Play Production is a place of prosperity and positivity. Imagine taking the stage after countless hours of practice and rehearsal and getting one shot to perform the variety of skills that have been manufactured over many months of practice.
Malden High’s Play Production team does not have to imagine, as they have been preparing for the play Pippin since June. But before mentioning the cast, it is important to mention the staff who are the foundation of the play.
“I spent a lot of hours this summer planning as it sort of comes down to, ‘what do I want the stage to look like? What should the sets be like?’ It’s scouring the script to say what props do we need?” stated Director Todd Cole, who is entirely new to directing.
Another director sharing the reins of management of this play is Ariana Messana, in which this is her first year as technical director but second year leading the play production class.
“I feel like we did a lot of growing last year from being my first year here, getting to know the kids a little bit and them getting to know me. I’m really excited for this new role as technical director and testing that out for the show. I think with everything that Mr. Cole put into it, it’s going to be a great show,” Messana exuded.
“It was the first show that I ever did in high school. It’s such a great musical. It’s what really made me love musical theater when I was in 9th grade way back in the 1980s. I did Pippin, and I fell in love with how cool theater can be because Pippin is different,” Cole expressed.
Malden High’s Play Production team is collaborating with Esh Circus, in which they have brought in the circus performers to help the cast prepare for the play.
It’s heart-warming to see the emotional connection between the directors and the play itself. Surely these feelings have an effect on the cast as well, as they are tasked with characters such as senior and President Addison McWayne playing Catherine and junior Liam Gallagher playing King Charlemagne in the play.
McWayne has high expectations for this play and shares that sense of enthusiasm by giving a holistic perspective of the play.
“I listened to the soundtrack and really got into all the characters and seeing them come to life on the stage even just after a few rehearsals with the opening number, it looks so good and I can’t wait to see it with all of the technical elements and our set and our lights. I think this show is really going to be a great show and I can’t wait to see it,” McWayne shared.
“We are going over scenes, and songs multiple times. We are also doing independent practices after school, whether that be between two characters or an entire ensemble. The environment’s always a good place and it’s been very fun specifically with this play because it’s such a fun and different play from other musicals or theater productions,” Gallagher stated.
Without giving too much, the directors and cast members all settled on one idea in regard to the theme of the play: Finding yourself in a chaotic environment with tyrant kings and shedding light on the parallelism of reality and non-reality that goes along with it.
“I feel like it’s really fun to take on different hats in theater.”
-ARiAna Messana
With expectations rising, nerves forming, and stage fright lurking, Malden High School’s Play Pro squad hopes to impress. Don’t miss out, go check out @mhsplaypro on Instagram for more details about the play Pippin at the Malden High School Jenkins Auditorium on November 22nd and 23rd at 7 pm!
