespian Society.
Student Producer's Reflection
My A-level path has allowed for a quite broad variety of coursework: intersecting mathematics, social and life sciences; as well as pursuits in theater arts. I was able to extend this multi-disciplined experience to my Honors Theater Practicum, in which I was thrilled to both and produce and perform on stage Laura Gunderson’s "Silent Sky": the biographical story of Henrietta Leavitt; intersecting scientific discovery, feminist movement landmarks, faith, and family. - Carly Cairns |
Director 's Notes
“I found Henrietta’s story by chance while perusing the stalls of used books in New York. There isn’t that much known of her, but what is known is that in 1912 this unassuming but meticulous and curious woman gave the flagging field of astronomy the ingredient it needed to leap into the future. Without her finding a pattern in Cepheid stars, great astronomers like Shapley and Hubble wouldn’t have shown us how huge and fast-moving our universe is. I went to Cambridge to visit Henrietta before the premiere of the play in 2011 and got to see her handwritten notes, the glass photographic plates she used, and her grave. This is going to sound crazy, but I stood there at her grave and said, ‘Thank you for letting me borrow your story. I promise I’ll take care of it.’" These are the words of the author of “Silent Sky”. Lauren Gunderson, dubbed by American Theatre magazine as “the most-produced living playwright”. Though Gunderson’s discovery of Henrietta Leavitt was by chance, her play is not. It is a beautifully crafted piece which offers audiences a wonderful blend of science, history, and family. Set against the backdrop of the cosmos, “Silent Sky” is a quiet thank you to all the dedicated women who have come before us.
-- Sabrina Switzer-Wareing
“I found Henrietta’s story by chance while perusing the stalls of used books in New York. There isn’t that much known of her, but what is known is that in 1912 this unassuming but meticulous and curious woman gave the flagging field of astronomy the ingredient it needed to leap into the future. Without her finding a pattern in Cepheid stars, great astronomers like Shapley and Hubble wouldn’t have shown us how huge and fast-moving our universe is. I went to Cambridge to visit Henrietta before the premiere of the play in 2011 and got to see her handwritten notes, the glass photographic plates she used, and her grave. This is going to sound crazy, but I stood there at her grave and said, ‘Thank you for letting me borrow your story. I promise I’ll take care of it.’" These are the words of the author of “Silent Sky”. Lauren Gunderson, dubbed by American Theatre magazine as “the most-produced living playwright”. Though Gunderson’s discovery of Henrietta Leavitt was by chance, her play is not. It is a beautifully crafted piece which offers audiences a wonderful blend of science, history, and family. Set against the backdrop of the cosmos, “Silent Sky” is a quiet thank you to all the dedicated women who have come before us.
-- Sabrina Switzer-Wareing
The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe (2018)
The play is set in England
during the World War Two Blitz and
in the land of C.S. Lewis’ Narnia.
In this production the elements of World War Two provide a backdrop to the medieval landscape of Narnia. Aviators are beavers. Government officials are unicorns and centaurs and the enemy is a White Witch garbed in the illusion of goodness.
during the World War Two Blitz and
in the land of C.S. Lewis’ Narnia.
In this production the elements of World War Two provide a backdrop to the medieval landscape of Narnia. Aviators are beavers. Government officials are unicorns and centaurs and the enemy is a White Witch garbed in the illusion of goodness.
The Company
Danika Bussey* Noah Burton* Alexa Finnie* Laird Oliver* Tessa Sharp* Carter Kim* Annika Sarma* Keena Hatsell* Sean Sadeghi* Anthony Young* Shani Spector* Mischa Norton* Aydan Wong* Clara Marques de Mesquita Anthony Young* Gabe Johnston* Beatrice Allen* Adam Spangler* Robert Dykes* Royce Russell* Joseph Norman* |
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Director's Notes
Central to “The Lion, the Witch and Wardrobe” is the story of four children faced with the unimaginable – a world at war. Their journey is one wherein the imagination tempers evil so that one may meet it by awakening personal fortitude, mustering courage, facing mortality, and finally embracing forgiveness. Their transformation mirrors that of a soldier at wartime. Such a moment is not the norm for most. Narnia is a galvanizing moment for each of them to find victory. They are no longer powerless children sent to the country. Each is a future king or queen of Narnia capable of acting with wisdom and strength. - Sabrina Switzer-Wareing
Central to “The Lion, the Witch and Wardrobe” is the story of four children faced with the unimaginable – a world at war. Their journey is one wherein the imagination tempers evil so that one may meet it by awakening personal fortitude, mustering courage, facing mortality, and finally embracing forgiveness. Their transformation mirrors that of a soldier at wartime. Such a moment is not the norm for most. Narnia is a galvanizing moment for each of them to find victory. They are no longer powerless children sent to the country. Each is a future king or queen of Narnia capable of acting with wisdom and strength. - Sabrina Switzer-Wareing
Student Reflections
"There are many lessons the audience can learn from the LWW, one of which I feel is forgiveness. If Edmund had not been forgiven by everyone, the story would have a very different ending and the children would not have become rulers of Narnia. This may have led them to not be able to conquer their fears in the real world." - Beatrice "The audience might come away with many emotions, similar, I believe, to those of having won a war. A war that they had not fought in. A war that didn’t touch them. A sense of victory, of pride. But, there is something inside them that might have stirred. When they carried the queen off. The slightest twinge of pity. Not for the queen, but for those who thought that she loved them." - Tessa |
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"People need strong good leaders and strong good people.
Also, to never forget those who served and that people before us were forced to grow up because they had to become their own king or queen no matter what they had gone through they had to make the most of their life. . . just like Randy Pausch. He decided to tell his story and be brave and to make himself a king that would not be forgotten." - Anthony
"My experience helped me realize that theater can really help you
with your real life issues and problems." - Gabe
"The audience should learn the feeling of wonder but at the same time the feeling of growing up. Looks can be deceiving and most beautiful things are sometimes the deadliest. There are many interpretations of things and each thing has two sides. Snowflakes are pretty but very cold to the touch. A lion can spend a lifetime alone and suffer just a human would. The entire concept of the greater good can be shown just in the battle scene. There are also things like warmth in trust and coldness in betrayal." - Adam
"When we performed in front of people we invited, and in front of the 2nd and 3rd graders at Sunburst,
we were focusing on our characters, but in front of the school it was hard to focus on acting because I was paying attention to the audience's reaction more. You need to be part of the story to make a production interesting. I also found out about how there is so much symbolism hidden in plays. There were lots of little details in our production that meant something important, that if you were observant enough, you may notice." - Annika S.
"My personal experience with LWW was amazing. I loved how everybody worked together and gave suggestions
to try and make a scene or part better. Also, it was very fun to work with everyone and to all come together to make it better in just the last week of production. I also took away from being Peter at how important it is to invest everything and really try to feel like you are there. Lastly, I think that Peter started out as a boy who was very traditional and followed rules,
but once he goes through the wardrobe he transforms into a strong person who has the confidence to do
whatever it takes to help his friends and family." - Laird
"We worked hard to make the emotion real and to make the audience feel and believe it. There are a few things that I learned from running and rehearsing LWW, as well as from the play itself. Something I learned about theater is that if you don't have the emotion, if you don't feel what your character is feeling, then the audience won't believe the act and it won't seem real. Another thing that I learned is that you have to create the setting, whether you have it physically or not." - Noah
"I have never experienced such a play as LWW. I have been in theatre since I was about 4-5 years old, so I have experience in this subject; Every play I've done has been mainly the same drill. LWW, however, required me to think deeply about the play and give my unique perspectives on what different elements of the play symbolizes. Such a moment is in the opening, when Susan (myself) shouts, "Since Mother and Father!!!... Aren't....here." This moment shows how Susan, a young girl taken away from her parents and forced into the role of an adult, still is a young girl inside, wishing for her parents to come home. Another such moment is after the battle, when all of the siblings shout "Victory!.... Victory." This shows how they are glad and prideful of winning, bur realize what they have done, what lives they have cost, and whisper a shocked, sad "Victory." to end the battle; The moment reminds them of World War II, after bombs had fell on Germany, whispering a nearly silent victory after the long waged, life-costing war. I had never done this before, and it was a very unique experience
that showed me how to look deeper into a performance." - Alexa F.
