For nearly 60 years, the Drama Department has entertained its audiences through theatrical productions, with the acting talent drawn from the student body itself. Under the watchful eyes of Theater Department director Renae Hubbard, inclusion and equality has become a staple in the casts and club, resulting in a surge of appreciation for the arts.
The 2020 pandemic nearly brought the Drama Department to its knees, but after the massive successes of “Legally Blonde” (2022) and “Bye Bye Birdie” (2023) the department was revitalized with new strength.
“I definitely think that we should be proud of all the talent that we have,” Hubbard said. “This was the best audition process as far as the talent that came into the room.”
Every four years, the Drama Department performs some of Shakespeare’s works, and this year is such a year. However, the chosen productions make for very intriguing casting opportunities.
The first one-act performance, “Desdemona in the Afterlife,” is an all-female cast. This limits the possibilities for male actors to just two productions.
“I knew I was going to get Taming of the Shrew, but I’m just excited to be a part of the Drama Department,” junior Matthew Amade said.
The casts are unbothered by this limitation.
“Desdemona is a really good role. It’s about a powerful woman, and I’m always sharing my opinions about things like sexism, or anything that puts down other people,” junior Lavender Rogers said.
The fall play, “The Complete Works of William Shakespeare: Abridged,” while a great comedy, only offers three actors the chance to perform and, even with a double-casting, there is no ensemble to include the masses.
“[This] was one of the roles that I wanted to get, and I’m thrilled that I got it,” senior Garrytt Ard, an actor in “Shakespeare Abridged,” said.
However, not all eager actors could get such a chance to perform.
“I don’t think I had a chance to get in ‘Abridged’ because that’s really a lot of dedication, but I’m not disappointed,” junior Ayla Shore said.
Despite the productions this year, the Drama Department refuses to let anything be a barrier to the friendly camaraderie.
“I’ve always seen it as a very welcoming community, and I’m glad to be a part of it,” sophomore Connor Holmes said.
Despite the high potential for division and resentment that the limited casting could have created, the Drama Department proves that nothing can stop them from welcoming everyone, working hard and having a good time while putting on a show.
