By Olivia D’Ambrosia 

Every winter, members of the Honors Theater class produce and direct the Winter Play. This year, they directed Constellations by Nick Payne on January 12 and January 13 on the Oates Theater stage. Student directors Hannah Bonbright (‘24), Connor Chang (‘24), Emma Lewis (‘24), and Abby Merchant (‘24) had to work through challenges as a group to put together a performance the audience would enjoy. 

Constellations is a two-person play that follows the storyline of Marianne and Roland through different universes with different possible outcomes. The play goes through Marianne and Roland’s relationship from beginning to end. Throughout the play, there are snippets of a recurring scene with the same characters in the same universe, and at the end, you see the scene in its entirety. The directors called this scene “the italics scene,” since it was written in italics in the script. 

Crew mates, cast mates, and directors meet in Oates Theater to prepare for their first run-through. Photo credit: Olivia D’Ambrosia.

When it came time for the directors to choose a play, Honors Theater teacher Steve Perigard gave them a compilation of different plays. The class knew they wanted to do a performance similar to last year’s Winter Play, Too Much Light Makes The Baby Go Blind (30 Plays in 60 Minutes), a shorter play with a smaller cast that had many little scenes, with the audience sitting on the stage around the performance to encourage audience participation. After reading many different plays, the class agreed upon Constellations. It took Merchant a while to get on board. They explained, “I wasn’t seeing the vision as quickly as everyone else,” but eventually they became just as enthusiastic as everyone else. “Obviously, now I love it.” 

Something about the Winter Play that I find more interesting than the Fall Musical and Spring Play is the opportunity to see people you wouldn’t expect to be on stage. This year, the directors delineated cast members and scenes differently than in other years. Instead of each director choosing their own cast with their own set of scenes, all the directors collectively chose one cast that everyone got to work with. Each director still had their own respective scenes but with a mix of all the cast members; however, all of them directed the italics scene. 

At one rehearsal I attended, Eva Siminiceanu (‘24) and Jake MacNelly (‘24) were practicing their hug that takes place at the end of the show. Once we moved to the stage, the actors got in their places, and the show rehearsal began. Directors moved around while the scenes went on, taking thorough notes. Bonbright and Merchant sometimes gestured at the actors to speak louder and project their voices. A scene I was impressed with was Leah Hope (‘26) and John Mahoney (‘26). Their entire scene was in French. Hope commented, “Acting in a different language is like taking on a new character.”  

Cast mates practicing lines. Photo credit: Olivia D’Ambrosia.

For many actors, it was their first time being in a production, and with that came challenges. This was Siminceau’s first time being on stage, and one of her more notable challenges was staying in character. She said, “If I look out there and see someone I know laughing, I may laugh too.” Madeline Lewis (‘24) struggled with a similar problem. During rehearsals, she commented, “Even just the whole cast watching me is terrifying; I can’t imagine everyone watching me like my friends, even people who aren’t my friends and teachers; it’s terrifying.” Madeline also had to struggle with her twin sister Emma directing her. “I feel Emma is a little harsher on me than other people… but it’s nice to have someone be honest with me and help even when we aren’t in rehearsal, like at home.” 

Two Seniors rehearsing their scene. Photo credit: Olivia D’Ambrosia.

Ariana Penya (‘27) had an inspiring outlook about her first time on stage. Penya said, “I like having to put myself out there and be someone I’m not usually, break the barriers I usually have with a new group.” Although it wasn’t everyone’s first time being in a play, it was a few students’ first time having a speaking role. Maci Meyers (‘26), who played both Marianne and Roland in different scenes, spoke to the challenges of acting in more sizable parts. She said, “Since there are like eight people playing one character, I have to make sure my response as Marianne or Roland is the same as everyone else’s.”

Being a director for a play is different than being an actor. Emma Lewis commented on the difference: “It’s challenging to be in charge and getting everyone on board and organized.” Similarly, Chang said, “[It’s] hard to get exactly what you’re looking for without acting for other people.” Bonbright mentioned the new responsibilities that come with directing. She said she didn’t expect “How much work… it was going be being a director, and how many things that needed to be done that I never would’ve guessed needed to be done.” 

The cast getting a feel for the platforms on stage. Photo credit: Olivia D’Ambrosia.

Despite all the challenges of directing and first-time actors, everyone seemed delighted to be at rehearsals, laughing with cast mates and engaging with people they may not typically hang out with. Bonbright’s favorite part of the process was “Hanging out with the cast, having a fun time, and the energy here is just so warm and inviting.” Part of the welcoming spirit comes from the process being run by the students. Baxter Phillips (‘26) loved how the Winter Play “feels more modern, 21st century, in the times,” compared to other plays that are not student-run. Giles Ferrell (‘24) enjoyed seeing the directors in their element. She explained, “We usually see Hannah, Connor, Emma, and Abby on stage, but it’s fun to see how they think as directors and see their ideas come to life.” 

I went to see the play Friday, January 12, and after hearing what the directors and actors had to say and watching the process unfold, the play was better than I could have imagined. Emma Lewis commented, “There are always some hiccups, but it all tends to come together,” and she was right. Abby Mayr (‘24) explained, “It was really good, and it was entertaining to see my friend Madeline, who had never acted before in it; it was definitely surprising how good she was.”

I’m exhilarated to see some of these student directors back in their element for the Spring Play, an adaptation of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice.

Featured image photo courtesy of Collegiate School.