Also, to never forget those who served and that people before us were forced to grow up because they had to become their own king or queen no matter what they had gone through they had to make the most of their life. . . just like Randy Pausch. He decided to tell his story and be brave and to make himself a king that would not be forgotten." - Anthony
"My experience helped me realize that theater can really help you
with your real life issues and problems." - Gabe
"The audience should learn the feeling of wonder but at the same time the feeling of growing up. Looks can be deceiving and most beautiful things are sometimes the deadliest. There are many interpretations of things and each thing has two sides. Snowflakes are pretty but very cold to the touch. A lion can spend a lifetime alone and suffer just a human would. The entire concept of the greater good can be shown just in the battle scene. There are also things like warmth in trust and coldness in betrayal." - Adam
"When we performed in front of people we invited, and in front of the 2nd and 3rd graders at Sunburst,
we were focusing on our characters, but in front of the school it was hard to focus on acting because I was paying attention to the audience's reaction more. You need to be part of the story to make a production interesting. I also found out about how there is so much symbolism hidden in plays. There were lots of little details in our production that meant something important, that if you were observant enough, you may notice." - Annika S.
"My personal experience with LWW was amazing. I loved how everybody worked together and gave suggestions
to try and make a scene or part better. Also, it was very fun to work with everyone and to all come together to make it better in just the last week of production. I also took away from being Peter at how important it is to invest everything and really try to feel like you are there. Lastly, I think that Peter started out as a boy who was very traditional and followed rules,
but once he goes through the wardrobe he transforms into a strong person who has the confidence to do
whatever it takes to help his friends and family." - Laird
"We worked hard to make the emotion real and to make the audience feel and believe it. There are a few things that I learned from running and rehearsing LWW, as well as from the play itself. Something I learned about theater is that if you don't have the emotion, if you don't feel what your character is feeling, then the audience won't believe the act and it won't seem real. Another thing that I learned is that you have to create the setting, whether you have it physically or not." - Noah
"I have never experienced such a play as LWW. I have been in theatre since I was about 4-5 years old, so I have experience in this subject; Every play I've done has been mainly the same drill. LWW, however, required me to think deeply about the play and give my unique perspectives on what different elements of the play symbolizes. Such a moment is in the opening, when Susan (myself) shouts, "Since Mother and Father!!!... Aren't....here." This moment shows how Susan, a young girl taken away from her parents and forced into the role of an adult, still is a young girl inside, wishing for her parents to come home. Another such moment is after the battle, when all of the siblings shout "Victory!.... Victory." This shows how they are glad and prideful of winning, bur realize what they have done, what lives they have cost, and whisper a shocked, sad "Victory." to end the battle; The moment reminds them of World War II, after bombs had fell on Germany, whispering a nearly silent victory after the long waged, life-costing war. I had never done this before, and it was a very unique experience
that showed me how to look deeper into a performance." - Alexa F.
"After watching the LWW, an audience should walk away from the stage still in the world that C.S. Lewis has created, wanting to know more and more, like, "Wow that play was awesome. I wonder how they created that effect of Narnia.
Those actors were really into it! So many lines...I loved the fog, the tapestries...the wardrobe itself..." - Aydan
"I really had a good time with the play and I enjoyed doing another show. I learned a lot about blocking and spatial awareness." - Carter
"I learned a lot about London during the time of the bombings. We learned more about legacies and what they really are.
I also learned that memorizing lines isn't as hard as it used to be." - Keena
"The spiders on the queens dress actually meant something and wasn't just a design choice. It's kind of like Girl Scout patches. Each spider was for some sort of achievement." - Clara
"It was really fun to perform in front of family, friends, and even those second graders. I can still hear that thank you that they all said. I would definitely perform in it again if I had the chance." - Sean
"Narnia and its adventures was the author’s way of saying that you can accomplish things that you never thought possible. The meaning of becoming a king or queen of Narnia is to overcome your challenges and be a better person. Similar to
"The Last Lecture", where a man already knows that he's going to die in the next few months, but it doesn't stop him.
He told his story and impacted millions." - Sage
"If the audience watches what they think is a good play/musical, it will leave a lasting imprint of joy or sadness on them.
If the play is like LWW, it will leave you believing every wardrobe is the path to Narnia." - Mischa
Those actors were really into it! So many lines...I loved the fog, the tapestries...the wardrobe itself..." - Aydan
"I really had a good time with the play and I enjoyed doing another show. I learned a lot about blocking and spatial awareness." - Carter
"I learned a lot about London during the time of the bombings. We learned more about legacies and what they really are.
I also learned that memorizing lines isn't as hard as it used to be." - Keena
"The spiders on the queens dress actually meant something and wasn't just a design choice. It's kind of like Girl Scout patches. Each spider was for some sort of achievement." - Clara
"It was really fun to perform in front of family, friends, and even those second graders. I can still hear that thank you that they all said. I would definitely perform in it again if I had the chance." - Sean
"Narnia and its adventures was the author’s way of saying that you can accomplish things that you never thought possible. The meaning of becoming a king or queen of Narnia is to overcome your challenges and be a better person. Similar to
"The Last Lecture", where a man already knows that he's going to die in the next few months, but it doesn't stop him.
He told his story and impacted millions." - Sage
"If the audience watches what they think is a good play/musical, it will leave a lasting imprint of joy or sadness on them.
If the play is like LWW, it will leave you believing every wardrobe is the path to Narnia." - Mischa
The Production Team
Producer & Director Sabrina Switzer-Wareing* Technical Director Robert Dykes* Set Construction TD Joseph Norman* Stage Manager/AD Sage Schaffer* Assistant Directors Danika Bussey* - Tessa Sharp* Light Board Adam Spangler* Spotlight Joseph Norman* Set Artists Natalie Carlson*- Claudia Kowalsk Sage Schaffer*- Annika Sarma* Mattie Dyer* - William Ruff* Shani Spector* - Don Nguyen* Snowflake Artists Riley Lawrence*- Katelyn John* Molly Kuhler* -Kunal Sharma* Sophia Hatsell* - William Ruff* Sidney Ashby* - Mattie Dyer* Prop Artists William Ruff* - Sidney Ashby* Drew Kolber* - Becca Norton Robert Dykes* Smoke Tech Beatrice Allen*- Gabe Johnston* Sound Royce Russell* SFX Mix Artist Keena Hatsell* Makeup Mattie Dyer* - Gigi Ruiz* Jane Tran* - Carly Cairns* Riley Lawrence* Lobby Display Cartier Del Castillo* Turkish Delight Chef Beatrice Allen* House Manager Alexa Twibell* Assistant House Mgr. Sophia Hatsell* Program Sketch Molly Kuhler* *Denotes Membership in the International Thespian Society and the HYSA Thespian Society – an AZ Thespian Honor Troupe |
Story Staples . . . an Evening of Personal Monologues (2018)
Director’s Notes . . . the “Staples”
Embracing that which we are . . .
