United We Stand

I get to spend an entire summer with high school theatre people. That may sound like cruel and unusual punishment to some, but I think otherwise. I have said this once and I can't say it enough. I love theatre people. They're crazy, quirky, and even a bit catty at times. They are all unique individuals, but that's what makes them so great.

However, that is not what theatre is about. There is no one star or one spotlight. I can't even think of any great one-man shows. That would make a terrible high school show, I'm sure. It is always the ensemble's show. The ensemble works together to make the greatest show they can. As our director Shannon always says, the show is only as good as the least-committed person. Only the best shows are done by what the ensemble considers a unit, a cast that is all on the same page.

So you'd think, "There's no way that high schoolers can work together so well." You may think, "How can so many individuals think on the same page?" You may even think, "There's no such thing as a good high school show." Well let me tell you this: IT CAN BE DONE. That's why we spend an entire month together, work on a show together, and be completely outrageous together.

Now granted, I've been in lots of shows where what I've talked about has not come together. I've been in many shows where people can't work together, cliques form, and the outcome is not the best sight. People are afraid to commit, and therefore the show suffers. Though, my fondest memories of theatre come from the casts that work the best together. I end up getting to know every single person, we can all commit to the same purpose, and the show looks great. The best shows I have been involved with I have made some of the best friends from, and I will never forget those experiences.

It is amazing to think that twenty-eight visions of a single show will become one vision before the show opens, but I think this is going to be accomplished this month. I love everyone in this cast, and we're becoming a unit as we speak. We laugh together, we cry together, we even cry "WITCH!" together. I know I'm going to have very fond memories of this month and show because I know our production of The Crucible will be one of the greatest shows I will be involved with in my high school years, if not ever, and I can't thank any single person for this. I have to thank our wonderful ensemble.

Undeniably and incredibly sincerely,

Hannah Foerschler