As the leaves turn into their shades of red and yellow, the fall plays begin to spiral into action. Each year, the school’s theater brings stories to life on stage, inviting students and their families to enjoy magical performances. Over the course of weeks of hard work, rehearsals, and dedication, students transform scripts into unforgettable moments. With two one-act plays, Silly Heart and Paper Umbrellas, they both portray a value of love and light.
“Silly Heart has some funny moments, but the majority of it is pretty serious. It’s about a young lady who has to deal with having cancer, and the characters from her favorite childhood story book called Silly Heart, who help her cope, heal, and find bravery to get through the process of going through cancer,” Theatre Director Margret Hubbard said.
Heavy topics with a heartwarming conclusion can stir many emotions. The cast is looking forward to showing the audience that the theatre can be equally moving and emotional through two different heartfelt plays.
“Paper Umbrellas is more of a drama, and it’s about a conference in Hawaii where everyone comes together at this conference to hear this massive speaker named Donnie, who promises they have a plan to make dreams come true. But Donnie is a fraud. So, like, watching two different emotional plays is going to be fun to watch,” Hubbard said.
This season, the two plays being performed offer different experiences. One leans more lighthearted with moments of struggle and coping, while the other takes on more of a dramatic tone.
“This year, it’s really more about coming out of the light, finding joy in who you are, and just positive messages like, even if you’re struggling through something major, you can always find the light,” Hubbard said.
On the topic of light and finding joy, it’s important that the cast understands the importance of camaraderie. Not only does it make the plays more immersive, but it feels more real and heart-striking, which is a main goal.
“If anything, I think that rehearsing for the plays and spending time with each other builds a special connection between everyone. I hope the audience can see that during the play,” senior Anna York said.
All the effort and connection built during rehearsals come together in the final performances. The cast and directors hope that what the audience takes away is just as meaningful as what they gained, carrying new lessons from the plays.
“Once the plays are over, I’m hoping they leave with a childlike feeling about them, see their worth, things like that. One of the main goals we have is to really make people reminisce, have a reassured confidence about themselves…but yeah, we worked hard and we hope that they leave with a sense of fulfillment–at the very least,” senior Gabby Holt said.
The fall plays are a true display of students’ dedication and talents. Enjoy and cherish their work on October 9th and 10th, respectively. Paper Umbrellas start at 6 PM, and Silly Heart starts at 7 PM. Both plays are about 45 minutes long. With each performance, the school’s stage becomes a place for people to come together and appreciate the art of a play in the APAC. Don’t miss the opportunity; admission is only five dollars.
