After the exceptional performances made in their respective Legally Blonde roles, the drama students here at Pitman had high expectations to live up to. After months of preparation for the musical Into the Woods, Drama held its shows (most of which were sold out!) during the last weeks of March. I had the pleasure of attending on their final performance day, which was on March 23rd.

On the final day, friends, family, and theatre enthusiasts alike gathered by the door of the drama department, some with flowers and cards, eagerly waiting to get their snacks and pick their seats. By 6 pm, the doors opened and we were greeted by the one and only Ms. McBay, teacher and supporter of the talented  drama class. With a smile on her face, the pride she felt in her students was quite evident and heart-warming.

As quickly as the theatre filled with people, the lights dimmed and the play began. The set used for the play was nicely made and eye catching; however through their powerful acting and singing skills, it was the actors who brought it to life. The opening scene was quite unlike what the audience had expected, thanks to the portrayal of the Witch. Raw and scarily real, her cackling laughter (which I imagine took weeks to perfect) as well as tone and posture made for a more authentic performance.

Overall, as the actors ventured off into the woods and found themselves in various misfortunes, the audience followed along, smiling, laughing, and sometimes wiping the single tear off their face. The baker and his wife were also great to watch as they bittered, joked, and sang, hoping to find all the items so they could finally have a child. Cinderella, Little Red, Rapunzel, the Princes, and Jack were also commendable in their acting and to be honest, perfect for those roles. Every performer, backstage, and set member worked together flawlessly to ensure their common purpose of entertaining the audience. Hats of to everyone who contributed to the play!

The most memorable part after the intermission and play itself was undoubtedly the speech given by the actor who played the baker. Taking a moment to talk about the importance of theatre and thank Ms. McBay, he brought tears to our eyes and compelled a standing ovation.

Prior to the play however, I also got to have a short interview Marcus Helwick (the Steward), Rebecca Tennell (Rapunzel), and Makena Sousa (Narrator). The following is a transcript of our interview.

Kooner: How many lines did drama kids have to practice and how long have you been preparing for the musical?

Helwick: It depends on the part so it’s different for everybody, and for about two months.

Kooner: How long have you been involved with drama?

Helwick: I’ve been a part of Pitman drama for three years now.

Tennell: I have been in theatre since the third grade.

Sousa: I’ve been involved with drama since second grade.

Kooner: Why do you like drama?

Helwick: I like drama because I can be myself and be wild!

Tennell: I love drama and theatre because I get to share something that I love with the rest of the world.

Sousa: I love drama because of all the people in it.

Kooner: Is there anything you would like to say to the people coming to watch the upcoming musical?

Tennell: I really encourage everyone to come see Pitman theatre because it really speaks from the heart and we try to bring in the audience as much as we can to show them how united we are and how much we love what we do.

As you can see, the  drama kids here at PItman are not only hard-working individuals but they are also very passionate about theatre