With roughly eight shows a year, more than half of them student-directed, H-B Woodlawn Program’s theatre department exercises the school’s philosophies of freedom and responsibility, with great results. Completely student-run productions at Woodlawn have been commonplace for quite some time, but thanks to a very successful season this past year, they are receiving well-deserved recognition.
H-B Woodlawn’s show for the Cappies last year, Christopher Durang’s “The Marriage of Bette and Boo,” was a great success and received rave reviews among the Cappies high school critics. The show was nominated in six different categories and received awards in three, one of them being Best Play — the first time such a prestigious award has been won by an Arlington county school (Julia Nakad also won for Creativity as a student director and Maddy Smith for her work as a Featured Actress). With hopes for another triumphant season, H-B Woodlawn’s drama department is not starting small.
To kick off the season is “Clue,” directed by drama department head Allan Brown. The show is an adaptation of the popular 1985 film starring Tim Curry and Eileen Brennan, but it does not include the “movie magic” of camera cuts, separate takes, and as much room as needed.
“Clue” has never been done on the stage before, and what better way to start of an ambitious season? Brown is doing a good job of taking advantage of the school’s main auditorium, using aisles as hallways and stairs, lighting booths and spotlight balconies as bedrooms and attics, and two alcoves as the secret passageways from the conservatory to the lounge and from the kitchen to the study. The show has not been an easy one to direct, but if any school is up to such a challenge, it is Woodlawn.
The curtains rise on “Clue” in three weeks (performances are the 16th, 17th, and 18th of Nov. 16, 17 and 18 at 7:30 p.m.); both staff and students are excited to see their school’s start to the season. H-B Drama is making quite a name for itself, and with fingers crossed for another groundbreaking season, “Clue” is a wonderful place to start and should not be missed.