The art of kintsugi is wherein cracked pottery is filled with gold dusted lacquer
as a way to showcase the beauty of its age and loss rather than hiding it.
Wabi-sabi suggests an understanding, appreciation, and the embracing of one’s life as a whole.
Embracing that which we are . . .
The art of kintsugi is wherein cracked pottery is filled with gold dusted lacquer
as a way to showcase the beauty of its age and loss rather than hiding it.
Wabi-sabi suggests an understanding, appreciation, and the embracing of one’s life as a whole.
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The Production Crew
Producer & Director Sabrina Switzer-Wareing Technical Director Robert Dykes* Audio Royce Russell* Tech Crew Joshua Zakaras* Tim Tran* Spotlight Robert Dykes* Assistant House Tal Spector* Program S. Switzer-Wareing* * Denotes Membership in the International Thespian Society |
Comedy Hour (2018)
Director's Notes |
Humans like to laugh. Laughter is about relationships. We bond in our shared laughter. It has the power to energize, heal, or destroy us. Over the last six years the pendulum regarding the social impact of comedy has swung into the zone of “a force for good and change.” Respected academics endorse comedy coursework as a practical cornerstone for disciplines unrelated to the arts. As viewpoints on comedy evolves, so does the conversation. The number of highly successful comedians with disabilities continues to grow each year. Comic workshops are offered as part of effective world-wide drama therapy programs. All of this supports the long-held belief (those Greeks ;D) that as a society we need laughter to have a healthy existence and most importantly we should use it to unite us in a positive voice as opposed to using it as an instrument of division. -- Sabrina Switzer-Wareing
The Entertainers
Harold Branch* Yasha Broderick** Mackenzie Brooks Carly Cairns** Matthew Coggins* Cartier Del Castillo* Gia DeYoung* Robert Dykes* Annika Erickson** Pierre-Louis Hamel James Logan* Joseph Norman** Royce Russell** Tal Spector* Meredith Syms* Evan Ta Angelina Tran* Jane Tran* Jack Vicain* Beckham Vogel* |
The Production Team
Producer & Director S. Switzer-Wareing* Sketch Stage Managers ALL Class Members Lighting – Spotlight Joseph Norman** Projector Pierre-Louis Hamel Lighting – Board Harold Branch* Pierre-Louis Hamel Lighting - Crew Robert Dykes* Sound Royce Russell** Program Artwork Spencer Wareing* Box Office & House Ben Weinstock** Matthew Syms** Ushers Victoria Tran* Shani Spector* |
* Denotes Membership in the International Thespian Society
** Denotes Executive Board Member HYSA Thespian Society |
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"Commedia was represented in the "Comedy Hour" through the physical aspects and costumes. Commedia actors wore extravagant costumes. In the "Comedy Hour" Beckham wore a cockroach costume and James wore an apron in order to better involve the aspects of comedy. Commedia also used physical comedy to keep the audience entertained. Jane shoving the cream pie into Tal’s face, Matthew and Robert hitting Carly with lettuce, and Jane hitting Joseph with a club were all examples of physical comedy." -- Mackenzie
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"The purpose of staging the “Comedy Hour” was to expose the performers to a new form of theatre and to give the performers the experience of working through the difficulties that comedy presents. Through the process of rehearsal and performance, the performers were able to experience the different style of acting that comedy requires. Additionally, the actors were required to work through numerous challenges, as comedy is a highly demanding form of theatre and requires a different sort of presence in order to be successful. The production of the “Comedy Hour” also illustrated to the students that true comedy requires a level of detail and specificity magnitudes greater than is visible on the surface. Hosting the “Comedy Hour” also showed those involved that, although they were inexperienced in the art, it was possible to put on a successful comedy performance despite the struggles it presented." -- Joseph
"The three times rule is important because too much of a joke losses its flicker of comedy. It’s not that once something is said three times, it is never funny again, but it has to be incorporated in an unsuspecting or witty way, to retain the flare of the comedy within the piece." -- Yasha
"The three times rule is important because too much of a joke losses its flicker of comedy. It’s not that once something is said three times, it is never funny again, but it has to be incorporated in an unsuspecting or witty way, to retain the flare of the comedy within the piece." -- Yasha
""Commedia is represented in the "Comedy Hour" in many ways. For example, in the Mother-Son sketch, James was the Magnifico in the scene although it had kind of a modern twist in the way that he wasn’t ordering me around specifically, but he was telling me what to do in a guilt trip motherly type of way." -- Tal
"The "Comedy Hour" utilized many elements of Commedia. For instance, physicality had a large place in the scenes. To be more specific, during the baseball scene, the two characters would walk around in a circle after they blew up at one another. This drew the eye to the characters if you had somehow managed to space out). Arguably, it could also represent how they are “walking in circles” around each other..." -- Annika
"The driver in the driving school sketch shows Zanni, the servant, typically wishing to appease but failing. Zanni has brings us to laughter as we see their faults." -- Gia
“There were five sketches in the “Comedy Hour” - Baseball, Funeral, Robbery, Mother and Son, and Learn to Drive. Each of the sketches had some examples of commedia. Most of the sketches used physical comedy. In the robbery scene, when Cartier jumped into Royce’s arm ended the scene with a final laugh. In Learn to Drive, whenever the driver made a sudden stop they leaned back to show the exaggerated movement of the car. In the Baseball and Funeral sketch the rule of three was used. In the baseball scene, Abbott had a pattern of saying the names three times. And in the Funeral scene, every time Yasha mentioned a new item he would mention three prices. In the Mother and Son scene, verbal comedy was used. James, the mother, changed his voice when talking as different characters such as the doctor and the father. “Comedy Hour” used many types of commedia and commedia characters. For example when a person is hit with a slapstick. The person with the slapstick represents a famous commedia character called Brighella. She is often equipped with a slapstick, wooden sword, or some sort of stick weapon. Brighella is considered a Zanni, a servant or follower. “– Jane
"I think that Commedia del Arte has a bigger impact on society and politics then people think. Certain comedy scenes show people ideas they may not have seen or thought about before, and some comedy scenes can highlight how important, or unimportant, some things can be. It can show information presented in a way that might be easier for some people to understand." -- Royce
"The "Comedy Hour" utilized many elements of Commedia. For instance, physicality had a large place in the scenes. To be more specific, during the baseball scene, the two characters would walk around in a circle after they blew up at one another. This drew the eye to the characters if you had somehow managed to space out). Arguably, it could also represent how they are “walking in circles” around each other..." -- Annika
"The driver in the driving school sketch shows Zanni, the servant, typically wishing to appease but failing. Zanni has brings us to laughter as we see their faults." -- Gia
“There were five sketches in the “Comedy Hour” - Baseball, Funeral, Robbery, Mother and Son, and Learn to Drive. Each of the sketches had some examples of commedia. Most of the sketches used physical comedy. In the robbery scene, when Cartier jumped into Royce’s arm ended the scene with a final laugh. In Learn to Drive, whenever the driver made a sudden stop they leaned back to show the exaggerated movement of the car. In the Baseball and Funeral sketch the rule of three was used. In the baseball scene, Abbott had a pattern of saying the names three times. And in the Funeral scene, every time Yasha mentioned a new item he would mention three prices. In the Mother and Son scene, verbal comedy was used. James, the mother, changed his voice when talking as different characters such as the doctor and the father. “Comedy Hour” used many types of commedia and commedia characters. For example when a person is hit with a slapstick. The person with the slapstick represents a famous commedia character called Brighella. She is often equipped with a slapstick, wooden sword, or some sort of stick weapon. Brighella is considered a Zanni, a servant or follower. “– Jane
