In a nod to a longstanding tradition, the student actors of Durango High School Troupe 1096 will take to the stage Friday night for their annual Underclassman Gala.
Senior members of the troupe cast the underclassmen in a series of one-acts, which are presented early second semester, said Director Ben Mattson.
“Every year the ‘flavor’ of the gala changes depending on the senior class. We have had standard straight shows, comedies, dramas, musicals, original work, devised pieces ... You never know exactly what to expect from the creativity and vision of these students,” he said. “Admission to the Underclassmen Gala is free – however, we always accept donations. Any donations will go toward helping our upperclassmen go to our national festival this summer.”
If you go
WHAT: Durango High School Troupe 1096 presents its Underclassman Gala.
WHEN: 6 p.m. Friday.
WHERE: DHS auditorium, 2390 Main Ave.
TICKETS: Free, donations accepted.
MORE INFORMATION: Visit https://troupe1096.weebly.com.
The senior directors include:
“The underclassmen gala is very important for our underclassmen here at the high school. It gives freshmen and sophomores an opportunity to get a larger role and experience the full picture of what it is like to be a part of the theater. While for seniors, it gives them the opportunity to be able to direct and put in work to create a piece to present to the public. I remember when I did it my sophomore year, it was my first time acting on stage in front of an audience. I was very excited to perform and it gave me the courage to continue to audition and act in future plays.”
"There are several plays performing, each averaging about 30 minutes. Our play, ‘Silly Goofy Tea Time’ is the 3rd show to perform, right after intermission. We have been rehearsing since Thanksgiving break, with all of our rehearsals being out of school hours. We have had a total of 4 rehearsals, and we have run the show many times during these rehearsals. Our actors are amazing, and they have really embraced their characters very well. We are excited to see the show come together and are excited to see the other shows as well!“
"This show is a murder mystery comedy about a low-end fast food restaurant and the new girl who just got hired. This has been such a good experience for me as someone who is planning to pursue performing arts as my career. I’ve only ever done acting and tech, so being a director has really expanded my horizons in such a good way. When I was an underclassman, this gala was really my first time acting; I had been in other productions but not with a prominent speaking role. I also remember having an absolute blast and wanted to re-create that experience with this group of wonderful and talented underclassmen. They have put so much work into this show and have done such an amazing job. If you like mystery and comedy, and want to support aspiring actors, come see our show on Friday in the DHS auditorium.“
“As someone who is so new to the Troupe (I just joined last year, playing the Dentist in ‘Little Shop of Horrors’) it has been one of the most immersive and welcoming environments in the whole high school. Everyone is so supportive of everyone else regardless of skill level or experience, and it is so fun to work with everyone together to create a piece of work. This is the exact environment we attempted to emulate for ‘Lend Me a Tenor.’ We all believe that if everyone feels supported and believed in, the show will turn out 10 times better.
Directing a show has brought a whole new perspective to the world of theater, especially being so new to it. Understanding the moving parts of a production, from technical aspects to acting elements has truly uncovered the complexities that general audiences might be unaware of. It has also added another layer of connection with all of my theater companions. Being able to work with incredibly experienced theater artists has given me valuable insight into artistry and my own acting choices. Watching these younger underclassmen grow so much through our production has reminded me of my own journey, and how much I have benefited from the positive role models in my theater experience.
‘Lend Me a Tenor’ is an incredibly funny show. It can speak to any audience through its humor, and almost anyone can relate to the underlying story of building confidence and a backbone. The cast is incredibly talented, and they are all such heavy lifters. They have done a great job with this script, and my co-directors and I are incredibly excited for this production.“
