Drama, Drama, Drama

by Rachel Kenderdine

Hours and weeks of practice, new friends, costume fittings, and endless studying of lines, all leading up to the perfect moment on stage. These are the experiences that PCHS Drama participants will encounter during their production of “Up the Down Staircase” this fall.

Two casts will perform the play, each starring in two performances. Ellie Vaughn, a senior who plays new teacher Sylvia Barrett in one cast, says that the play is good. “I like it a lot,” she said. “It’s a pretty good fall play.”

The play, by Bel Kauffman, is one that Mr. Lynch, drama director at PCHS, says relates well to high school. “It’s about the struggles of high school students and how their lives outside of school influence their lives in school, and the struggles of a new teacher dealing with all the rules and regulations,” he said. Mr. Lynch also chose the play for a special reason--it was the one that was performed during his senior year of high school.

Ellie also added that while having a big part in the play is exciting, it also comes with some difficulties. “I’m really nervous,” she said. “I have a lot of lines so I’m pretty worried.”

“Up the Down Staircase,” is still in the works, with practices twice a week and on Saturdays. In the week before the play, dress rehearsal will take place nightly, according to the PCHS Drama Blog. Performances of the play will take place November 12th, 13th, and 14th in the PCHS Auditorium.

But for now, Ellie is just happy to have a lead. “I screamed when I saw the cast list,” she said, “but there wasn’t anyone there so it wasn’t too embarrassing.”

Pictured: Alex Fenza, one of the leads of the play, practices his lines as Joe Ferone. (picture taken by Blade Hall)