"I think that Commedia del Arte has a bigger impact on society and politics then people think. Certain comedy scenes show people ideas they may not have seen or thought about before, and some comedy scenes can highlight how important, or unimportant, some things can be. It can show information presented in a way that might be easier for some people to understand." -- Royce
Director's Notes
While we collectively watch theatre our heart beats and we breathe at the same rate . . . we listen as one. Arthur Miller wrote about “The Crucible”, "I suppose, that the play reaffirms the ultimate power of courage and clarity of mind whose ultimate fruit is liberty." "Page to Stage" is a diverse group of dramatic works that have opened the door for society to a deeper awareness of courage, mind, and liberty. As both audience and actor, we identify and thus embrace broader views and understanding by sharing such works. -- Sabrina Switzer-Wareing |
PAGE TO STAGE
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Produced & Directed by S. Switzer-Wareing**
Adaptation & Transitions S. Switzer-Wareing** “River Song” by Yasha Broderick* Musicians Robert Dykes* Cartier Del Castillo* Yasha Broderick* Harold Branch* Royce Russell** Vocalists Carly Cairns** Yasha Broderick* Artwork Artist Mavettt Medrano |
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"Through consideration of different opinions and perspectives, public dialogue causes the development of thought and perception that is necessary for societal change. Theatre provides a place where individuals can create microcosms of society within plays that stimulate thought and consideration about controversial topics in those that see them. In the play "Antigone," by Jean Anouilh, the chorus states, “she will burst forth as the, willful girl, who is about to rise up and face the whole world alone…” Through theatre, we realize that we are not alone in our plight, and that others share our thoughts and may feel just as alone as we do." - Joseph Norman
"Theater can be a way for people to communicate and speak their mind. Theater is a form of expression and story that can be literal or metaphorical. Theater itself is power, a power that is accessible to all, and one that can bring change. Theater can cause change and help. The power brought by theater isn’t just one to bring change, it is a power to help people find release. Theater can bring attention to things and it can also help people release from the prison brought on by those with power. Even when theater is bringing attention to something truly horrible it can still be a release. Theater is change on its own. It helps people cope and learn about the world." - Jack Vicain
"Theater is a place where people can escape and show emotion. Many people look to theatre to have feelings and have a safe place to express those feelings. By allowing events to be reflected through theatre people understand history and past events. The "Page to Stage" World War II piece allows people to understand certain tragedies of the war. Spreading these events through theatre gives people a way to make a change." - Meredith Syms
"Theatre may seem as only a small chip on the shoulder of global issues, but in reality, it make a great difference." - Carly Cairns |
*The Actors
Teddy K. Winkle William Bailly* Jerry T. Jackson Andrew Berles Willie Norman Evan Bramer* June Gillette Andrea Ciotinga* Edward Fitz Deacon John Demery Betty La Rue Sophia Hatsell * Patsy Peters Drew Kolber* Patty Joan Teller Molly Kuhler* Barbie Rose Riley Lawrence* Bernard “Bernie” Thomas Don Nguyen* Raymond “Ray” Dale Sean Sadeghi* Freddie Russell Kunal Sharma Vinnie D. Curtis Adam Spangler* Dottie Walters Emily Vasko* Matt Parker Carlin Washburn* Harvey T. Herman Anthony Young Jr.* Chester “Diz” Allen Joshua Zakaras* * Denotes Membership in the International Thespian Society |
H-Y-S-A
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The production was an original "show within a show." Audiences got a glimpse at a small 1940 radio station as it broadcasted its evening line-up - complete with vintage Foley-style sound effects and commercial breaks.
Providing the backbone of the original script were student written commercials. The commercials were created in the style of Golden Age spots and advertised products specific to the era.
Iconic radio genres were also parodied with original shows such as the soap opera, “Misery Can’t Wait" and the detective series, “The Adventures of Johnny Martin, Private Eye.”
Providing the backbone of the original script were student written commercials. The commercials were created in the style of Golden Age spots and advertised products specific to the era.
Iconic radio genres were also parodied with original shows such as the soap opera, “Misery Can’t Wait" and the detective series, “The Adventures of Johnny Martin, Private Eye.”
By 1940 radio had become a part of every American home. It was a nightly tradition to gather as a family around "the wireless" and enjoy "theatre of the mind." At a time when the world was on the brink of World War II, radio was the how people received the news.
Snapshot (2017) |
Produced & Directed by Sabrina Switzer-Wareing*
Music and Lyrics by Josui Maruno* Libretto by Sabrina Switzer-Wareing* |
One’s journey is often defined by small, ordinary moments that enable us to risk, to strive, and finally, to achieve something unique. This memory musical shares a "snapshot"
of graduating seniors reflecting on their final year.
of graduating seniors reflecting on their final year.
The Songs
Pretty View Silly things Lost Myself New Days In the Sky What If Pretty View - The Finale The Soliloquies “Welcome” “Class Notes” Soliloquy “The Musician’” Soliloquy “What to Wear” Soliloquies “Always Home” Soliloquy “Mom’s Bag” Soliloquy “Never Cared to Fail” Soliloquy “Blue Tennis Shoes” Soliloquy “New Friends” Soliloquy |
Music Link
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The Band
Josui Maruno* Yasha Broderick* Seth Gibson* |
The Crew
Choreography by Isabel Greenberg* Vocal Arrangements by Yasha Broderick* Orchestration by Seth Gibson* Lighting by Karaline Petty* & Megan Johnson* |
"While “Snapshot” was a really positive experience, all the graduates knew it would be our last main stage performance. All of a sudden, it all felt very real. For me, I didn’t ever fully realize what graduating really meant. When my class was talking about graduating, or applying to college, or when I got all of the emails about graduation, or even taking our senior photos in our caps and gowns it wasn't real. It wasn’t until the cast was standing in graduation gowns and practicing soliloquies one last time that I realized how different life was going to be without being with the Herberger students every day. It was in that moment that I truly thought about how I was actually leaving Herberger forever."
-- Jessica Gibson
-- Jessica Gibson
* Denotes Membership in the International Thespian Society
The Cast & Crew |
Written by Sabrina Switzer-Wareing
Produced & Directed by Sabrina Switzer-Wareing Original Musical Score by Seth Gibson |
Madison Kuhler *
Angela McChesney * Meredith Kuhler * Isabel Greenberg * Liv Johnson * Gigi Ruiz * Alexa Twibell * Tim Tran * Matthew Syms * Seth Gibson * Jessica Gibson * Megan Johnson * Joseph Norman |
Original Musical Score Audio Link |
Blending the Bard (2016) |
Directed and Adapted by Sabrina Switzer-Wareing
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The Acting Ensemble
Harold Branch* Yasha Broderick* John Demery Robert Dykes* Drew Kolber* Riley Lawrence* Don Nguyen Royce Russell* Liam Ryan Kunal Sharma Tal Spector Evan Ta Caden Thruston Jack Vicain* Beckham Vogal Lia Wight* The Scenes Prologue Music Love War Comedy Finale * Denotes Membership in the International Thespian Society |
During Shakespeare's time, theater companies' would perform two or three different plays a day. Thus, actors boasted an extensive repertoire of characters they could present at will. This was especially useful when outbreaks of the plague would close performing houses sending the players "on the road." These traveling troupes would create makeshift theaters within each township. Then, with no set pieces, a few props, and assorted odd garments to suggest their characters; they would present Shakespeare’s plays for the welcoming townspeople.
