Two times each school year, young actors from our high school get together and put on a play.
It is held in the high school auditorium, according to Susan White, who has been thespians assistant-director for seven years.
With about 35 members in the club, the club meets between four and five times a week before the production, said director Kristin Antosz.
She took the place of Julie Babal in January.
“We make [sets and costumes] or find them in the loft or from other shows,” said Antosz. “...We rely on the talents of our lovely members [to make the sets and costumes].”
“Props are fun because that’s where you really get to get creative,” said White.
Money is raised from past shows’ ticket sales and the money raised at the bonfire. This money goes towards props and costumes, according to White.
While both White and Antosz enjoy their jobs, it can be hard.
“Getting everything together around all the other stuff [is difficult]—going from a script to a scene in your head to on stage,” said Antosz.
Although both Antosz and White find the job difficult at times, it can be very rewarding.
“I love the group of kids,” said White. “We have a diverse, vibrant group of kids and getting to work with them is fun... I love to watch what they do with the play... The way it comes together is really magical.”
Both Antosz and White have a background in thespians.
“I was involved [in thespians] in high school and college and thought directing thespians would be giving back, but I loved the group of kids and the atmosphere so much that I had to stick around,” said White.
Antosz felt the same way. “I was in thespians when I was in school, and it’s really rewarding to put on a show as an actor or a director. Also, the people are fun to work with. It’s always a fun show,” said Antosz.
Senior Mike Bliss has been in the thespians club for four years.
“It’s a good environment. There are lots of friendly people. I like to act and it’s fun putting on the shows that we do,” he said.
Bliss feels that others should also join thespians because it’s a close-knit group.
“[People should join] especially if they like performing and acting,” said Bliss. “It’s a great chance to do that, but it’s also a great group of people and you make a lot of friends out of it.”
The spring play this year was Our Town, written in 1938 by Thornton Wilder.
It is about a fictional small town, Grover’s Corners, in 1901 through 1913, going through the everyday lives of its citizens.
The play opened last Friday and was well received by those who attended because of the very talented actors.
Note: this article was originally published in Franklin Regional High School's newspaper The Panther.
Comments