Advanced and Honors acting gives a new perspective on the ups and downs of putting on a show in their fall play, “Noises Off” performing Nov. 13-16, in the Alan Harvey Theater.
“Noises Off” is an original play written by Micheal Frayn.
“The play follows a fading star, Dotty Otley and her fellow cast and crew members as they try to piece together their shows. The show gives a glimpse of what it’s like behind the scenes and takes you through what it’s really like to put on a show,” said Honors Acting student senior Ben Wakefield.
The show has three different acts. The first act is the dress rehearsal, the second act is the behind the scenes of the play, and the last act is the final show, said Honors Acting student senior Sacha Andrews.
Kim Taylor, advanced acting teacher, decided on the play at the end of last school year and told the acting students then, Wakefield said.
“We had over the summer to look at the play because week one and two of school you jump straight into the audition process” Wakefield said.
Because the show only has nine characters, it is double casted. The two casts will be switching off every day so that each one gets to perform the show, Marketing Director and Honors Acting student senior Sparrow Lieu said.
Only having nine characters, the acting students have recognised that there really aren’t any leads because everyone plays such a big role in it, Andrews said.
Students in the Honors and Advanced acting classes are still helping with the play, even if they are not acting in the actual play itself, Lieu said.
Honors Acting student senior Amelia Carter is assistant directing, and seniors Nico Kaltenecker and sophomore Dresden Schulte Sasse are doing set design for the play and sophomore Grette Willats is working on props. Willats and Kaltenecker will be backstage during shows.
Noah Bruggemann, a graduated senior from the class of 25, built the set before he left for college, Lieu said.
“We got a model for it and Noah Bruggemann and Bob Moorhead built this two story set with a front and back and it’s beautiful. It has a working window, and it has so many doors.” Andrews said.
“In the middle of the show, we turn around the set and use the back, which is really unique because most shows don’t have a set that moves,” Andrews said.
Putting on “Noises Off” is really interesting because the audience often doesn’t see how much work goes into a show, and this play gives a glimpse into that, Lieu said.
“I think it’s absolutely amazing and I would highly recommend going to both casts and going to as many shows as you can because it’s gonna feel like a new show every time you watch it,” she said.
