Returning to the Edison Theatre Department are Cappies nominees Deniz Soyer, a comedic actress nominee for two consecutive years, and Cappie-winning dancer Zach Heller, who took awards for choreography and male dancing at the Cappies Gala this past June. Zach is the most winningest person in Cappies history, with a record three Cappies awards for his work in "A Chorus Line" and "The Music Man" in 2002.
The Edison Theatre Department just wrapped up production on the Pulitzer-prize winning comedy, "You Can't Take It With You."
Next up on the schedule is a festival of one-act plays, directed by seniors enrolled in IB Theatre. The festival will take place on the nights of Thursday, Dec. 11, and Friday, Dec. 12, and will feature such short plays as Edward Albee's "The Zoo Story," Jonathan Rand's "Hard Candy," and Lucille Fletcher's "Sorry, Wrong Number."
The IB Theatre students will also be involved in the Text Alive! program, a series of in-school workshops that provides a comprehensive and in-depth exposure to Shakespearean theatre. Students will attend a professional production of "A Midsummer Night's Dream" at the Shakespeare Theatre on Tuesday, Nov. 25. The program culminates with a performance of Act III, Scene I from "Midsummer" at the Shakespeare Theatre on Friday, Dec. 6.
Additionally, sophomore theatre students will participate in the Folger Shakespeare Festival in mid-February, with auditions being held in early January. Edison will also be participating in the VHSL Theatre competition, which in previous years have sent Christopher Durang's "An Actor's Nightmare," and Howard & Gamble's "The Last Touchy-Feely Drama on The American Stage."
This year's spring musical and Cappies show will be "The Boyfriend," set along the French Riviera at Madame Dubonnet's Finishing School for girls. Auditions for "The Boyfriend" will be held in mid-late January, with performances on April 22, 23, and 24. Memorable songs like "Won't You Charleston With Me?" and "I Could Be Happy With You" characterize this feel-good musical. The 1954 Broadway premiere of "The Boyfriend" ran for 485 performances at the Royale Theatre, but is most notable for being Julie Andrews' first Broadway production.
Edison will once again participate in the Cappies program, sending a total of nine critics to review high school theatre productions across the area. Lead critic Taylor McFarland is joined by Deniz Soyer, Jason Kobielus, and new critics Brittney Walker, Jennifer Benison, and Ashley Bradfield. New critics Teresa Kozlowski, Cailtin Messinger, and Nicki Merz will be joining various regional teams. This year's student critics will be aspiring for a critics team nomination at June's Cappies Gala.
Furthermore, Edison's Thespian troupe is planning another trip to New York City. Under the leadership of president Beth McConnell, vice president Deniz Soyer, secretary/treasurer Zach Heller, and historians Laura Zamperini and Cailtin Messinger, Troupe #4328 has already made plans to visit the Big Apple on April 2-4, sightseeing Manhattan and attending such Broadway shows as "The Producers," "Hairspray," and "Little Shop of Horrors."