Coordinated by seniors Audrey Sanger and Oliver Perlo, North’s 17th Annual Playwrights Festival brought both comedic and heartfelt stories to life. The show, which featured eight plays written and performed by students, ran from June 6-8in the Little Theater.
Each 10-minute play reflected the precision and hard work of the entire cast and crew, as everyone involved in the process worked closely together to ensure a great performance.
“I really loved finally getting to see the show come together and performing for people,” said Freshman Alex Santonastaso, a cast member. “I could really connect with my cast because it was so small, and being close with the director of my performance made the process even better.”
The production started with Gamerz, written and directed by Sanger. Audiences chuckled as 12-year-old Jackson, played by Santonastaso, hashed a plan to save his Fortnite career after missing a live stream to complete his math homework. The play ended with his reluctant math tutor, played by junior Kyle Symonds, attempting to understand the world of gaming.
The third play was titled This House written by Julia Bartow Fuchs and directed by Juniors Nell Renalli and Leah Ziskin. The play brings to light the important dynamic between mothers and daughters across multiple generations, switching perspectives between Jude, played by Junior Jules Jaffe, and her mother and grandmother, played by sophomore Apolline Naud and Senior Ruby Metcalf. The unique approach to the narration captivated the audience, leaving many teary-eyed.
Finally, another striking performance was the play Sirens, written and directed by Junior Maya Macomber. The play follows young Maris, a siren played by freshman Caroline Fahey, as she struggles to capture the attention of the male pirates. However, by the end of the play, Maris realizes that spending time with her friends is more important. The final scene featured a hilarious dance number to “Crazy in Love” by Beyonce, where the audience clapped to the beat as the characters shuffled their feet and flapped their “tails”.
Playwrights’ final show also marked the closing off of the school year, as Playwrights was the final Theater Ink production of the season.
“The show was a great opportunity to say goodbye to the seniors and reflect on everyone’s process and experience at Theater Ink,” said Junior Kendall Labrache, a member of the cast. “Each and every person worked incredibly hard to make this show come to life.”
Overall, the dedication of the writers, directors, designers, and cast shines through in the end result, making North’s 17th annual PLaywrights Festival an excellent show.
