I never in a million years would have thought a pandemic would completely throw our lives, our safety, our livelihoods and our culture into complete upheaval. So I have made it my mission to try to bring back some normalcy to our kids’ lives. Since the cancelation of our 2020 spring musical Newsies, I have cried a great deal, but then decided it was time to adjust, to research, to network, and to make theater happen at Holy Family! I read a great deal of scripts over the summer and fall months and this show fit all the boxes I had to check. It was doable in a month’s time, it could be done with or without a mask, and it could be performed virtually if the school went back to remote learning. These were hard boxes to check. What also drew me to this script was it’s comical and often absurd look at the everyday. I just felt like we all needed a good laugh. The main character Alan experiences a class test where everything unexpectedly falls apart around him, and through Alan’s reactions we can humorously recognize our own in such situations. Sometimes we lose our cool and sometimes we just break down, but that is ok, the “test” will end at some point. I hope you enjoy the show!
With all my thoughts and prayers,
-Mrs. Barger
To add to Mrs. Bargers’ thoughts, I also have marvelled and mourned at how the pandemic has changed our world in significant and heartbreaking ways. I have learned to cope by looking for the silver linings along the way. No doubt, if we all reflect for a moment, we can discover ways that our lives have been blessed, even in these trying times. For one, I feel incredibly blessed to have been able to assist in directing this play. Beyond the enormous blessings of teaching in a wonderful, faith-filled, and in-person-learning school, I have the distinct pleasure of working alongside a fantastic director and an incredible cast and crew. The students breathe life and excitement, rawness, humor (lots of this), and love into each rehearsal. I have witnessed how they look out for one another, pray for each other, and stand up for each other. The theater has a special way of cultivating a creative, fun, family environment. It was clear how hungry these young people were to have the theatrical outlet alive in their lives again. What a thrill to help bring that to fruition and see the spark rekindled.
Welcome back to the theater!
-Mrs. Chandler
