Behind the Scenes of the Spring Show!
Our spring show is called Almost, Maine; it is a romantic comedy that takes place in a small town and each scene portrays a separate and independent standing love story between two people within that town, either ending or beginning. Every scene has its own unique storyline, which makes it very intriguing for both the actors and audience.
One thing we hope you take away from this show is that it's not just a “cheesy rom-com”, we hope you “appreciate its heartfelt and genuine moments” in the words of Junior, Ben Robinow. Laura Jones ‘21, said that she “loves how this show presents challenges to all the actors as well as complementing the different styles and personalities of us all”. While the amazing Drama Company has been somewhat chaotic as of late (what with switching plays halfway through rehearsals), we have stuck through and have been working incredibly hard to make sure we have a successful spring play — one that we hope you all enjoy! As senior, Sophia Salesky stated “due to a series of unfortunate events, we had to switch the production halfway through the rehearsal process. This brought a lot of hardships to our cast. In the end, it all worked out for the best!”
While this play might seem simple and easy to perform onstage, behind the scenes in rehearsal, it’s much more difficult than you would think — in Ms. Russell’s words, “this play is one of the hardest we have ever done”. Laura Jones adds that “it's amazing how this all went from just saying lines on a stage with some props to an actual production. If you watched the show before tech and after, all you would recognize would be the lines. It's so much more powerful with sound and light and set”.
We’ve had to learn how to be open and honest with the people we are working on scenes with, all the while exploring our characters backstories, and practicing sharing our character's emotions on stage — and overall, trying our hardest to really put ourselves in our character's shoes. Ben Robinow couldn't have put it in better words when he said that “This show has some incredibly dramatic and emotional moments that can be pretty intense and vulnerable, but they are also some of the most powerful moments of the story. It can be hard to fully embrace the intensity, but it is really worth it.”
Why should you come see Almost Maine? Well, myself and many others find this play to be heartfelt, funny, and overall charmingly romantic There is a lot of truth in the writing and it really translates well on stage, which makes for a very touching show (Ben Robinow), “The show is sweet, raw, and beautiful. A show EVERYONE can relate to” (Sophia Salesky).
To set the scene for you, picture the beautiful snowy town of Almost, Maine. It’s a small community surrounded by snow-capped trees. The tech crew has been working incredibly hard to make the stage look as winterized as possible. If you think drama is all about acting and being on stage, you are wrong. The technical crew backstage plays an equally important role in the production and requires a tremendous amount of skill and commitment. A play wouldn't be a play without lighting, music, and sound. You know the saying “Lights, Camera, Action”? Take a second look at this quote and see that tech plays an immense role in it!
This experience for me, with it being my first show at JCHS, has been wonderful. From putting my love to the arts on stage, making new friends, and managing my time, it has truly has been a learning experience that takes commitment. This show would not have happened without Ms. Russell and Mr. McDonald, I speak for the whole company when we say thank you. We hope you enjoyed the show if you came, and be sure to look out for auditions for the fall musical, Mamma Mia!
