This has been an experimental year for WS Theatre, with great outcomes at every performance. The concepts of the theatre department's yearly program start with the creative ideas and innovative plans of theatre arts teacher Mary Jo Levesque. Because of her direction our 2003-04 year started in the fall with a modernized production of "A Midsummer Night's Dream." The beloved Shakespearean comedy of fairies and kingdoms found a new and intimate life as the modern-day gossip magazine production concept materialized. Staged in a rectangular arena style with the audience sitting on all four sides of the stage, "Midsummer" was ably student-directed by Christy Denny and technically directed by lighting designer Mike Wines.
For the second year in a row, WS participated in the Virginia Theatre Association, this year held at the Reston Hyatt Hotel. The advanced theatre arts class performed the one act play "Present Tense" by John McNamara to more than 40 participating schools from throughout the state of Virginia. Directed by senior Brendan Carter, "Present Tense" won the VTA "People's Choice Award." Seniors Mike Newsome and Kate Harding received the "VTA 2003 Best Actor" and "VTA 2003 Best Actress" awards.
In January WS presented "Flambée," an absurdist play by James Buescher at the Virginia High School League Patriot District competition. Student director Theresa Ohanian also received the VHSL Patriot District "Most Outstanding Performance" Award.
In March, the Theatre Arts 2 class won the Emily Jordan Folger Secondary School Festival "Brian Cabe Award" for achieving "Best of the Festival — Spirit of the Festival." This recognition came as the result of a creative collaborative compilation of some of Shakespeare's most pointed scenes of male-female conflict to the background of the tune of "Cell Block Tango" from the musical "Chicago." With spirited dance and precision Shakespearean acting, WS theatre history students made their own moment of history.
Now, the theatre students are preparing the spring musical "Once on this Island," a show nominated in 1991 for eight Tony awards, including "Best Musical." The show features a cast and crew of more than 120 students and is student directed by Christy Denny and Court Eccles, choreographed by Emily Levin and Sara Rogers and tech directed by Mike Wines.