Imagine yourself in such a place -- in a time where Shakespeare's 500 idioms are brand new to the English language. It is the Elizabethan Era, and one of the greatest dramatists is creating history through the brilliance of his observations and words. Now, return to the present, open your eyes, and watch the young student actors who are empowered by presenting the multiple and eternal complexities of the Bard. -- Director's Notes In addition to being a main stage production, "Blending the Bard" was also a service learning opportunity. Service learning outreach shows are an opportunity to learn and explore theatre while contributing and serving the community. |
Almost Maine (2016) |
Directed by Sabrina Switzer-Wareing Original Musical Score by Seth Gibson |
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""The sentimental person thinks things will last --
the romantic person has a desperate confidence that they won’t.” -- F. Scott Fitzgerald Director’s Notes Have you ever walked on ice? Each step must be chosen with great care. Keeping one’s balance is often quite a challenge. Yet if one successfully slides across a patch of ice, the exhilaration is incredible. Ice walking is a little like love - or at least it is to the characters who reside in "Almost, Maine." For them love is everything. It is awkward, painful, exciting, absurd, and – oh so incredibly - glorious on this slightly magical midwinter’s night. |
The Cast and Crew
Student Reflection
"Almost Maine" was a great choice for this class to perform because it enabled each of us to become familiar with our roles and fully develop them, thanks to the short scene format. The show's main themes of duality of love and heartbreak through a dramatic and comedic lenses were perfect for us. The play's inhabitants grappled with love's complications, and expressed real moments using fantasy elements. As an actor, I was able to enjoy the excitement and anticipation a full-production presents, while having the opportunity to fully delve into my characters, which I usually get from small-scale performances. Each scene had a complete idea expressed, and the endings provided meaning to their stories. Therefore, the endings were pivotal in revealing the truth of the scene, whether it be a tragic twist in Story of Hope and Where it Went, a fairytale-esque ending seen in Sad and Glad and Getting it Back, or plain hilarity in Her Heart and Seeing the Thing; these endings all express the fundamental themes in "Almost, Maine". - Madison Kuhler
The 1937 Radio Broadcast & You Can't Take it With You (2016)
Produced & Directed by Sabrina Switzer-Wareing
Musical Composer of the songs Home” & I Wonder Josui Maruno
Musical Composer of the songs Home” & I Wonder Josui Maruno
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Director’s Notes
You Can’t Take It With You speaks to the importance of appreciating and exploring one’s passions. Whether one dabbles or excels is irrelevant in the Vanderhof household. There is no judgment. There is no failure. Class, age, or gender do not define a person or one’s aptitudes. One is limited only by one’s willingness to try. According to Grandpa Vanderhof, what is essential to having a fully realized life is an open mind or -- in contemporary terms -- a growth mindset. Hart and Kauffman’s perennial play is a cautionary, comedic reminder that unused opportunities can’t be taken with you and that we need to always remember individualism can indeed flourish within a supportive crowd. |
The Cast & Crew
Jason Amoako-Agyei*
Hi my name is Jason and I'm 13 years old! I'm currently in the STEM class with Mrs Toupin.This is my second year of drama with Mrs. Wareing. I also enjoy soccer and Shakespeare. Noah Anderson My main personality trait is that I like to have fun (preferably with others). However, I also love to sit on my computer all day. I'm pretty open to taking a role and becoming a different person, but I'd prefer to stay as the comic relief in life. I try to live life to the fullest, and life in the present! Jason Audet* I play the role of Wilburn Henderson and an IRS agent. I was born in Tomsk, Russia and was adopted there on July 4, 2003. I was homeschooled for most of my life, except for Kindergarten, 3rd grade, 4th grade, 6th grade, 7th grade and half of 8th grade. I moved to Granby, CT in August of 2015, but we are moving back hopefully before the start of next year. Kenna Bastyns* I'm a 12 year old student in the STEM class at the Herberger. I moved to Phoenix from Atlanta, GA about 3 and a half years ago. In my spare time, I enjoy riding horses. When I'm not at the barn, I'm usually at home watching math and brain teaser videos. Talia DeBrigida* I am a 13-year old, 4th year student in the Humanities program here at the Academy. This is my second semester in the performance aspect of Mrs. Wareing’s drama class. I am competitive in Dressage and competed at the State and Regional competitions last fall. Other than riding and horses, I enjoy working with Special Needs children and I volunteer at two different organizations. Jessica Gibson* I am a 14-year-old IGCSE drama student, who has been in the Herberger drama program for two years. I enjoy spending my extra time pursuing my interest in Toushi Kan, in which I am a black belt. Music has had a huge impact on me since the very early years of my life. I hope that I can continue my interests in music and musical theatre in my college years and my career. Isabel Greenberg* I am a 15-year old student in my Humanities year, and will be graduating in the year 2017. I have been pursuing drama since 1st grade, and have been writing both narratives and poetry ever since. My hobbies include piano, dance, as well as learning languages. Although I am still unsure of what's to come, I hope to attend ASU in the near-future. Keaten Wood* I am a math enthusiast who is finishing calc III. I love to program. Computer physics and computer engineering have been my other interests for a long while. In my other free time, I love playing games on my computer with my friends. Hannah Grace Hopke* I play Mrs. Kirby! I’ll be 14 at the end of the school year, around the time I'll be finishing up my STEM year. I'm an Ohio native but I've been living here in the desert for about 5 years, and I'm a singer, avid indoors woman, and (secretly) a poet. Olivia (Liv) Johnson* I moved to Arizona from Minnesota last December. I am in my STEM year with Mrs. Toupin, and am fourteen years old. I am new to theater, as this is my first year. I also enjoy horseback riding, reading, and spending time with friends, both from Arizona and Minnesota. Sophia Kimble* I am 13 years old and I am in the STEM class. I currently play club volleyball for Revolution and run cross-country and track. This is my second year doing drama with Mrs Wareing. Meredith Kuhler* I am 14 years old, have been in the HYSA Thespian Society for 2 years, and have so far taken part in 5 productions with Mrs. Wareing. Besides theater I enjoy spending time with my siblings and in the outdoors. My favorite subjects in school are drama and science. I love theater because it is fun to take a step back from the real world and go on a journey through a character's life. Josui Maruno* I am 15 years old. I am half Japanese and half English. I grew up in Austria and moved here 2 years ago. I am interested in guitar and music in general. I have been doing drama with Ms. Wareing for 8 months. Ethan Miller* I was born on February 25th, 2004. My current hobbies and interests include reading, reading, and more reading. I hope to live to a ripe old age and visit many different places in books. If one of the various people I know is reading this, then the Apocalypse hasn't happened yet and I am still alive (hopefully), so say hi to me and mention that you read my short biography! Gigi Ruiz* I am 13 years old and am currently in the STEM program. I have been in various drama programs over the past 3 years. I love music and play many instruments including piano, clarinet, and violin. I like to compose music in my free time. Matthew Syms* I am 13 years old in 9th grade and in my STEM year. Some of my hobbies are cello, piano, boy scouts, and I absolutely love to act. I have been in over six musicals, three monologues, and three plays. I am so excited to play Grandpa, and I will never pay my taxes. Emily Tenaglia* I am twelve years old and in the STEM program. I have been participating in theatre at the Herberger Young Scholar's Academy for three years. I enjoy acting, writing, and running. Nguyen (Tim) Tran* I am a 15 year old student in the IGCSE STEM class here at Herberger. I have been doing drama with Mrs. Switzer-Wareing for the past two years and have performed in 2 different outreach plays and one full length production during my time with her. I don't like coffee. I came here from Vietnam when I was 9 years old, I have been working on my English ever since. Victoria Tran* On my free time I enjoy watching anime and talking to friends. A few interesting facts about me is that I play piano, I like to draw, and I like to play outdoor games. My favorite subject in school is science. My least favorite subject is Government. Alexa Twibell* I am 14 years old and am in the STEM program at HYSA. I am a competitive cheerleader and am training for the world championships for cheerleading. I also love researching quantum physics. One of my biggest passions is traveling. Ben Weinstock* I am a 13-year old boy, born and raised in Scottsdale. I have been attending the HYSA for around a year and a half, and my favorite subjects are probably Drama and Government. I LOVE comedic plays, and I actually have been doing improv over the summer for about three years. A very interesting fact about me is that I can solve the Rubik's Cube (consistently) at around 50 seconds - I actually have competed at the state tournament on different teams for the past five years! Ryan Graham Hi, my name is Ryan Graham. I am 14 years old. I like to play football. I am on the HYSA Dodgeball and Cross Country Teams. * Denotes Membership in the International Thespian Society |
