by Ryan Polk | staff writer
This Friday and Saturday, in the Black Box Theatre, the theatre department will be performing two very different plays. However, rather than being directed by teachers, these plays are chosen, performed, and directed by seniors.
“I am directing The Library by Scott Z. Burns, and it’s about a school shooting.” senior Coral Harris said. “It’s a play that’s more contemporary, and it’s something that happens in the US around maybe at least once a month. So it was something that I wanted to tell people about, I wanted to tell the story.”
However, it has been difficult for some students to balance their directorial duties with other pre-existing undertakings.
“For me, it’s been balancing [directing] with [UIL] one-act and then also with choir, and splitting my time between the two,” senior Erin Scott said.
Both of the plays are co-directed by two seniors, which was sometimes a hurdle that the directors had to jump over.
“The most difficult part was probably co-directing [the show],” senior Donna Pennington said, “Because you have opposing ideas sometimes.”
Two of the directors chose to put on their show because it was both a modern show and one that carries a message that is relevant to current events in today’s America.
“I wanted to show how [school shootings] affected victims around the world and around the U.S., because I think it’s a great story worth hearing.” Harris said.
The other two directors chose their show based on its deft combination of comedic and dramatic elements, as well as the abundance of underlying subtext in the show.
“[The play, Circle Mirror Transformation, has] a lot of subtext, and a lot of things are left unsaid, and you really have to pay attention to know what’s happening.” Scott said.
Even though directing a show can be difficult, all of the student directors stated that their experience was ultimately an enjoyable one.
“I love directing.” Pennington said. “It’s better than acting.”
The two senior directed shows will be performed on Friday, April 15 and Saturday, April 16. The Library begins at 7 PM, and Circle Mirror Transformation begins at 8 PM.
