questions by Sara Meurer, photos by Siobhan Miller and Cecilia Butler, videos by Lauren Langdon
Seniors wrote and directed skits that were performed by students April 26-27, 2013. Student productions are short plays written, cast and directed by seniors. This year, there was four productions.
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The Zoo
written and directed by Elaine Schmidt
What is your production about?
It’s about a teenager who spends his summer working at the zoo and meets zany characters who work at the zoo as well.
Why did you decide to write/direct a production?
I had been to every student production since 8th grade and I have always loved watching them because they’re usually just ridiculous and funny and fun so I decided to write one this year.
What will make your production stand out?
I think just we have an all star cast. I definitely say we have the funniest people, no offense to the other casts.
Who are the stars or main actors in your production?
Kelly Gardella, Ruby Dibble, Margie Stone, Dana Bailey, Bailey whitehead, Marley Schmidtlein, Rachel Moran, Gracie Fleming, Liz Countee.
What was the process of writing your production like?
I wrote it at 3 AM the day it was due. I was sitting there trying to think of something to do for the theme because I honestly had no idea. I was sitting there and just imagined Bailey Whitehead in a zoo uniform and I honestly just wrote the script in one burst.
It Happens
written and directed by Sarah Kostoryz
What is your production about?
My production is about sleep deprivation and it’s affects on students. It;s basically a social commentary on how severe it is and how the school doesn’t really do anything about it. I think it’s especially relevant because we’re starting the whole health and wellness campaign. One of the most important bodily functions that gets overlooked is sleep.
Why did you decide to write/direct a production?
I took play writing first semester, which was a really interesting class because I ultimately wanted to write something about sleep deprivation because I’ve been researching it for 4 years. Once you’re in playwriting, I felt like it was expected.
What will make your production stand out?
It’s extremely physical with a lot of musical cues and all the funny elements don’t have to do with dialogue, it’s about the situations. The mini car that rides around the circle, kind of the details. I think the subject matter is really important.
Who are the stars or main actors in your production?
Grace Girardeau, she’s a freshman. She’s playing Marley who is a transfer from California. Abbie McNaughten is her mom. Natalie Nuessle is Polly.
What was the process of writing your production like?
It started very small. The inspiration was three girls walking across the quad and their so tired that they fall down on their backpacks and they can’t get up so they do an on the floor dance sequence so it turned into my student production.
The Big Bang High School
written by Menley Brennan, directed by Menley Brennan and Andie Drummond
What is your production about?
The production is a prequel to The Big Bang theory. It’s about them during their first year of high school.
Why did you decide to write/direct a production?
I thought it would be a lot of fun to be a part of a production more than just helping out with, like, crew.
What will make your production stand out?
We have the funniest people as our actors. We shine bright like diamonds.
Who are the stars or main actors in your production?
Rachel Tovar, Paige Drummond, Sabrina Salerno, Moira White, Elena Spaulding, Lilly Cosgrove, Connor Hodes, and Holly Fielder. Holly Fielder is the best mother ever in the history of the world.
What is the process of directing your production like?
It’s been very hectic. Our practices are chaotic because we’re just so funny we can’t control ourselves. But I think everything will work out perfectly in the end.
The Bug Diaries
written and directed by Carrie Hudson and Emma Robertson
What is your production about?
We based it off of a play I wrote in play writing last semester. Just a fair warning; it’s weird. Basically, it’s about this kid who has a weird fetish for bugs. He and his creepy sister are dropped off at a history museum where there just happens to be a particular bug this kid wants. There’s a short love story between a couple of the characters and basically chaos ensues. Especially with the main character’s creepy sister, Mary.
Why did you decide to write a production?
Well, I had to write something for play writing one night and I couldn’t decide what to do. Frankly, I don’t know what possessed me to write a story about a bug and a creepy kid, but that’s what it turned in to. I think sleep deprivation played a role in this.
What will make your production stand out?
It’s completely original. Pretty sure no one else has ever done anything related to a bug before.
Who are the stars or main characters in your production?
Morgan Bene plays Mark, our bug fanatic. Gabby Ferro plays Guard Donahugh. He and Mark hate each other. Holly Fielder voiced our bug who is in love with the librarian, Kate Sanders. Mary, the creepy sisters is played by Alexia Arrieta. And then we have our two teenagers played by Shelby Hawkins and Emily Reboulet. Marie Green voiced the mother of Mark and Mary.
What was the process of writing a production like?
At first, it was purely for fun, but my writing was terrible. Every week in play writing we would go in and help each other develop characters or the plot. When Carrie and I decided to use mine as a basis for the play we skyped on one of the snow days during Service Week for four hours. That script was atrocious. When we trashed that one we probably, in all, ended up rewriting our script about four or five times. We were even making changes the day before the first show, although it was nothing major.
