For further information, please call or email for details. Please contact Tim Nielsen at 703 933 4172 or tdn -at- ehsmail.org.

Please send resume and portfolio to:
Theater Department
Episcopal High School
1200 N Quaker LN
Alexandria VA 22302

The musical opens up with Rona Lisa Perretti (Liz Helm) introducing the audience to the spellers and giving background information on both herself and the young characters. Later the trajectory of the story allows us to meet the six main quirky young characters: Leaf Coneybear (Eric Chow), Marcy Park (Alex Covert), Olive Ostovsky (Sara Hulbert), Chip Tolentino (Russell Pierson), Logainne Schwartzandgrubenierre (Caroline Liddick), and William Barfee (George Thorne).

Among this exceptional cast of young thespians were three particular standouts, Sara Hulbert’s strong mezzo-soprano vocals and youthful interpretation of Olive’s character. In conjunction there was also the clear tenor voice of Russell Pierson and his likable portrayal of Chip, who misses out on what could have been his winning the spelling bee, if not for the mishaps of puberty. And conclusively the enticing character choices made by George Thorne where excellent in showing both the tough “Go big or go home” attitude found in his character as well as the surprisingly gentle giant within.

Consisting of a small ensemble of thirteen cast members, who were all present on stage it could have been easy to lose energy and stamina as the show progressed, but fortunately that was not the case with the energetic cast. Some actors were required to switch into different roles while still onstage and they did so seamlessly. The ingenious usage of audience participation allowed the actors to show off their excellent improvisational skills as well. Particular songs that lent themselves as crowd favorites were “Pandemonium,” “Magic Foot” and “The I Love You Song.”

Characterized by strong vocals, entertaining choreography, and ongoing energy, Episcopal High School’s production of the 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee ran at 90 minutes with no intermission. It certainly was a great family friendly gem, hitting all the right notes for a memorable high school production.

by Ivana Headley of Dominion High School

Against a simple but functional set and in well-chosen costumes, the cast ably portrayed their characters. As Dorothy, Summer Thomas showed her audience a perky young girl unhappy with her ho-hum life in Kansas. Transported to Oz by a cleverly-represented twister, Thomas meets the munchkins, played by the children of Episcopal’s faculty members. After inadvertently killing the Wicked Witch of the East, being given her ruby slippers by Glinda the Good Witch (Sarah Soderbergh), and having her first encounter with the Wicked Witch of the West (Alex Covert), she sets off down the yellow brick road to ask the Wizard for help returning to Kansas.

Thomas’ Dorothy was supported by a remarkable trio of friends. The Scarecrow, played by Eric Streed, leant beneficial energy to the show with his consistent physicality and accent. Likewise, the actors playing the Tinman (Charlie Haley) and the Lion (George Thorne) gave strong performances. They were entertaining, with outstanding comedic timing and characterizations. The rapport between the three actors in their roles as farmhands and as the magical creatures of Oz seemed genuine, and delighted their audience as they were meant to. Other notable characters were the Wizard himself (Will Frazier), who was depicted with quiet insight, and the Wicked Witch (Alex Covert). Consistent accents and wise choices in physicality were again hallmarks of the portrayal of these characters.

The rest of the supporting cast, playing crows, trees, Ozians, flying monkeys, and Winkies, enthusiastically sang out to bring the audience into the production. The production was well lit by a technical crew that creatively utilized their resources to bring the technicolor Oz to life. Sound was well executed, with few microphone problems, though sound effects were at times too loud and somewhat inconsistent. Some set changes distracted from the production with their length and volume, but accompanying music helped to fill the breaks in action.

Overall, Episcopal’s production of The Wizard of Oz brought the buoyancy of the well-loved classic to the stage and the joy of the story to its audience with heartfelt depictions of the characters.

by Katie McLean of St. Stephen’s & St. Agnes School

Written by Jim Leonard Jr. during his freshman year at Hanover College, The Diviners go on to win the top award at Kennedy Center’s American College Theatre Festival. The rarely performed play tells the story of the relationship between disillusioned clergyman C.C. Showers (Richard Firth) and fourteen-year-old Buddy Layman (Colin Wiles). An early childhood accident that claimed his mother’s life and almost took his own has left Layman with a severe case of hydrophobia, a condition that becomes essential for him to overcome.

Episcopal’s production was notably characterized by strongly united performers, a smooth flow between scenes, and minimal yet effective tech work. With a spartan set comprised of several platforms and a hanging piece of fabric, the cast and crew effectively transformed the small black box theatre into the depression era town of Zion, Indiana.

As Layman, Wiles was faced with the difficulties of portraying a complex role – a teenage boy in the emotional state of a young child with myriad manifestations of a mental disability. These characteristics created a challenging role generally beyond the scope of high school performers. Wiles was able to cope with these challenges admirably, neither overplaying nor simplifying the part.

Firth so naturally assumed his role that he rarely appeared to be a performing. While his own character’s transformation may have been under-emphasized, Firth created a strong paternal bond with Wiles so that the position C.C. had in Buddy’s change greatly enhanced the quality of the production.

Khadijah Hall stood out in the cast’s ensemble for her animated and subtly humorous performance as Goldie, the deeply religious owner of a town diner. While she had only one major scene, Hall had a strong stage presence that naturally made her an integral part of any subsequent lesser scene.

The cast members were very effective in supporting each other on stage, resulting in blurred distinctions between leads and ensemble. When necessary, the smallest role could become the most important character at any given time, reflecting the harmony among the performers.

As she tries to convince him to resume preaching, Norma (Breanna Jones), a town storekeeper, reminds C.C. that “a man can’t toss off the spirit like he tosses off a coat.” Certainly, the melancholy spirit of Episcopal’s The Diviners remained, affecting the audience as they put on their coats and ventured out into the rainy night.

by Jacob Horn of St. Andrew’s