OCTOBER 22, 2009 ISSUE
Pioneer Playmakers Presents Elegy at WHS November 2
WHS theatre educator Sarah Miller is pictured with the Pioneer Playmakers, a group comprised of Beckett Bathanti, Hayden Brown, Emily Bushman, Amanda Carringer, Taylor Cody, Abby Foster, Cam Haas, Ashley Harkins, Kevin Logan, Anna Lowe, Robbie Nickel, Marissa Pannell, Jessica Presnell, Dylan Russell, Carmela White, Emma Willard, Bryan Williams and Ethan Woodring (not in order). Photo submitted
The Pioneer Playmakers will present their entry for the North Carolina Theatre Conference One-Act Play Festival on Monday, November 2, at 7:00 p.m. in the Ross Auditorium at Watauga High School.
Elegy, written and created by the Playmakers—the honors acting class at the high school—tells the story of the life and loss of Martha Langdon through the experiences of Martha and her friends and family members. General admission is $3.
The 18 members of the Playmakers have been writing and working on scenes for the play in workshops since mid-September, said Jessica Presnell, a WHS senior and member of the Playmakers.
“We did an interesting exercise at the beginning of class,” Presnell said, explaining that the class was divided into teams of two, and each student had to pantomime the life of their assigned partner.
“As we were doing that, we realized that we all have experienced some kind of loss, so we thought we could all relate to that.”
Through the play, the ensemble presents “how different losses can come from one big loss,” Presnell said. “We would like the audience to relate to the show using their own experiences.”
The Playmakers have found that the experience of writing their own show is very different than taking someone else’s work and performing it, Presnell said.
“It can be hard, but I think we’ve enjoyed doing that,” she said. “It definitely brings the ensemble together.”
WHS senior and Playmaker Abby Foster agreed. “Even though this has been a hard and challenging process, it’s going to be a great show,” she said.
A statewide organization made up of high schools, universities, professional and nonprofit organizations, the North Carolina Theatre Conference is dedicated to supporting theatre, said Sarah Miller, WHS theatre teacher.
The Playmakers will perform their play the weekend of November 6 at the regional competition, which is held at Western Carolina University, Miller said.
In the festival, each group has 45 minutes to set up their stage, perform the piece and exit the stage, Miller said, adding that more than 100 one-acts will be performed across the state in various regional sites.
“It’s a great opportunity for high school students from across the state to get feedback from theater professionals and to watch and celebrate each other’s work,” Miller said.
The main purpose of the play for her students, she added, is to challenge themselves as an ensemble.
“I want to applaud the kids for choosing to make a piece,” Miller said. “It’s really wonderful to see their work come out in black and white and end up on the stage.”
Want To Go?
Date: Monday, November 2
Time: 7:00 p.m.
Location: Ross Auditorium, Watauga High School
Cost: $3
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