Our Town (2014)
Produced & Directed by Sabrina Switzer-Wareing
The Acting Ensemble Eric Slosky*.............................................. Stage Manager Tyera Zweygardt*..................................... Emily Webb Brett Cohen*............................................. George Gibbs Ariana Bustos*.......................................... Julie Hersey Gibbs Joshua Grosso*......................................... Doc Gibbs Chad Bauman*.......................................... Charles Webb Sumaita Mulk*.......................................... Simone Stimson Ethan Grosso*........................................... Joe & Si Crowell Katie Gibson*............................................ Louella Soames Grace Ruiz*............................................... Prof. Willard Angela McChesney*.................................. Howie Newsome Madison Kuhler*....................................... Rebecca Gibbs Annapurna Chitnavis*............................... Wendy Webb Mitchell Dodell........................................ Constable Warren Kalella Gamble*......................................... Sam Craig Javier Urcuyo*........................................... Man in Audience Sam Shapiro* (guest artist)....................... Joe Stoddard JD House *(guest artist)............................ Mr. Carter Alayzha Turner-Rodgers* (guest artist).... Audience Woman Alexander Cieslewicz (guest artist).......... Violinist Haley Ziesemer*......................................... Mrs. Forrest |
Director's notes
"The role of being a Person is sufficient to have lived and died for...” -- Thornton Wilder American classic is the term that often follows Thornton Wilder's Our Town. Many make the assumption that this description is applied because it is performed practically every day of the year in the United States. Due to its minimalist set needs and its good size cast, the majority of high schools and middle schools make sure to include it in the roster of perennial school plays. Yet, it's simplicity is deceptive. It is so much more than a slice of Americana. It is a carefully crafted exploration of the grace of what life is and can be. All its harsh and beautiful memories amount to its innate preciousness. There are no walls onstage because there are no real walls in life. One's imagination and spirit are the only limitations. The time and space between birth and death can be wasted or realized as one's true life. If one is truly present throughout all the tiny significances, the repetition-- w ithin one's life -- can be the peaceful strength to it. With this notion in mind, please turn off your phone, settle into your seat, and share the simple three acts of one's everlasting life. -- S. Switzer-Wareing |
Gallery
Act 1
"We all know that something is eternal. And it ain’t houses and it ain’t names, and it ain’t earth, and it ain’t even the stars . . . everybody knows in their bones that something is eternal, and that something has to do with human beings. All the greatest people ever lived have been telling us that for five thousand years and yet you’d be surprised how people are always losing hold of it. There’s something way down deep that’s eternal about every human being."
Act 2
"I want you to try and remember what it was like to have been very young. And particularly the days when you were first in love; when you were like a person sleepwalking, and you didn’t quite see the street you were in, and didn’t quite hear everything that was said to you. You’re just a little bit crazy. Will you remember that, please?"
Act 3
"Let's really look at one another!... It goes so fast. We don't have time to look at one another. I didn't realize. So all that was going on and we never noticed... Wait! One more look. Good-bye, good-bye world. Good-bye, Grover's Corners... Mama and Papa. Good-bye to clocks ticking... and Mama's sunflowers. And food and coffee. And new ironed dresses and hot baths... and sleeping and waking up. Oh, earth, you are too wonderful for anybody to realize you. Do any human beings ever realize life while they live it - every, every minute?"
"No. Saints and poets maybe... they do some."
"No. Saints and poets maybe... they do some."
Ensemble Family Anecdotes Ariana Bustos . . . Julie Hersey Gibbs
I recall the year my family and I visited my birthplace of New York. However, this memory isn’t really about being in New York, but about the short time before we were about to leave. If I were to define the word procrastination it would be my family. We always do things late and at the last minute. Rarely is anything done in advance. The flight to NYC was no exception. When I was awakened by my parents to go to our flight, it was already late. However, my parents were still packing. We had about twenty minutes to leave for the airport, but toiletries, knick-knacks, and mismatched socks were still strewn about my parents room, I especially remember the panicked thought of "Oh God. We’re gonna be late." I helped my mom pack my brother and sister’s things by throwing them in to a bag and trying to make it look neat. I remember shouting at my dad to take a quicker shower because in my words, "I didn't want to be a dirty bum." Everything was quick and fast. I remember being amazed that we got to the airport on time. I think that Our Town means so much to so many people because of the idea of family. It signifies life, death, love, and marriage. It made people view reality in such a new way. Our Town makes you realize that every moment of life is precious far beyond what we may see from our current perspective. We all tend to sail through life without taking a moment to savor all the little blessings of each day. Reading Our Town, I sometimes wish I could crawl into the script and live in Grover's Corners for just a day or two. It looks so lovely and simple and peaceful and inspiring. Katie Gibson . . . Louella Soames
Every year ever since I can remember, my parents and I have gone back to Ohio for a family reunion. My mom’s side is large, but my Dad’s is just my Uncle and Grandma. We stay with My Grandma on my Dad’s side for about a week, we do things like going to the Ohio zoo and spend time as a family. When you get older it seems that you begin to slow down and really appreciate the little things that you didn’t notice when you were younger and on hyper-drive. My Grandparents and family have taught me that if you slow down to have fun, even just for a day you will remember it and be thankful that you did. Madison Kuhler . . . Rebecca Gibbs
When I first heard that we were doing the play Our Town, I was ecstatic, because I knew that the play displays a valuable message. When I was a child, my siblings and I went to Massachusetts to visit my relatives. I enjoyed my stay, especially the time with my cousins. I wished that it could have been prolonged, but we had to depart. After the visit, my mother got a phone call from my grandmother saying that my great grandmother died a mere day after I had visited. This play has made me realize now that you must live every day second by second, and do as much as you can to make your life worthwhile by enjoying every second of life, because, you don’t live forever. Annapurna Chitnavis . . . Wendy Webb
Food has always been a major part of my family. In the winter of 2011, I visited my family in India. When I got there I hadn’t had an official family meal in a long time. We arrived at the house of my dad’s side of the family, where I met my grandma, grandpa, uncle, and aunt. In that household, there were strict rules about having a full breakfast, lunch, and dinner together every day. I noticed how much everyday meals could unite a family. With each meal I would learn more about my family members through the discussions we had around the table. I would later find out that those memories would be the last of my grandpa, who passed away this January. At that moment I realized how many of us fail to realize the importance of family and how we must enjoy every bit of life we have, for someday, it might be stripped from us. This is why Our Town is so special to so many people. It brings a different perspective of life in a subtle but powerful manner. Many of you have probably heard the cliché, “Live your life to the fullest.” After watching Our Town, you will experience real proof of a story that is based around the idea of living your life to the fullest. It is a story that captures the reality of everyday life. Haley Ziesemer . . . Mrs. Forest
