WLHS Theatre Arts Program

SHORTS 13 opens Thursday 5/10 and runs through Friday 5/11 and Saturday 5/12 at 7pm in the WLHS Auditorium.  Tickets are $5 for stduents, $8 for adults.  Purchase your tickets online or at the Box Office. 

Our 13th annual evening of student directed/designed/written one-act plays features the following shows this year:

Help Wanted by Ashley Welp, directed by Caroline Hitesman

If Men Played Cards As Women Do by George S. Kaufman, directed by Paden Bryck and Rhianna Turner

The Case of the Crushed Petunias by Tennessee Williams, directed by Ailish Duff

The Grannynappers written and directed by Emily Axelrod

Tickets are now available for “Distracted” – running Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, April 26-28, at 7 PM in the Black Box Studio Theatre.  Tickets are $5 for students, and $8 for adults.  (Not recommended for children under 12.)

Distracted at WLHS

From the publisher:

What’s wrong with nine-year-old Jesse? He can’t sit still, he curses, he raps, and you can’t get him into—or out of—pajamas. His teacher thinks it’s Attention Deficit Disorder. Dad says, “He’s just a boy!” And Mama’s on a quest for answers. Is Jesse dysfunctional, or just different? Don’t we all have ADD, to some degree? She consults a psychologist, a homeopath, a neuropsychologist, and an environmental physician. She talks to neighbors, whose kids have their own diagnoses. A psychiatrist prescribes Ritalin for Jesse, but surely a pill can’t solve all of his problems. Throughout, Jesse is an offstage voice, becoming louder and angrier, but he is in danger of fading away. And his parents’ marriage is in peril. Everyone is distracted, even the actors—they’re breaking character! A hilarious, provocative, and poignant look at a modern family and an epidemic dilemma: Are we so tuned into our 24/7 info-rich world that we’ve tuned out what really matters?

Thank you to all auditioners. All Casts please meet in the Auditorium at 3:30 on Monday 4/9 for a meeting and then to divide into cast groups. 

Here it is….

SHORTS 13 CASTS

* Special Note: If you are failing a class (or classes), you must speak with Jessica Murray to work something out. You may be re-cast for academic ineligibility. 

Wonderful initial auditions! Callbacks will be done in 4 time-blocks. Click here to see what blocks and shows you are called back for…

UPDATED CALLBACKS LIST!!! (there were errors on the first list) SHORTS 13 Callbacks

Time Blocks

1st Block: 3:30-4:00

2nd Block: 4:10-4:40

3rd Block: 4:50-5:20

4th Block: 5:30-6:00

Audition Spaces

The Grannynappers – Auditorium

Help Wanted  – Choir Room

The Case of the Crushed Petunias – Makeup Room

If Men Played Cards As Women Do – Green Room

Auditions for SHORTS 13 (the 13th year of our annual student-run one-act play festival) will be this THURSDAY 4/5 at 3:30pm in the AUDITORIUM. Invited Call-backs will be FRIDAY 4/6.

Please print, fill out, and bring this audition form with you on THURSDAY; you must have one in order to audition.  SHORTS Audition Form 

You will check in with the stage managers in the lobbyat 3:30 and recieve an order. you may leave after auditioning. The callback lists for each of the 4 shows will be posted on Thursday evening here online and on the lobby doors.  Callbacks will be held in 4 time slots, to facilitate any actors that may be called back for all 4 shows. 

To audition please select ONE of the FOUR Scenes provided.  Even if you pick a scene from one play, you will still be auditioning for them all.  All of the scenes are duos, so you will need a partner, and they must be gender appropriate, as called for in the scene.  If you cannot find a partner beforhand, you may find someone to read with you at auditions. 

Scene for TWO WOMEN Audition Scene 1 – Help Wanted

Scene for TWO MEN Audition Scene 2 – The Grannynappers

Scene for TWO WOMEN (playing men) Audition Scene 3 – If Men Played Cards As Women Do

Scene for ONE MAN and ONE WOMAN Audition Scene 4 – The Case of the Crushed Petunias

Click here for more information about the plays and all the characters. Shorts 13 Synopses and Character Descriptions

Please contact Jessica Middleton-Murray with any questions.

