When Ms. Marroquin mentioned that there would be student assistant directors for the winter show, I was immediately set on getting the role. My passion has always been acting, but for some reason when I heard that I may have an opportunity to direct, I just couldn’t shy away from it. Then when she decided that the show was to be student led, it was more daunting, but also even more exciting. As she began to describe the responsibility the directors would have, I started to realize that as an actor, my brain looked at a show from a directing standpoint already, so I was eager to see what I could do with that as an actual director.
Mutually Assured Destruction follows nine pairs of siblings in vignettes that go increasingly further back in time. It seems that the further back in time you go, the more serious the subject matter the squabble builds around is; And yet the demeanor of the siblings doesn’t change. From silly internet jokes to marriage, these siblings fight their way through their differences. It is a show that everyone can find themselves in; regardless of your familial status you will be able to see a relationship-be it a friendship or a sibling relationship- mirrored in a hilarious and thoughtful scene onstage. This show displays the strength and heart that a sibling-like bond can hold, and reminds us that despite arguments, the people that we hold close and our differences from them are what bring color and personality to our lives.
I have learned so much from this experience, and am eager to take these skills with me wherever I go next year for college, and throughout my life in general. I attribute the fun and knowledge this show has brought me and would like to express gratitude to the following people. To Josh, thanks for being a great co-director and dealing with my continuous fountain of crazy ideas; Your creativity and constant comedic gold have added so much depth to this show. It has been an honor to bring this show to life with you. To our wonderful stage manager, thank you for becoming my partner in crime when it comes to the behind the scenes. I don’t think I’d be able to get through it without you. To Ms. Marroquin, thank you so much for this opportunity to grow and learn even more than I already was in your class. You have been with us every step of the way and with every conversation we have, a new seed of knowledge is planted in my brain. You are an inspiration not only to me, but to all of us to work harder and be stronger than we ever had before. I know this year has been a hard one, but the way that you’ve handled it and the shows that you’ve produced during it, just shows how strong and kind of a person you are. I’d like to express how grateful I am to my peers for taking me and Josh in with open arms. It is a weird thing to have someone who you interact with everyday suddenly have power over things like your casting and the direction of your acting. It is even weirder to be the one with that power, but you have all been so kind and patient with us and for that I am very grateful. I am so proud of this cast and crew for taking on new responsibilities so gracefully, and for the talent that we as a group harbor. Each one of you, troupe 1224, is so essential to the magic that we get to share with all that come to watch us, and also to the joy that being in the drama program brings. I am eternally proud of each and every one of you.
Enjoy the Show!
Isabella Zuniga
