The play, based off the classic 1865 novel by Lewis Carroll, shares the story of Alice as she stumbles into Wonderland–a fantastical place filled with memorably wacky characters. As Alice struggles to navigate through Wonderland she finds herself caught up in a mystery as she investigates who stole the Queen of Hearts’ sugar tarts and helps clear the White Rabbit’s name in this comical whodunit.

The production was tethered by the dynamics among the ensembles as each character delivered a satisfying performance both on their own and with each other. The creative lighting, the clever use of sound, and the humorous interactions among the characters all contributed to the surreal feeling of being in Wonderland.

Alice, played by Sasha Koch, depicted effectively the innocence and naïveté typical of Alice. The shock and confusion of being in Wonderland was apparent as Alice flitted from one end of the stage to the other for the entire production in her signature blue frock. With exaggerated gesturing and a sweet voice, Sasha Koch brought charm and character to Alice.

The students in this production portrayed the eccentric characters with great energy. Tre Vaughn Allison delivered an impressive performance in his role as the very loony Mad Hatter with his flamboyant moves and memorable musical number, proving how “mad” the Mad Hatter really could be. Other standout characters were the comedic duo of Christian Osborne and Aaron Brackett as the Red Knight and the White Knight. In a laugh out loud duel the gallant knights gave dimension and spirit to their characters with their playful banter and over the top chivalry. The Chesire Cat played by Camille Jones, Nicki Gray, and Bobbie Benjamin was the highlight of the show with the cat magically popping out and disappearing with perfect timing, never missing a beat.

This production was defined by the admirable skill of the students working on the lighting, sound, and tech. With a rippling water effect in the opening scene, the techs set the stage for a production filled with eerie echoes, bright colors, and bouncy music. Though here and there minor sound and light difficulties were apparent, overall the tech in the show took the production to another level.

St. Stephens and St. Agnes depicted the world of nonsense and illogical conclusions that is Alice in Wonderland with great flair and effort, leaving the audience wondering alongside Alice: “could it have all been a dream?”

by Swetha Ramesh of Langley High School

Photo Gallery

Nancy Brooks (Dormouse), Tre Vaughn Allison (Mad Hatter) Sasha Koch (Alice), Rob McPherson (March Hare)	Tre Vaughn Allison (The Mad Hatter), Nancy Brooks (The Dormouse), Sasha Koch (Alice), Rob McPherson (The March Hare)
Aaron Brackett (The White Knight), Sasha Koch (Alice), Christian Osborne (The Red Knight)	Sibet Partee (The White Rabbit)
Sisi Rojas (The Queen of Hearts), Alex Collins (The King of Hearts), Josh Movius (The Knave of Hearts), Sasha Koch (Alice)

Photos by Susan K. Hamon

Written in 1974 by Charlie Smalls (music and lyrics) and William F. Brown (book), The Wiz premiered on Broadway in 1975 and won seven Tony Awards, including Best Musical. It is a retelling of L. Frank Baum’s timeless classic, “The Wizard of Oz,” featuring aspects of African-American culture and music. Swept away from her Auntie Em and Uncle Henry by a powerful tornado, Dorothy Gale finds herself in the mysterious land of Oz, trying to find a way back home. After meeting the Scarecrow, Tinman, and Cowardly Lion, Dorothy embarks on a journey with her new friends to visit the Wiz. Together, they must defeat the sinister Evillene, but with the help of Addapearle, the Good Witch of the North, and Glinda, the Good Witch of the South, Dorothy learns to cherish life’s friendships and appreciate her struggles.

From the beginning, cast members made strong, visible character choices and remained actively engaged every moment they were on stage, even when they were not speaking. The cameo appearance of a live dog was also well-received and added to the authenticity of the storyline.

Capturing Dorothy’s charming innocence, Adhana Reid infused emotion into each of her scenes and songs, her vocals showcasing soulful attitude within her mature alto tone. She connected believably with others on stage, especially the Scarecrow (Jewell Dupree), Tinman (Josh Movius), and Lion (TreVaughn Allison). Dupree’s bungling walk and flexible limbs captured the Scarecrow’s boneless movements admirably, while both Movius and Allison displayed keen comedic timing and bold physical choices that effectively defined their characters.

