Abigail McManus
The Newtown High School’s production of “Almost, Maine” student directed by NHS seniors Maren Leyva and Leah Crebbin, was performed at NHS on November 17th - 20th. The roughly 90 minute romantic comedy play includes nine short vignettes that take place in the mystical town of Almost, Maine.
The first time student directors Crebbin and Leyva found it challenging to direct a production while also managing their student lives.
“Some challenges we faced were figuring out how to manage everyone's time the best. For example, making rehearsals at times that don't conflict with everyone's schedules or making sure we have our crew on schedule to finish the set in time,” Crebbin and Leyva said in a combined text.
The storyline offered multiple plots involving people who had life-affirming experiences.
“In the town of Almost, Maine people experience the life-altering power of the human heart. In a series of playful and surreal experiences, relationships end, begin, or change beyond recognition, as strangers become friends, friends become lovers, and lovers turn into strangers,” an article written for Beaverton Civic Theater said.
The vignettes included partner roles that tell a short story of their relationships. The scenes were connected in the end, but all portrayed a different message.
“Our overall experience was very positive because we tried to create a positive environment for the cast and crew and everyone got along so well. Every show has its ups and downs and it definitely got stressful when we had to figure out how to balance work, school, the show and everything going on,” Crebbin and Leyva said.
While working on short scenes with one or two people, the cast developed a close bond with their partners in each scene. The cast members became comfortable working and acting with one another, it made the scenes more intimate and compelling in the performances of the show.
“I really enjoyed the camaraderie between everyone involved and the relationships formed and strengthened, plus the positive and accepting environment,” NHS senior Emily Joyce said.
Joyce played the role of Steve alongside co-actress Kristin Lagemen who played Marvalyn. The scene was about a girl in an unhappy relationship but was afraid to leave her boyfriend. She meets Steve, an open and kind man who has been protected by his older brother his whole life afraid to feel emotion.
“I had a really great experience being a run crew member for NHS’ production of Almost, Maine. I’m usually one of the actors, not on the crew so it’s nice getting to see how things are working from backstage and how much effort goes into making a show look good that people don’t really see. I’ve been a part of a run crew three times and every time it gives me so much more appreciation for what these people do all the time. I don’t think you can ever really understand how hard a crew works to make a show happen until you’re a part of that crew. So it’s nice getting to see and be a part of the inner workings of a production backstage and during blackouts seeing as I’m usually the one who’s onstage,” NHS senior Alison Powers said.
All members of the cast, crew and directors deserve credit. After the closing bows of the final show on November 20th, the entire cast and crew gave a special recognition to Crebbin and Levya, as well as an appreciation for their teacher advisor Janice Gabriel.
“We really enjoyed being able to learn about this side of a production. Either Maren or I had ever been in a directing position before, so we had a lot to learn but that was a big reason that it was enjoyable. We were able to learn new skills and have bigger leadership responsibilities, but we always had each other to learn with and do it together,” Crebbin said.
NHS’ 2023 musical production of Into the Woods will perform on March 16th-20th. For more information regarding the show, reach out to the director and supervisor Jane Matson.