The curtains have closed on Hadestown, and the cast and crew will begin their much-needed rest after spending the second semester rehearsing the show over and over until it’s just right for opening night.
As the months went on during early spring, so did rehearsals. The senior Thespians: Vincent Arsenault, Ava Masi, and Jocelyne Lioe, celebrated their final SPHS show as Co-Student Director (Arsenault), and two lead roles (Masi, Lioe).
Along with Shyann Fly-Schultz (11), Arsenault (12) has to hold up a role of leadership that has to overlook the entire cast and crew, as well as production entirely.
Arsenault has also been a part of theatre for his entire four years at SPHS. For the show The Butler Did It Again, Arsenault helped the crew (three now-alumni and himself) put together an alligator puppet, in which “we had to have gone through a million different reworks to perfect.” Arsenault (12) said.
In his freshman year, he wrote a letter to theatre director Kiya Broughton, hoping to obtain the role of student director. Now he feels that “[he] ha[s] worked [his] way up since then,” and that he has earned it.
To make Persephone and Eurydice come to life in their own, unique new way, both Masi and Lioe have to possess immense passion for their characters. On top of the recent Goldfever performance, they both have been a part of every show since their freshman year. Whether that means backstage or onstage, their thespian spirit has always shined through.
Lioe and Masi both took on production and marketing design roles for the Merry Wives of Windsor, however Lioe believes that the Little Shop of Horrors, the spring musical of 2024, “was a wonderful experience and an overall enjoyable production.” Lioe also mentioned that it was the best show in the past four years that she has spent in the theatre club.
Lioe has a personal interest in Hadestown, stating that despite her prior knowledge of the show, she is grateful to have been cast as her dream role of Eurydice. “The shows are definitely stressful, but I have hope that we’ll pull through like we always do. I think we have the potential to put on another great show.”
As always, the technical details of the shows are overlooked by the students. To comment, Sound Chair Damien Schwerin (11), remarking on his past shows, and his experiences as chair.
Although he worked with Set in the past, as well as ensemble for the 2023 performance of Grease, Schwerin has been the sound chair for the majority of his high-school career. “Being in sound is better for people like me, those who don’t want to be performing on stage but still want an active role in theater.” Schwerin (11) said. “I’ve always liked working with music and sound, so it makes sense for me and what I enjoy.”
The cast and crew have now begun their good-byes to the senior thespians. They are looking out from behind the curtain onto the upcoming school year that will, once again, bring the SPHS theatre department even more joy and long-lasting memories.
