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CHS rehearsing for ‘Just Another High School Play’
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| Columbia High School students Fred Smith (right) and Brandi Ottinger act out a scene from the school’s upcoming performance of ‘Just Another High School Play’ Tuesday afternoon. Students are rehearsing now for twoperformances that will take place in January. TROY ROBERTS/Lake City Reporter |
Title is not indicative of effort students put into its production.
By TROY ROBERTS
troberts@lakecityreporter.com
While the title may state otherwise, Columbia High School students want everyone to know their upcoming stage production isn’t just another typical high school play.
How many other plays see the director thrown into the trunk of a car and the students having to perform — without rehearsing — with only the information they learned by sitting through a couple of drama classes? No wonder there are elements of “Romeo & Juliet,” “The Scarlet Letter” and “A Christmas Carol” all mingled throughout the performance. One of the actors even boasts his desire for a mime-only play.
In reality, students have been studying diligently for their performances of “Just Another High School Play” that begin in January. Students began the 2008-2009 school year learning the many facets and intricacies of stage work. They have been rehearsing since mid-October. The play is conducted in conjunction with the culinary arts, journalism, leadership and sound and engineering programs at the high school.
“I’ve been learning with the kids,” said first-year drama teacher Wendy Cousino, who said that she pored over a number of plays before finally settling on “Just Another High School Play.” “This play seemed the easiest because there was no real set design but it seemed like a lot of fun.”
Two classes, encompassing approximately 50 students, will perform the play that will take place on Jan. 8 and 9. Money raised from the two performances will go toward buying school books for classes.
The plays will be decidedly different. Although the central storyline remains the same, Cousino said students have worked to rewrite a number of scenes to add a modern flair and more of an expression of themselves throughout the play.
She said it also has been interesting to see how students from various backgrounds interact with each other. She said most of the students follow the lead of one of the actors, CHS student Fred Smith, who has taken a central role in the play.
“You know, the first time I got up there, I was kind of shy,” Smith said Tuesday afternoon. “But once you get on-stage, you have to do your normal thing. You just get braver every time. It just kind of comes natural.”
Fellow students and cast members said Smith was good at improving many of his lines and helped them open up on-stage as well.
“We feed off of each other,” said Brandi Ottinger, 16. “You may be a little shy at first, but then you see someone let loose and you want to let go yourself. It just comes together and we work really well as a team.”
How many other plays see the director thrown into the trunk of a car and the students having to perform — without rehearsing — with only the information they learned by sitting through a couple of drama classes? No wonder there are elements of “Romeo & Juliet,” “The Scarlet Letter” and “A Christmas Carol” all mingled throughout the performance. One of the actors even boasts his desire for a mime-only play.
In reality, students have been studying diligently for their performances of “Just Another High School Play” that begin in January. Students began the 2008-2009 school year learning the many facets and intricacies of stage work. They have been rehearsing since mid-October. The play is conducted in conjunction with the culinary arts, journalism, leadership and sound and engineering programs at the high school.
“I’ve been learning with the kids,” said first-year drama teacher Wendy Cousino, who said that she pored over a number of plays before finally settling on “Just Another High School Play.” “This play seemed the easiest because there was no real set design but it seemed like a lot of fun.”
Two classes, encompassing approximately 50 students, will perform the play that will take place on Jan. 8 and 9. Money raised from the two performances will go toward buying school books for classes.
The plays will be decidedly different. Although the central storyline remains the same, Cousino said students have worked to rewrite a number of scenes to add a modern flair and more of an expression of themselves throughout the play.
She said it also has been interesting to see how students from various backgrounds interact with each other. She said most of the students follow the lead of one of the actors, CHS student Fred Smith, who has taken a central role in the play.
“You know, the first time I got up there, I was kind of shy,” Smith said Tuesday afternoon. “But once you get on-stage, you have to do your normal thing. You just get braver every time. It just kind of comes natural.”
Fellow students and cast members said Smith was good at improving many of his lines and helped them open up on-stage as well.
“We feed off of each other,” said Brandi Ottinger, 16. “You may be a little shy at first, but then you see someone let loose and you want to let go yourself. It just comes together and we work really well as a team.”
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| Tracking efficiency | Holiday baskets given out |
