Drama students performed student-directed plays on May 4 at the black box theater room in the high school.  This year, the shows were at 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. and tickets were available at the door for $5. 

The student-directed plays have been an annual performance at Monroe Woodbury High School. The plays allow actors and directors a chance to show their skills on stage without many restrictions. Directors were given freedom to choose the play they wanted to put on and then there was an audition process for actors. 

Junior Julia Yustein said, “It’s my first year working as a director!” 

“The student plays are definitely a great opportunity,” said Yustein. “They aren’t as stressful, and are great for the actors to gain more experience.”

Yustein directed  a production of “The Bargain”, a 1950s short story. 

Student director of “The Loyalties”, Clarabelle Navarro, said, “Directors are given most freedom to do what we need to get our play done and ready before we present them.”

Even with this freedom there were difficulties to what they could accomplish within the three weeks they had to rehearse. She added, “It was really hard to get the actors all together in the same place at the same time with sports and clubs going on after school along with other things.” 

These directors aren’t putting on a show alone though. They use the help of actors, stage crew and costume crew.

“Mr. Kaplan helps us a lot in guiding us in the right direction when we need some assistance,” said Isabel Soperanez, an actor in one of the many shows.

Directors face many obstacles when putting on these productions. They try to overcome them and put on a good show. They learn from their mistakes and face new challenges with a new role in the theater as a director. 

Every person is an important aspect of a show.

“Being a director requires at least some knowledge of every aspect of theatre. It requires you to learn how to be a leader and how to work with people,” said Mr. Kaplan.