On Sept. 5, Upper School Theater Director Sentell Harper announced the upcoming productions for the 2024-2025 school year.
The Spring Musical, “The Drowsy Chaperone,” is set in the protagonist’s living room, where he plays a recording of his favorite musical. According to Harper, he selected the production because he considers it silly and exaggerated, and he wants to encourage student actors to explore different genres of musical theater.
The Fall Play, “Peter and the Starcatcher,” follows an orphaned boy searching for his identity with the help of friends, becoming Peter Pan in the process.
When selecting the Fall Play, Harper explained that he prioritized the themes of community and identity.
“We’ve all kind of felt lost and alone, like the character who becomes Peter,” Harper said. “Finding your way and finding your group of people — that’s really a story I connect with and I feel a lot of people will connect with.”
There are multiple ways for students to get involved with the productions. Auditions for the musical will be in January.
The play was originally written for a smaller cast, but Harper decided that the play’s versatility allowed for additional roles. In terms of casting, he wants students eager to have fun and engage with their castmates. Harper advised, “Just come in ready to be silly [and to] show us who you are.”
Sidwell students can also participate in tech crew, run by Upper School Technical Theater Teacher Rebecca Pfeil. Students assist her with the production’s costumes, set designs, sound effects and stage lighting.
According to Harper, a common concern for students interested in these productions is balancing schoolwork and extracurricular activities. They wanted to assure that rehearsals are structured to work around most student conflicts, including sport events.
Senior Kaila Saad expresses that her favorite aspect of the Upper School productions is the community. Saad said, “The community is so tight knit and you make really close friends.” She explained that the cast and crew both work to the same goal, which allows for a stronger bond. Saad encourages everyone to try participating in at least one production. The Opening Night for the fall play will be Nov. 22 at 7:30 p.m.
