Theatre classes perform showcase for end of the year celebration

Lauri Hoedl, Reporter

Repertory and Advanced Repertory Theatre are put on a showcase at the Thespian Celebration on May 12 from 7-9 p.m. in the auditorium.

This was a “black-tie” event, along with being free and open to any friends and family. Awards were handed out to thespians, and at the end of the night, the audience was able to vote for the best male and female performer of the night after the showcase.

The Repertory Theatre class performed 13 pieces, and the Advanced Repertory class performed 18 pieces, making the night last until 11 p.m.

The performances ranged from musical numbers, such as “Cell Block Tango” from the musical “Chicago” and “Freak Flag” from “Shrek the Musical,” to scenes from plays, such as “Fences” and “A Few Good Men.”

Each piece had a variety of students, ranging from full classes to duets.

The process of choosing the pieces began by each student suggesting two ideas to their class, showing a part of it or talking about it. Then each student voted by putting the pieces in order from favorite to least favorite.

After the results were in, whoever suggested the ideas that were chosen became the director of the piece and cast students from their class

Adjustments were made in order to attempt to give everyone an equal amount of stage time.

Each piece got around 30 minutes, two times to set the piece and rehearse. After that, each piece was run once or twice a week until the performance.

The pieces were fully costumed, with minimal props and lighting.

Grace Hewitt, junior, said her favorite part of the night was that “everyone in both classes really had fun throughout the whole night on and off stage,” and while there were mistakes, the classes “would just laugh about the goods and bads of our time on stage.”

The showcase had never rehearsed straight through before the show, along with never rehearsing with the other classes.

Cara Gibbs, senior, said, “Ending my senior year with people who I’ve slowly become friends with over the years, seeing how all of us have changed and grown and found ourselves in theatre, it really means a lot to me, and I couldn’t think of a better way to end all of this.”