The Dracula play keeps Sunnyslope students in suspense until the program’s upcoming show dates on October 30th, November 1st and 2nd with their unique marketing style according to Theater Director Madeline McDonald.
Dracula will be taking place in the Kenneth E. Coffin Auditorium with its precise set and intricate costumes.
“I feel so accepted by my castmates. They made me comfortable by putting us all in a group chat and just immediately opening themselves to conversation,” Freshman MiKayla Conner said.
Conner plays a vampire thrall.
The theater community has proved to be very accepting and open to anyone who wants to join. They have a job for everyone but some are starting to feel the performing jitters already.
“Yes, the thought of it terrifies me, but I believe once I’m on stage the fear won’t be as much of a deterrent,” Sophomore Marco Emil Santiago Duspiva said.
Santiago plays Dracula.
Not everyone is nervous because they have gone through a lot to be part of this play.
“For me specifically, I had to choose between theater and volleyball, which I’ve been doing for 5 years. It was a very hard decision,” Sophomore Ava Monroy said.
Monroy also plays a vampire thrall.
The students have realized the gravity of being part of theater.
“I know from personal experience that doing theater is a huge time-commitment, and I’m very ready for rehearsals to get longer and more intense as the process continues,” Freshman Lola Saxon said.
Saxon plays Mina Murray who is a teacher in London.
Audiences may know that the theater cast and crew love participating, but perhaps they do not know what happens behind the scenes.
“The first week, we do character analysis and try to think about relationships with different characters and how they feel about one another. We have a set date for when we need our lines memorized. She gives us about a month and a week to get them memorized so we can go at our own pace but not too slow!!” Monroy said.
The process is extensive and learning to play another person is not an easy task but for some of the cast it is.
“I feel very connected to my character and I love her. I have made a backstory and everything,” Conner said.
The cast has worked endless hours on Dracula but not without some help and McDonald doesn’t let it go unnoticed.
“It is extremely helpful to have experienced actors and technicians from previous productions,” McDonald said.
McDonald joked about students she calls her “”CMT”s (Certified McDonald Translators).
These students know McDonald so well they can help the newer students understand what the larger vision is.
“It warms my heart to see my experienced students leading by example and showing the new/underclassmen students the ropes. I enjoy working with new and underclassmen students because they possess new and fresh talents and I like to season and prepare them for future involvement and longevity in the theater program,” McDonald said.