In the titular role, Alex Collins captured the mysterious, ambiguous aura of The Wiz with his domineering voice, while Heather Hartzell as Glinda displayed pleasantly rich singing and impressive belting abilities. Memorable, cohesive ensembles included the Flying Monkeys, who performed a variety of tricks and stunts including cartwheels and jump splits, and the Field Mice police squad, who were comically entertaining and adorably squeaky. Despite some struggles with enunciation and pitch, the cast remained enthusiastic, their energy never wavering.

From the start of the production, technical elements were strongly executed and remained a highlight throughout the show. Captivating strobe lighting effects, colorful gel projections, and adept spotlighting contributed to the upbeat, lively atmosphere. Tackling the daunting task of operating twenty body microphones, the sound crew rarely missed cues, and there were no audible cracks or muffles. The versatility of the multi-level set left no stage area unused, while the unit set transformed into various scenes with interchangeable graffiti wall-hangings and other unique elements, such as a tire throne and balloons.

Filled with humorous warmth and powerful symbolism, the underlying themes of The Wiz address something much more profound: the struggles of African-Americans to find a legitimate place in American culture. This production of The Wiz gave the cast and crew at St. Stephen’s and St. Agnes School a chance to showcase their creativity and zeal, while simultaneously conveying the production’s deeper historical and moral messages.

by Jamie Joeyen-Waldorf of Langley High School

Photo Gallery

Josh Movius (Tinman), Adhana Reid (Dorothy), Jewell Dupree (Scarecrow), Alexander Collins (The Wiz), and TreVaughn Allison (Lion)	Adhana Reid (Dorothy) and Jewell Dupree (Scarecrow)
Josh Movius (Tinman)	Adhana Reid (Dorothy), TreVaughn Allison (Lion), and LeAnn Dunn (Wicked Witch of the West Evillene)

Photos by Susan K. Hamon

Casts of nominated shows and the performers of nominated songs presented musical numbers as well as scenes from the nominated plays. The entire show will be aired on Cox Cable “Red Apple” Channel 21 beginning the week of July 2 and will continue throughout the summer.

Throughout the year, the Cappies program is driven by hundreds of area high school theater student critics who attend each others’ shows, write reviews, and serve as Cappies awards judges.

The Gala ceremony was marked with excitement and encouragement. There was never a sense of competitiveness or negative reactions as any of the Awards were announced.

Westfield High School received ten awards, including Musical for their production of Crazy For You. McLean High School received five awards, including Play, for A View From the Bridge.

Rising Critic

• Julian Sanchez, Westfield High School

Returning Critic

• Madelyn Paquette, McLean High School

Madelyn Paquette also was awarded the first Washington Post Critic Award.

Graduating Critic

• Joseph Biagini, Westfield High School

Critic Team

• McLean High School

Marketing and Publicity

• Kyle Norfleet, Michelle Slivinski, Jenny Rubin, Caitlyn Herron, South Lakes High School, West Side Story

Sound

• Alex Allen, Lydia Carroll, Lindsay Worthington, Walt Whitman High School, Frankenstein

