This has been the strangest rehearsal process in the history of rehearsals and I am sincerely hopeful that if you are reading this, we are in the L-DHS Auditorium and you are about to enjoy the fruit of our labor. Who knew that our spring play would coincide with a pandemic? Oddly enough, Shakespeare wrote King Lear, the play on which our show is loosely based, while quarantined for the plague. Perhaps this is no coincidence as we've had to get creative trying to figure out how to have online rehearsals while keeping our social distance. In addition to the challenge of rehearsing during a pandemic, this cast has taken on the challenge of learning stage combat along with comedic timing. Meanwhile, our crew and advanced theatre arts students have worked tirelessly to finish the costumes and set. All of which, we hope will bring some much needed levity after a challenging few months.
If you are not sitting in the L-DHS Auditorium as you are reading this, then sadly, circumstances beyond our control may have caused us to cancel. If that is the case, we are so sad to be unable to share this work with you as in spite of the challenges we've faced, we've had a ball working on this piece.
I couldn't be prouder of this cast and crew for tackling the uncertainty of our production time table with grace and maturity. I'm especially proud of the seniors, for whom this will be their last mainstage production. Whether or not we get to perform this show, we have spent the past 4 years becoming a theatre family and I am heartbroken to think of the possibilty of not being able to allow them to finish what they started. Selfishly, I'm also sad to think of this as farewell because as their director, I'm having a hard time wrapping my brain around losing them to the inevitable graduation and their future. It is my honor to have been their director for the last 4 years and although I'm sad, I can't wait to see what the future holds for each of them. They are kind, compassionate, resillient and their futures are bright.
As an optimist, I'm thinking you are getting ready to watch Game of Tiaras, which mashes up King Lear and Game of Thrones using the Disney Princesses as the main characters. Our advanced theatre class has given our costumes a "steam punk" feel to blend the essence of the Disney Princesses with the gritty stories in Lear and Game of Thrones. You will never view the Disney Princesses in the same light as they jockey for control of the kingdom. Who will emerge, victorious? Just watch and see.
Special Thanks:
The L-DHS Drama Boosters for their continued support.
Rebecca Johnson-fight director
Ray Butler-consulting director
Charles Stevens and Tripp Metzger for their creative problem solving.
The Advanced Theatre Arts Class for the amazing costumes.
Our amazing parent committees for their support in our digital learning and their work on our behalf to help us make this production a reality.
Our amazing cast and crew for learning how to roll with the unexpected and retaining their passion for the arts in spite of the crazy process.
