Many clubs and programs suffered during the pandemic, and some are still recovering. Theater, however, is running at full strength. The fall play ended last month and Theater is now working on The Revolting Teens of Sherwood, the children’s show, as well as the spring musical, Into The Woods.
The Theater Department encompasses the classes that prepare the shows as well as the Theater Tech Program, Drama Club, and Improv club. The theater community is progressing and expanding. “I think we are growing because people want a place to come and be themselves and be a little goofy and make art with others. That is something special that you get from theater, is it involves so many different creative elements combining into one magical picture,” Theater Director Natalie Gress said. Garfield Senior and Tech Director Matilda Engelson agreed: “Progress is happening and it is becoming a more welcoming place and I’m really excited. I hope that other people can see that and want to participate even if they didn’t previously feel welcome.”
In October, Garfield staged its first show of the year, The One Act Play Where Something Goes Wrong. Contrary to the name, the show was a major success. “It was a very funny murder mystery and an opportunity to stretch and flex our theater performance and tech skills. The story itself is making fun of theater, and I think that’s a really beautiful way to also bring people into a theater space,” Gress said.
Theater students are now working on their next play, which is a children’s show. Alongside guest director Neely Seams from South End Stories, the program is preparing a Robinhood adaptation titled The Revolting Teens of Sherwood. Each year, as part of a program unique to Garfield, groups of elementary schoolers from the area take field trips to watch a show designed to introduce them to live theater. The play will also be performed for Garfield students and the larger community for one night, on Friday, January 12.
This year’s culminating production will be Into the Woods, an ensemble musical directed by Gress and Garfield teacher Blake Saunders. Due to the enormity of the project, production has already begun. Auditions took place in early December. Gress said the musical contains “all the elements of life and loss and grief and mistakes that are part of being human and that’s what I love about the show. I am really excited to be working on it with young people; it is my favorite musical and has been since I was in 7th or 8th grade.” The musical will open next spring.
It is not too late for students to join the inclusive Theater community. Garfield Theater is deeply integrated into the school, with a variety of classes dedicated to the program, but there are also lower commitment options. Drama Club meets weekly, on Wednesdays during lunch in the black box. Co-president Maddy Smith said “If you have any interest in anything theater related, the first point of contact would be Drama Club.” A few times a year, Drama Club presents Dramatic Paws: short, student directed, managed, and performed skits. Alongside Improv Club, which meets Fridays after school, Drama Club is an accessible way to try out theater. The next opportunity to view Dramatic Paws is in February.
Gress, Smith, and Engelson all emphasized Theater’s openness to newcomers. “Something we are always trying to work on is getting people involved in theater if they’re interested. One of our goals has been to get new people involved and I think it’s worked,” Smith said.