Lighting

• Nikolas Allen, Andrew Elman, Walt Whitman High School, Frankenstein

Stage Crew

• Walt Whitman Stage Crew, Walt Whitman High School, Frankenstein

Sets

• Walt Whitman Set Crew, Walt Whitman High School, Frankenstein

Costumes

• Ana Mendelson, Abby Deatherage, W. T. Woodson HS, Alice in Wonderland

Make-up

• Brianna Weiner, W. T. Woodson HS, Alice in Wonderland

Props

• Rita Fair, Jordyn Stewart, Mount Vernon, Blithe Spirit

Special Effects and or Technology

• Brian Clarkson, Walt Whitman High School, Frankenstein

Orchestra

• “Crazy for You” Pit Orchestra, Westfield High School, Crazy For You

Choreography

• Colby Dezelick, Westfield High School, Crazy For You

Creativity

• Arjun Baxter, Composer, W. T. Woodson HS, Alice in Wonderland

Ensemble in a Play

• The Mechanicals, Robinson Secondary School, Ken Ludwig’s Midsummer/Jersey

Ensemble in a Musical

• Follie Dancers and Cowboys, Westfield High School, Crazy For You

Featured Actress

• Kaity Hinojosa, Langley High School, The Crucible

Featured Actor

• Mitchell Buckley, Westfield High School, Crazy For You

Female Dancer

• Corinne Holland, Westfield High School, Crazy For You

Male Dancer

• Nikko Custodio, South County Secondary School, West Side Story

Female Vocalist

• Ariana Kruszewski, South Lakes High School, West Side Story

Male Vocalist

• Sam Allen, Dominion High School, Pippin

Comic Actress in a Play

• Virginia Coffield, St. Stephen’s & St. Agnes School, Fools

Comic Actor in a Play

• Kamau Mitchell, HB Woodlawn Secondary Program, The Foreigner

Comic Actress in a Musical

• Alexandra Nicopoulos, Fairfax High School, Sweeney Todd

Comic Actor in a Musical

• Ian Peterson, Stone Bridge High School, Anything Goes

Supporting Actress in a Play

• Mia Amado, Woodbridge Senior High School, The Miracle Worker

Supporting Actor in a Play

• John Downey, Chantilly High School, I Remember Mama

Supporting Actress in a Musical

• Michelle Radcliffe, Heritage High School, Legally Blonde the Musical

Supporting Actor in a Musical

• Joseph Biagini, Westfield High School, Crazy For You

Lead Actress in a Play

• Lexie Shoaibi, McLean High School, A View From the Bridge

Lead Actor in a Play

• Damian Leverett, McLean High School, A View From the Bridge

Lead Actress in a Musical

• Sean Pugerude, Paul VI Catholic High School, Hello, Dolly!

Lead Actor in a Musical

• Colby Dezelick, Westfield High School, Crazy For You

Song

• Brotherhood of Man, James Madison High School, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying

Play

• McLean High School, A View From the Bridge

Musical

• Westfield High School, Crazy For You

Celebrated American playwright Neil Simon wrote Fools in 1981, with the intention that it wouldn’t last on Broadway. His failure was intended to spite his ex-wife, who had been promised the proceeds of his next play in their divorce settlement. While it did close after just 40 performances, the play retains a charming message and hilarious comedy. The story follows an idealistic young teacher, Leon Tolchinsky, arriving in Kulyenchikov determined to enlighten and educate his new pupil, Sophia Zubritsky. However, he soon realizes a staggering abnormality in the citizenry of his new home. The town is afflicted by a dark enchantment that strips away the mental capacities of its inhabitants, resulting in a population of irrefutably stupid people. Leon discovers he must leave within 24 hours of his arrival or fall victim to the curse as well, but matters are complicated as he quickly becomes enamored with the beautiful, albeit clueless, Sophia and vows to break the village, and his new love, of the curse.

Matthew Mirliani anchored the production as the bright and genial Leon Tolchinsky. With concise motions and assured posture, Mirliani gave an engaging performance, exuding an educated and conscientious disposition fitting of a school teacher. While interacting with the mentally deficient townspeople, his bewildered expressions and confused vocal inflections added an amusing touch to his portrayal. Sibet Partee played the notoriously dim-witted but beautiful Sophia with a doe-eyed, girlish innocence, and forming an endearing duo with Mirliani.

Virginia Coffield’s hysterical portrayal of Sophia’s mother, Lenya Zubritsky, gave this production life and hilarity at every turn. Coffield’s constant effervescence, exhibited in fits of giggles, priceless idiosyncrasies, and uproarious expressions, demonstrated her adeptness for characterization. A truly believable fool, her performance stood out among a cast that sometimes struggled with overall energy, convincing mannerisms, and consistently entertaining comedy. In tandem with Coffield, Christian Osborne depicted Dr. Zubritsky, her husband. Showing palpable comedic chemistry, the two made for an extremely humorous couple, bringing smiles and laughs to every scene they were in.

A simple but highly efficient set consisted of double-sided flats that were maneuvered to form the village as well as the home settings–all effortlessly transformed throughout the show. The costumes were mostly fitting to the period and location of the show, and widely enhanced the rustic feeling. A sound team utilized ten microphones with few noticeable foibles, while a beautifully composed score by student Heather McPherson captured the mood of the show perfectly.

St. Stephen’s & St. Agnes School overcame a difficult script and occasional lulls in energy to produce a charming show with a resounding message. Everyone, no matter how foolish they may seem, can break free from the darkness of ignorance into a world of enlightenment and free thought.

Review submitted by Damian Leverett – of McLean High School.

