Kaitlyn Sandvik
Reporter
The students and faculty of the NCHS Theatre Department have re-imagined the American classic, Tom Sawyer, by adding unique elements that excite both NCHS theatre directors and actors alike. However, in preparation for the debut, the cast and crew are working tirelessly to achieve perfection. “It is a lot to focus on and we really have to give it our all because every person and every job in theater is so important,” Sophomore Jennifer Daly said.
On October 25th at 7pm, the first musical of the NCHS Theatre department’s season, Tom Sawyer will be premiering at NCHS, and will be showing again on October 26th at 2pm and 7pm. Tickets will be on sale on the New Canaan High School Theatre website and at the high school before each show.
Jennifer, who will play Rebecca Thatcher in the upcoming musical, said that the expectations are higher this year because the show will be judged. “We are taking this to competition alongside our winter all-school show, Thoroughly Modern Millie,” she said. “We want the adjudicators who come to see the show to not even be able to realize it is just underclassmen.”
In addition to the judging element of this year’s production, Jennifer said that the Musical Director, Don Rickenback wrote original songs for the show. “No one in the audience will have heard some of them before, so we really have to deliver them, we want them to be remembered,” she said. “The songs are so great, and our directors really created an outstanding version of Tom Sawyer with things no one has ever seen before.”
Freshman Allegra D’Virgilio, who will be playing character Amy Lawrence, said that she also feels the pressure, especially with this being her first production at the high school. “It’s a lot more serious at the high school, everyone here wants to be in theatre. Its not just an extracurricular activity,” Allegra said.
During Tech Week, the week preceding the premiere, the cast and crew run through rehearsals every day after school, with final rehearsals being in costume. Sophomore Jacob Freedgood, who will be playing the lead role of Tom Sawyer, said that the students encounter unique challenges during this week. “I essentially don’t get off stage,” he said. “I get the makeup, costume, microphone, and we review the things that had been weak the previous day. It takes a lot of effort to get the cast and crew to work in sync. “
Behind-the-scenes-work during rehearsals requires an attentive team of crew members, who are responsible for more than just facilitating backstage communication. “It’s pretty stressful, I have to worry about making sure the cast is on task and ready,” said Senior Avery Wrenn, the Production Stage Manager, about her responsibilities during Tech Week.
Jacob also said that the crew’s work is vital to the production. “It has to work like a machine backstage, sometimes people don’t realize how important the work that goes on backstage is.”
Avery said that although Tech Week has been strenuous in terms of planning and perfecting, the cast and crew is looking forward to see the hard work pay off on Friday.
“I think that Tom Sawyer is about remembering your childhood,” Director Dee Alexander said. “You come in for two hours and imagine you’re a kid again, thats what its all about.”
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5we-VZ5Rbto
