By Jane Kubisiak

Grade 10, NCSS

“Make them laugh, make them cry, and hack to laughter. What do people go to the theatre for? An emotional exercise. I am a servant of the people. I have never forgotten that.” – Mary Pickford

I think that this quote explains a lot about what theater means to the cast of Annie Play Will Do. It’s about a drama teacher who, due to a misunderstanding with the principal, has to get a play together in one day. Unfortunately she has so much to get ready she doesn’t have time to direct the play herself so she puts two students (Laura and Paul) in charge. Problems arise when they decide to practice separately. This play promises to make you laugh until your sides hurt.
My name is Jane Kubisiak and I am a sophomore at NCSS. My first high school drama production was Cinderella, and after that I was hooked. In this play, Annie Play Will Do, I portray the frazzled drama teacher, Mrs. Morris. I have enjoyed developing my character and memorizing her crazy lines.
The entire cast has worked really hard to pull off this production. Our tech week was from May 4-7. Tech week is when we add all of the lights and sounds to our practices. Tech week rehearsals can be very long because we have to give our techies their cues so they know what’s happening.
“I think that tech week is going very well, I just think that we just need to finish ironing out a few bumps and the play will be perfect,” said stage manager Emma Beckman. “I can’t wait for opening night!”
It’s very exciting to have gotten to this point. When we look back to Murder for Dummies and how we were only a week away from opening night when it was cancelled, it’s cool to see how far we have come.
“I think that the play has been coming along pretty well but I am still a bit jittery about it. I am really excited to see how it all turns out,” actor Ben Kubisiak said. “I really hope a lot of people come to the play because I think we have some really great actors.”
“Roddy and I are really proud of this group of kids because of their resilience, dedication, and overall amazing attitude. It’s got to be heartbreaking to be almost ready for a performance and have to cancel it eight days before the curtain goes up and they wholeheartedly jumped into a new play, rehearsal schedule, and production,” said Mrs. Higgins, drama director. “Please come and support these wonderful actors.”
Please come and support the product of all of our time and hard work. The performances for Annie Play Will Do are Thursday, May 14 at 7:30 and Saturday May 16, at 1 and 7:30 p.m. in the Rhinelander High School auditorium.