Photo Gallery

Matthew Mirliani, Claire Malkie	Virginia Coffield, Matthew Mirliani, Christian Osbourne
Matthew Mirliani, Sibet Partee	Tre Allison
Aaron Brackett, Claire Malkie, Heather Hartzell, Lizzie Beane

Photos by Marty LaVor

Our Town, written by Thornton Wilder, is set in Grover’s Corners, a small, New Hampshire town, and follows the lives of George Gibbs, Emily Webb, and their families. The play starts with a typical day in the nineteen hundreds, but moves through time to show George and Emily’s wedding, and then later, a funeral.

The production was carried along by the Stage Managers (Matthew Mirliani, Coryn Julien, Myke Payne), whose monologues helped set the scenes of the play, making it come to life. They narrated with good energy, and did not distract from the play itself, moving into the background when needed.

Jack Tokarz portrayed the character of George Gibbs realistically, acting convincingly awkward and shy around his love interest, without making his character seem weak. He also managed to dynamically show his growing maturity towards the end of the play, as he became a man, husband, and father. In particular, his mourning towards the play’s end supplied a moving conclusion to his believable performance.

Virginia Tucker provided a truthful characterization of Emily Webb, showcasing a plethora of emotions and depth of character, as a girl, and as a young woman. She performed naturally and had good chemistry with the other actors. Her acting was especially powerful at the end of the play, as she realized what life was all about, and that no one could ever truly appreciate it.

The play relied heavily on its supporting cast, who succeeded in giving the town a great sense of realism and depth. In particular, Ian Blau, as Mr. Webb, acted strongly as a father to Emily, and as a father-in-law to George. In addition, his comedic timing gave the show a couple of laughs.

Also, Virginia Coffield delivered a natural performance as Mrs. Gibbs, acting as a protective and kind mother to George. She portrayed her character with confidence, but without going over the top. Some actors seemed to have problems with diction or accents, and some actions seemed uncomfortable, or forced, but overall, the town felt complete, and real.

The props (Megan McLean, Emma Buch) were minimalistic, which allowed the audience to focus on the actors, who relied mostly on pantomime. These pantomimes did a great job of providing atmosphere, as did the ambient sounds (Matthew Hayes, Douglas Maggs, Parker Lowe).

The music (Janet Yieh) enhanced the emotion in scenes, and was never distracting. The lights (Hallie Smith, Taylor Jensen) were also done well, setting the tone in scenes, and highlighting the important aspects. Hardly any technical glitches occurred and those that did were handled gracefully.

All in all, St. Stephen’s & St. Agnes School characterized Our Town‘s heavy subject matter beautifully, and managed to show a realistic and atmospheric example of life in Grover’s Corners.

Our Town will run November 6th at 7:30 p.m. as well.

by Anson Rutherford of Teens and Theatre Homeschool program

Photo Gallery

In the Garden Moonlight – Doc Gibbs (Mathias Heller) and Mrs. Gibbs (Virginia Coffield)	The Wedding – Editor Webb (Ian Blau) Emily (Virginia Tucker) and George (Jack Tokarz)
The Funeral – (front row Mrs. Gibbs (Virginia Coffield) Emily (Virginia Tucker) George (Jack Tokarz) and Doc Gibbs (Mathias Heller)

Photos by Susan Hamon.

The novel To Kill A Mockingbird won a Pulitzer Prize in 1960; in 1990, Christopher Sergel adapted it into a full-length play. Like the novel, the play follows the coming-of-age of young Scout Finch (Margaret Edmonds) and the moral but unpopular struggle of her lawyer father Atticus (Greg Neithamer) over the course of a racially charged trial. As narrated by the compassionate Miss Maudie (Emma Oxford), the trial shows Scout both the goodness and cruelty that humanity is capable of.

To Kill A Mockingbird is in some ways the story of a diverse town — saddling a high school cast with the challenge of creating a diverse yet cohesive ensemble. The talented actors at St. Stephen’s and St. Agnes achieved all that and more, putting forth both a wide array of exemplary individual performances and a constant group chemistry that drove the play forward.

Principled and loving, fiery and accessible, Neithamer’s portrayal of Atticus never faltered, presenting the audience with a sympathetic and three-dimensional protagonist. Yet, if Atticus was To Kill A Mockingbird‘s hero, Oxford’s Miss Maudie was its anchor. Her graceful, intricate performance added depth to a seemingly simple character; her monologues showed skill and presence uncommon in high school actors. And in the crucial role of Scout, Edmonds used childlike mannerisms to provide a deft contrast with the older figures onstage.