Some of my earliest and fondest and memories have to do with the holiday season. When I was younger, I attended a Christmas tea hosted by my Aunt Jill, where I would celebrate the holidays with my friends and family. We had an ornament exchange in which everyone was asked to participate. Sometimes the exchange got competitive because everyone kept trying to steal the prettiest ornament, making it even more delightful. At every one of these teas, I was able to meet new people that hadn't been invited before and celebrate the holidays with my family, as well as making friends with some of the other children there. The whole tea was very enjoyable. Our Town speaks to people because it shows how a town and the people in it can be close-knit. There is competition and disagreement, but everyone still knows each other and can help each other by providing the tools to get around any problems. Joshua Grosso . . . Doc Gibbs
The sense of family cannot be extinguished, even when environments change and circumstances arise, our attachments to family remain the same. My Australian cockatiel, Tiki, demonstrated this perfectly: she had flown away, and we could not find her despite searching the neighborhood for hours. She’d taken off before, but she always returned when my dad walked the streets and called to her; however, this time, she was nowhere to be found. Over a week later, we heard that a neighbor had found Tiki. She had landed in a pool a few houses down from ours and been rescued. Although her rescuers treated her just as well as we did, when she heard my dad’s voice, she flew to us from her cage. She knew who her family was, and nothing could change that. We did not need to cage her, as she was perfectly happy stay perched atop my dad’s shoulder. The underlying message in Our Town, that we take for granted the blessings that take place every day in our lives, is so influential because it’s true. All the little details in life will cause us great regret when they’re gone if we didn’t appreciate them. When Tiki died, I felt extremely sad because I wish that I’d spent more time with her while she was still alive. I believe the playwright, Thornton Wilder, wants his audience to wake up and appreciate every moment for what it is. Javier Urcuyo . . . Man in Audience
Quite often, my family travels to Disneyland, “The Happiest Place on Earth”. Every time we travel to Disneyland, whether it's the long car ride or the rides at Disneyland, we put our stresses and work behind, creating a very relaxing weekend. Although somewhat obvious, I believe that the family is a group of people you should enjoy life with, not by yourself, but as a group. Our Town is relatable to so many people because of the meaning of the play, from everyday life to uncommon happenings. Our Town shows these everyday happenings. In Act III, it shows just how ‘in the dark’ people are while living. I find this play so remarkable because it is a thoughtful idea. Also, it is an enjoyable play, from both a viewing and an acting perspective. Brett Cohen . . . George Gibbs
When I was young, about 5 or 6 years old, my family went to the Atlantis resort in the Bahamas. While at the resort’s giant theme park area, packed with over a thousand people, my family went off to get smoothies and drinks at a nearby kiosk, leaving me behind. I looked around wildly, not knowing where they were, and screamed my head off. Just when I was truly beginning to think they were gone forever, my mom found me and swept me into her arms, relieved that I wasn't in any real danger. Looking back on that day, I realize how worried they must have been about me, and I am happy that my family loves me so much. Our Town inspires these feelings to me, as it is a profound story of love and honoring daily life. Eric Slosky . . . The Stage Manager
In my family, I had the opportunity, obligation, and the commitment to become a Bar Mitzvah near my thirteenth birthday. My actual Bar Mitzvah weekend was an incredible experience because I was able to share the accomplishment and culmination of many months of hard work with not only my immediate family, but also friends and extended family from all across the country. I was thankful my family was able to gather together to support and celebrate with me such an important event in my life. I think the true meaning of family is the willingness to make the effort to come together for celebration of the positive events, and not just gather for sad occasions such as funerals. My family makes the effort to travel for important events whenever possible and makes the most of every positive opportunity. Our Town, by Thornton Wilder, captivates many through its simplicity and the connections it makes with the audience. The play focuses on love and life and centers on family and its values, mirroring many relatable times in our own lives. The audience realizes that life moves very fast, and that we don’t ever fully appreciate life while we live it. It forces the onlookers to think about their own lives and what they take for granted each day, dancing through life like we have a million years to live. When I first finished reading Our Town, I was profoundly impacted by the messages in the play. Though I may still be stuck in the daily routine of life, it made me think about the true meaning of Carpe Diem and living every day like it is your last. Sam Shapiro . . . Joe Stoddard
Two of my closest cousins, Arielle and Zachary Cohen decided they wanted to devote their lives to keeping others safe. Ari graduated from the Chandler-Gilbert Community College Law Enforcement Training Academy. Zack was headed to Boot Camp as a Private First Class in the United States Air Force. In order to say goodbye to them, my family gathered at their mother’s house. It was a bittersweet day, but we enjoyed ourselves like any old family gathering except this meeting had an underlying sadness. Ari was leaving Phoenix and Zack was moving across the country. The emotional climax was when they were sworn in to their respective positions. They had officially been sworn in earlier, but most of the family missed it, so my Uncle Bruce, a judge, swore in Ari and my father, a former Marine Captain, swore in Zack. Tears welled up in everyone’s eyes and a lump formed in my throat. We experienced different emotions throughout the day: sadness, regret, apprehension and excitement. The day progressed much like the story of Our Town. Both my family gathering and Our Town culminate with everyone feeling a combination of intense emotions. For me, Our Town's warm feel and intimate atmosphere combine to mirror the gatherings my family has had in the past. Alexander Cieslewicz . . . Violinist
My family supports me in many ways. They are always there to help with school, stress, and much more. I believe family means support which means you need to help each other as much as you can. I am glad to be able to take part in Out Town as a violinist and I hope the play will be a success. |
Grace Ruiz . . . Professor Irma Willard
Two years ago, my family traveled to Washington State to visit my Tia in Seattle. As first-time visitors and not knowing much about the state, we decided to go visit a beach three hours away. When we arrived at the beach via ferry ride, we played in the water and eventually met a stray Golden Retriever named Gunther who came running to all of us with a stick. He was the first dog I have ever seen that actually brought the stick back when you threw it! I remember this being a family bonding moment in a time of fun, since we played together with Gunther and the sand, along with having the feeling of being with so many people (about nine people total!) I felt safe and secure surrounded by the beautiful ocean and my family. Small moments like this in the big picture of life are what family means to me. In Our Town, the same idea is shared- we don’t notice the minor things and people realize this when it is too late. Taking in and appreciating little details is what really makes life what it is. My trip to Seattle had so many events occurring, but this smaller one that was not even planned, was definitely my favorite. Angela McChesney . . . Howie Newsome
Thanksgiving was always a special time for our family. Every year we would meet together at my grandma’s house to enjoy a family meal, and to celebrate the holiday together. I remember that my grandma would always make about ten pies, so my brother and I would go on a strict pie diet until it was all eaten. My grandma would always cheer anyone up no matter what, and would always be there to refill your milk, put more on your plate, and bring the family together even if times were bad. Recently, she has become very sick, and we don’t know how much longer she will make it. Although, I will always remember how we celebrated the little things, getting together, giving hugs, and never forgetting about our family. My family is an important part of my life, and they are always there to help and support me when I need them. I appreciate the value and meaning within the play Our Town, and can greatly relate to it. This play touches many people, because the concept of love, family, and realism, tied into one is relatable and a soft spot in many hearts around the globe. Chad Bauman . . . Charles Webb
