Vail Valley schools shine with theatrical productions this weekend
From Shakespeare to comedy check out what the high school drama clubs have been working on
Battle Mountain High School Players/Courtesy photo
A couple of Eagle County schools are getting ready to showcase months of hard work from the members of their drama clubs before the students leave for Thanksgiving break. The Battle Mountain High School Players will perform Shakespeare’s classic, “Romeo and Juliet” while the Vail Mountain School’s Upper School Theatre Department will perform “The Play That Goes Wrong.”
‘Romeo and Juliet’
Battle Mountain High School Players will tackle the complexities of Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet” and all the themes that go with it: passion, fury, risk, ancient grudge, division, prejudice, fear and star-crossed love.
“We chose ‘Romeo and Juliet’ partially because we wanted the students to have exposure to a Shakespearean piece before leaving high school, as Shakespeare is not taught in most English classes, and also because it is a timeless tale with important lessons,” said Caitlin Almond, who directs this production along with David Mayer.
A cast of 23 and eight crew members have been working on this play since the first week of September and had the bigger challenge of the language Shakespeare uses. Almond said she feels the Shakespearean language, once brought to life on stage, reveals an entirely new world to the students and the audience.
“Shakespeare never intended for his works to be struggled through by students in a classroom; his words were meant to be felt in motion, embodied with passion and action on the stage,” Almond said.
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There will be lots of action on stage with the fight scenes in “Romeo and Juliet.” Almond said that they had the opportunity to work with a professional fight choreographer on this production.
“The cast learned the basics of hand-to-hand stage combat, grappling and sword fighting with rapiers. The production contains several high-energy, intense fight scenes,” Almond said.
Come experience the performance with characters like the headstrong and passionate Juliet, the brooding and poetic Romeo, the flamboyant and dynamic Mercutio, the meddling and perhaps evil Friar Laurence and the angry, grudge-holding Lady Capulet and Lady Montague.
The play will be at Battle Mountain High School’s Susan Foster Auditorium Thursday through Saturday at 7 p.m. More information and ticket sales can be found at .
‘The Play That Goes Wrong’
Upvalley, look for comedy as the Vail Mountain School’s Upper School Theatre Department will perform “The Play That Goes Wrong.” This play begins before the curtain has even been raised and the audience is present while the Cornley Polytechnic Drama Society prepares to stage their new production, the 1920s murder mystery, “Murder at Haversham Manor.”
“The set is not complete, but that is all a part of the plot. The play is now set in motion and with a murder (and a moving corpse) established from the beginning, the murder mystery gets into full flow. However, the props start to disappear, actors go missing and the set begins to collapse around, and often on, the cast. Mayhem ensues, the acting gets worse, and the set becomes increasingly dangerous, but the company struggles on regardless. The question is whether any of the cast and crew will remain standing or conscious by the final curtain,” said Vail Mountain School’s theater director Christi Howell.
The Vail Mountain School’s Performing Arts Department wanted to do a funny, lighthearted play. The students looked at five different plays, researched each play and then decided on “The Play That Goes Wrong.” The Upper School theater team has been hard at work, with 10 dedicated actors and three talented students leading tech. Since September, they’ve been pouring their energy and creativity into bringing this production to life.
“It’s been inspiring to watch their commitment grow each day as they work together to create something truly memorable,” Howell said.
Come see “The Play That Goes Wrong” at Vail Mountain School’s Peter Abuisi Theater Thursday through Saturday at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $8 for students and $10 for adults and can be purchased online at .
