Mills students take the stage in a play about high school. This November 6-8, our school is doing a modern retelling of Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing, a romantic comedy about two contrasting romances where people fall in love and chaos takes control because it’s Shakespeare, so nothing is ever normal.. This play mirrors the experiences we face more head-on than the original, as it’s inspired by our day-to-day life.
Like high school, this play contains constant conflict. Sophomore Julia Smith describes, “There’s a lot of drama that could have been prevented and is unnecessary.”
When the cast is working together on a play or musical, they become a big group that is full of like-minded people. Senior Newt Wolter (Benny) states, “Everyone is unafraid to be expressive, which is what makes the theater such a special place; everyone is voluntarily open to vulnerability, and it’s a beautiful thing.” He also states, “I love performing and it’s such a thrill to be on stage with a group of people with the same passion that I do, and watching the events of the show unfold. Live theater makes every rehearsal and show unpredictable, which is endlessly exciting.” When you work with a large group, such as the cast of Much Ado About Nothing, you build a connection with the people you spend time rehearsing with. However, it’s not just all hanging out with like-minded individuals.
In order to put on a well-rounded show that is up to par, it is important for these stars to rehearse. Smith says, “We have rehearsal four days a week for an hour and a half after school, but that’ll probably get bumped to two hours the closer to the show. We’re also memorizing our lines. There’s a lot of working and set building.” I know from my own theater experience that being on campus an hour after school ends and possibly even two hours is an absolute nightmare. However, when you’re a lead, you are faced with a harder challenge: remembering your lines.
For a show to go on, the actors, especially leads, have got to remember their lines, which leads to more pressure. Wolter, who plays one of the main characters, says, “[The responsibility] can come with its stressors, as I have a lot of lines to memorize with less room for mistakes. I do want to feel as if I’ve earned the role and have put a lot of effort into getting my lines down and figuring out the choices to do justice to my character.” When doing a production, it’s important to memorize your lines to be able to perform the best you can and do yourself and your co-stars justice.
The Mills Theater department has been working hard to perform a top-tier show for the Mills community. The show dates are November 6 to 8, so make sure you come and support your community.