In October of 2011, my family and I went to the Grand Canyon for the first time. We left from our house early in the morning and went to the lighthouse. We stood overlooking the canyon as the sun rose. We took a bike ride around the Southern rim and ate lunch near the edge of the canyon. We stayed for the whole day spending time with our family members. We had a great time together while being with my family. Our Town shows the daily life of family and stresses the importance of the little things. It is important to slow down our lives and see these little things. It needs to be performed because it reminds us to live the life we have to the fullest and enjoy not only the experiences but also the people. Molly Baker . . . Myrtle Webb
As we see in our town, simple events can be the ones that are the most important, and bring people the closes. To me, closeness is exactly what family means. I remember a weekend where we went camping, up in the mountains, far from our house. We talk through the drive about all kinds of things, passing the time just enjoying each other’s company. When we get there my parents get started setting up out tent, while my brother and I go out to gather wood. He’s too young right now to get anything too big, but every little stick he picks up matters for us; and when he gets upset about my greater haul I explain all about kindling and how really, his wood is more important than mine. We sit that night around the campfire telling silly stories that are supposed to be scary, and then curling up all together in our little tent. When we get up in the morning my Dad makes breakfast, and we get back in the car to go home. The little time we spent together with just us has drawn us closer, and that feeling stays for a very long time. This common adventure is one of my favorite things, and the exact appeal of Our Town; that it shows the little, common things of everyday life. Too many plays and stories are about grand events and important adventures, but with Our Town we really think about what everyday life is like, and how we can savor and enjoy each day just as much as a great adventure. Sumaita Mulk . . . Simone Stimson
Sitting down at our round, familiar table, passing each other food, eating dinner. During this time, my parents and I tell each other about the highlights of our day, never really stopping to think about the impact that this mundane event has on all of us. Eating together, family time, every night, is a constant in our lives, yet I hardly ever stop to realize its significance! Our Town transforms simple daily occurrences into exceedingly profound dramatic moments. The living people are berated for their inattentiveness to these brief, seemingly negligible phenomena in one of the most pivotal scenes of the play. While watching the play unfold, I am struck by the realization that humans are indeed blind to life as we live it. My family and I aren't going to be able to spend time together forever, and whatever we have now is far too short to not savor every minute. Tyera Zweygardt . . . Emily Webb
Friendly communication, nightly family dinners, and love and support in everything I do is what my family means to me. Being able to share smiles daily and travel to experience new things together with people you love dearly is true happiness. A great memory I have is when I applied to the Herberger. I only thought of the negative aspects and was completely convinced that I would not be accepted. If it weren’t for the positive motivation from my family, I wouldn’t be here and have all of the opportunities I do now. It seems like too many people walk through life without stopping to look at what is right in front of them and really appreciate their present lives. I believe that the reason Our Town speaks to so many people is because it thoroughly explains the very simple things in life and what we can make out of them. Things like daily life go by until we all fall in love and get married, which lasts until we die. Our Town touches me, personally, because it is able to explain the innocence of a child. It explains the innocence of a child and the consequences of decisions. That’s what this play is about. Ethan Grosso . . . Joe & Si Crowell
Every day passes and every day ends. Every year passes and every year ends. Every life passes and every life ends. Thornton Wilder believes that we should take advantage of every moment, and he wrote the play Our Town to prove how precious every second of life is. Although I’ve never lost a human family member like the characters in Our Town, I can connect with Wilder’s story because of a experience I had with the loss of my dog, Chester. He was a beautiful dog, but as a very young child I did not notice how precious he was to me and didn't treasure every last moment with him. He was gradually getting sick, but I didn’t expect the outcome. Then, one day he had to be put down because he was dying of cancer. I realized how much time I should have spent with him. Our Town is a very popular play about everyday life, but how did it get to be so well-known? I believe that everyone can relate to taking advantage of every, day, week, month, etc. People put life aside thinking that they don’t need to treasure it, but death may come when you are least expecting it. It is important that we respect life, treat it like a gift, and find beauty in every moment. Kalella Gamble . . . Sam Craig
A touching family moment that has happened to me occurred on our first Disneyland trip last year. We (my two little brothers, my mom, our dad, and I) were making our way through Fantasy Land to Frontier Land to ride the Big Thunder Mountain when we stopped to look at our map. It couldn’t have taken more than a few seconds to figure out the path to the ride, but even so, my smallest brother managed to disappear by the time we all looked up. Mom began to call out for him, and we wondered where he could have gone. I suggested that he had run ahead already to the ride, and we all ran to find him waiting in line. I cannot express how relieved everyone was. One of my characters in Our Town, can be tied to this moment by the idea of my emotions being the same as hers in the last act. She feels uncomfortable and uneasy as a spirit, much as I did when I thought of what could have happened to my brother. I am looking forward to playing her as well as my other character in Our Town Mitchell Dodell . . . Constable Bill Warren
Our Town illustrates the meaning of family in everyday life. Everyone in the play is ordinary, no one is better than the next. The Gibbs and the Webb families support each other throughout good times, and bad. The true meaning of family is to care about one another, no matter what. This is the universal theme that is shown in Our Town. My family, personally are caring, and wonderful in so many ways. I have no idea what I would do without them. When I was sick, they would always take care of me, try non-stop to find answers, and keep me relaxed and happy. They would tell jokes, play games with me, and always make sure I was comfortable. Each one of them would visit me, text, or call and check up on me to see how I was. People sometimes take all these things for granted. I will never forget how amazing my family is. JD House . . . Mr. Carter
I am 15 years old and a part of a four-person nuclear family, made up of Darby, Mark, and Allison and myself. Mark and Allison are my parents. Although I have a horrid memory, I remember numerous occasions where my family has been there for me. Last year, when I became a part of HYSA, my family was there to support me. The transition from public school to HYSA was a very intense and abrupt shift. I thought I went from doing nothing to being overloaded with work. This was incredibly difficult for me. After receiving a 1.6 out of 5 on a board game project I was about to breakdown and give up. Luckily for me, my mom helped me get through it all. She told me many times of when she went to NAU at 17--which was also an incredibly abrupt change of no work to tons of work. She told me that I could get through it. This is what family means to me. Members of a family support each other. That contributes to Our Town’s popularity. It depicts the life of a typical traditional family. Something that, unfortunately, not everybody experiences anymore. Alayzha Turner-Rodgers . . . Woman in Audience
The theme of family, as presented in Our Town, invokes memories of family reunions put on by my family. I was always excited to see a member of my family who I hadn’t seen in a long time, to catch up on the occurrences in their life and then clue them in on what had taken place in mine since the last time they saw me. I think Our Town is very popular because it gives readers and viewers a look at family that they either can relate to in their own families or want for themselves in the future. The relevancy of Our Town is to promote the importance of family from childhood through adulthood. |
Synthesizing Shakespeare (2012)
Adapted and Directed by Sabrina Switzer-Wareing
Gifted students tackle multiple Shakespeare plays
https://asunow.asu.edu/content/gifted-students-tackle-multiple-shakespeare-plays
Rehearsal Shots
The Acting Ensemble