The theater department is putting on It’s a Wonderful Life for their first play of the school year. The cast list is out and rehearsals have started. The play is being directed by Amy Clemens, the new theater teacher. 

“My vision or goal for this semester, as far as the theater program goes, is to get as many students involved as possible, whether they’re in a theater class or not in a theater class, and hopefully recruit more students to be a part of our theater program so that it will continue to grow,” Clemens said. 

In addition to getting the cast ready to perform, Clemen’s goal is to encourage people from the community to come and support the program, which is part of the reason she chose It’s a Wonderful Life. 

“It is a family friendly play. It is a family friendly story,” Clemens said. “It has the potential to bring in a large audience from the community which is part of the goal in building our theater program, and it provides an opportunity to use a lot of students in the production on the acting side as well as the technical side.”

Due to Covid-19, there was no fall semester play last year, so many of the theater students are eager to be involved again. 

“I’m excited for all of the rehearsals,” senior Chey Tubb said. “I love being able to play a character and learn more about my fellow actors. My goal is to better myself as an actor.”

In rehearsals, the actors are going over the script, working on blocking, and learning about their characters.

“I’m Mr. Potter, the antagonist in the play,” sophomore Malachi Strachan said. “I love this character’s absolute evilness. He’s a villain in a way that’s very real, the kind of disputable that you can find anywhere. I am most excited to see my fellow actors take on their parts. I plan to learn from them. They’re all so inspiring and kind.”

The cast will perform their play for the community on December 14 in the auditorium.

“You should come see It’s a Wonderful Life to support the arts of course,” Strachan said, “but honestly I think you should see our production so that you can brag to your friends that you saw Chey Tubb, Alan Dickson, and Connor Calloway before they were famous. With such wonderful actors, the real question is why shouldn’t you come!”