Even though the school year may be just getting underway, the Penn-Trafford High School Drama Guild has already begun their rehearsals for this year’s fall production, “Romeo and Juliet-Together (and Alive!) at Last.”
The play revolves around two middle schoolers, Pete Saltz and Anabell Stackpoole, who like each other but do not want to admit it. Their friends see this and decide to force a connection between the two by putting on a production of “Romeo and Juliet,” casting Pete and Anabell as the lead roles. But the production does not go entirely as planned and comedic mayhem ensues.
P-T Drama Guild, which puts on a fall play every year, chose this unusual type of play within a play for a couple of reasons. Jen Haberberger, who is the producer and sponsor for both the spring and fall productions, said that most popular plays are dry and are difficult, compared to this year’s. Another reason the management chose this play was because of the cast that they knew was returning. Haberberger said many decisions went into the casting such as the range of the different cast members and who looks good standing beside each other.
One of these decisions was the casting of junior Carter Reyes as the title character of Pete/Romeo. Reyes, who is in his first year with the P-T Drama Guild, said “I’ve always had a passion for acting, I feel that’s my personality and that’s my calling I feel like.” But he has always felt overruled by fear that stopped him from pursuing his passion for acting, but he is happy he pushed through the fear to join this year and that the cast is super happy and welcoming to him.
According to Haberberger the rehearsal process has been going well with a very eager cast who’s excited to put on this performance. The major difficulty presented so far is the set design. This is the first year that the theatrical design class is having a part in the creation of the set, which is a tall order for a class this early in the year.
The performances will be in the high school auditorium on the weekend of Nov. 11 with exact times to be decided and announced. All tickets for the show must be purchased at the door with no online tickets available.
Mia Williams, Business Manager