As Mayella Ewell, the trial’s destitute, amoral complainant, Natalie Walker brought an earthy splendor to the stage. Her remarkable turn combined desperation, misery and pride, depicting Mayella not as a demonic caricature but as a flawed, frightened young girl. Also commendable were Chris Luggiero, terrifying as Mayella’s deranged father, and Henry Knotts as the awkward, fanciful boy Dill. Though some actors were difficult to understand at times, perhaps due to the play’s mostly excellent Southern accents, nearly every performance was emotionally strong. And even when soliloquies had a few too many pauses, each student onstage maintained sparkling, consistent energy.

Though the cast of To Kill A Mockingbird set a sky-high bar, the show’s technical work proved the crew no less adroit. Lighting, subtle yet colorful, was of professional caliber in its design and execution; the historically accurate props (selected by Katie McLean) added to the production’s period feel. And despite some unfortunate microphone lapses, sound effects were always well-selected and on cue.

Fraught with mature themes, To Kill A Mockingbird is difficult material for any high school to perform — but St. Stephen’s and St. Agnes School’s beautiful production followed the ups and downs of Maycomb, Alabama with maturity and passion.

To Kill a Mockingbird will be presented for a second weekend, Friday and Saturday, November 7 and 8 at 8:00PM. It’s not to be missed.

by Sarah Marx of Homeschool Teens N Theatre

The Gods on Mount Olympus themselves would smile upon St. Stephen’s & St. Agnes School’s entrancing production of Metamorphoses. Written by Mary Zimmerman, Metamorphoses is a collection of Greek myths based on Ovid’s stories. Some tales are familiar, such as “Midas” and “Orpheus and Eurydice.” Others, such as “Pomona and Vertumnus,” about a young man who disguises himself to woo a maiden, are less well known. 

Metamorphoses is an ensemble piece, and all fourteen cast members were versatile and had consistently high energy onstage. Everyone took turns narrating and playing mythological characters. Natalie Walker was moving as the grief-stricken widow queen Alcyone and winsome as the silent, ill-fated Pandora. Pat Kane performed various roles with finesse, including the egotistical Midas and the bratty teenager Phaeton.

The comic of the night was Chris Luggiero, who played Erysichthon, a chilling psychotic cursed with never-ending hunger, and the charming, lovesick Vertumnus. His old-woman accent was particularly hilarious, and his wink, wink, nudge, nudge attitude toward the audience was engaging. Sophia Gascoyne was also amusing as the yawning goddess of Sleep and heartbreaking as Eurydice. Emily Sellon played the creepy wraith Hunger and the garrulous nymph Echo. Her comic timing as she prattled on about mundane topics in a singsong voice was excellent. 

The set of Metamorphoses is a complicated one, requiring a pool onstage, and designer Kerry Garikes rose to the occasion. A rectangular pool of various depths graced the front of the stage, and actors would wade in, “drown,” or even, in the case of Phaeton, relax in a pool chair. Their costumes, designed by Stephanie Case, were simple and water proof. Everyone wore basic black, primarily leotards, and added layers and accessories, such as blue scarves to designate narrators. 

Sound (Max Krembs, Andrew Groody, Chris Beatley) was flawlessly executed. Lighting was primarily good, though a strobe light used for more comical, Charlie Chaplin-esque scenes in which the actors were silent, such as “Atalanta and the Golden Apples,” was sometimes distracting. To the right of the stage was a subtle performer who added limitless atmosphere to several scenes: Natalie Richards on the piano. She composed music for the production and inspired sorrow, happiness, and excitement. 

Actors and tech combined to produce a fluid, animated, and entertaining performance. Though there were one or two times when the stage became crowded and the dialogue hard to follow, the overall effect was wonderful. Scenes merged seamlessly and actors switched characters with professional quality.

This hour and a half long show was a joy to watch and SSSAS is to be congratulated on its splendid production. 

Metamorphoses is playing next weekend at St. Stephen’s and St. Agnes, Friday and Saturday, November 9th and 10th, at 8:00 PM.

by Alexandra Staeben of H-B Woodlawn