Seconding all of the above about the casting of Starcatcher... We had a female Slank, they kept all the pronouns male and it was just quite accepted. We didn't try to overly make her up to be male, and it doesn't really affect the script at all. Both of our Ted and Prentiss were girls as well, they did a marvelous job.
On the other note, I too cried my eyes out packing that show up. My Peter has been my student from second grade until now (we did the show last year, so him having another year mitigated some of the crying). But overall there is something about all the talk of growing up in that show that seems to make it especially hard to do with teens. We all cried every night.
This year my same pair that played Peter and Molly are playing Tony and Maria for their last show on my stage -- needless to say, I am not prepared, and I will be the one sobbing in the front row every night.
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Cassandra Shott
Director
Nuevo CA
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Original Message:
Sent: 05-02-2018 10:38
From: Christopher Dwyer
Subject: closing Peter and the Starcatcher
​I also really like this show, however I have on concern with it. And that is that the cast is mostly male. I think that Molly is the only female character. Were you able to work around that? Or do you have a ton of dudes who love theatre (let me know where I can find them if you do :)
I'm so glad it was a rewarding experience for you as well. Our focus is often on the kids, but when you can pull your own heart strings and have a fondness for the process and a group who takes the journey together, it can be very rewarding. Kudos to you and the magic of theatre.
best:
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Christopher Dwyer
Head of Drama
St. Vincent Pallotti High School
Laurel, MD 20707
Original Message:
Sent: 04-23-2018 00:49
From: Arden Thomas
Subject: closing Peter and the Starcatcher
Well, that was the saddest goodbye to a show in over 18 years of directing ... Peter and the Starcatcher is such a magical play, and my cast was such an incredible group of kids. It felt like we were in a theater company together, but more than that bc they're so young and playful and radiant .... Having a seat at this table - doing theater with teenagers who are just finding their voice and figuring out what it means to be who they are - is deeply moving and joyful and heartbreaking all at once. I felt pretty blue as I sat alone in the school's cargo van full of props and costumes to be tucked away .... But as one of my directing professors always used to say, "Onward!" Here we go - time to plan the next season!!! 💫
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Arden Thomas
Sequoyah High School
Pasadena CA
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