The shows and directors for SHORTS 13 are…

THE GRANNYNAPPERS written and directed by Emily Axelrod

When Hank can’t find happiness in life, his brother Frank becomes desperate to help. After trying multiple methods that seem to fail, Frank takes things too far and kidnaps grandmas in an attempt to bring Hank “love”. A fast-paced, absurdist comedy develops as Hank and Frank must clear their apartment of all the grandmas, before it’s too late. (2m/5+w)

THE CASE OF THE CRUSHED PETUNIAS by Tennessee Williams, directed by Ailish Duff

The Case of the Crushed Petunias was written in 1941 and is the story of Dorothy Simple, a woman trapped in her job at a notions shop in Primanproper, Massachusetts. Her complacent existence is interrupted by a visit from a tall man who works for LIFE Inc. who, she discovers, trampled her petunias the night before. With offers of poetry and packets of seeds, he helps her break free from her dreary life. (1m/2w/1either)

IF MEN PLAYED CARDS AS WOMEN DO by George S. Kaufman, directed by Rhianna Turner and Paden Bryck

Written in the 1920′s, this play is a delightful commment on gender politics.  Four men meet for a game of cards, yet the topic of conversation seems more typical of women.  Originally written for male actors, the roles will be cast with women, all playing men.  (4w)

HELP WANTED by Ashley Welp, directed by Caroline Hitesman

Finding love is hard, finding a job is even harder.  In this witty, timely romantic comedy two women explore friendship, unemployment, and finding the right man.  (3m/3w)

AUDITIONS

Audition materials and character descriptions will be available here by Monday 4/2. Auditions will be held Thursday 4/5 at 3:30 in the Black Box; callbacks will be Friday 4/6.  Rehearsals will begin Monday 4/7 and will be held each school day from 3:30-5:00.  SHORTS 13 will run May 10, 11, 12 at 7pm in the Auditorium.

School is closed today, which means rehearsal is canceled, as well.  On Wednesday, Mar. 14, we bust through scenes 8-12 (end of Act I).  Lots to cover, but we’ll make it!  (Gee, I love rehearsing in the winter!)

- Jon

This has been really fun, seeing so many fantastic WLHS actors do their very best – and with Cold Reads!  Tough stuff – and you all did such an amazing job.  Casting a show is always challenging, but at least it was great fun to see such wonderful, talented actors!

So… here’s the cast:

Mama – Ashley Welp

Dad – Thommie Olson

Jesse – Noah Radcliffe

Dr. Zavala, Waitress, Carolyn – Camille Bradshaw

Mrs. Holly, Dr. Waller, Nurse – Melissa Cozzi

Dr. Broder, Dr. Jinks, Dr. Karnes – Ryan Pierson

Sherry – Kaelyn Rushforth

Vera – Dinah Sigmund

Natalie – Gracie Sleeper

First rehearsal is Monday, March 5, 3:30 PM in the Black Box.  Scripts will be handed out, rehearsal schedule will be discussed, and all that fun stuff. We shall end by 6 PM.

PLEASE NOTE: We have a PARENT MEETING scheduled for Tuesday, March 6, at 6:30 PM. Please invite a parent to come meet with us, discuss the show, etc.

Thank you all!

- Jon

Now! is the time to start getting our student directors, designers, and playwrights lined up for our upcoming production of SHORTS 13. 

SHORTS 13 will be performed in the Auditorium on MAY 11, 12, 13 at 7pm.  Applications to direct, design, or write are due WEDNESDAY, MARCH 14th at 3:15. Click here for more information about applying.  Shorts Application  Actor Auditions will be Thursday, April 5th. More details to come after directors and plays are selected.  Directors and Shows will be announced March 15th – beware the ides of March!

WOW.

Amazing work, folks!! Such wonderful stuff!  Thank you ALL so much for taking the time to audition.

Now, I know you hear this every time, but I’m going to say it one more time:

Just because your name is not on this list, it does not mean you are not cast in the show! I am only reading certain roles tomorrow.

Called back to the Black Box on Tuesday, Feb. 28, at 3:30 PM:

Emily Axelrod
Camille Bradshaw
Marisa Brookhouse
Melissa Cozzi
Ailish Duff
Bailey Middleton
Griffin Ollar
Riley Olson
Thommie Olson
Ryan Pierson
Gracie Sleeper
Brad Stone
Ashley Welp