By SALINA POST
On March 22-24, Central High School Theatre will present the play 'Our Town' by Thornton Wilder, directed by Barbara Hilt and assistant director Bill Weaver. Weaver will also appear as the Stage Manager in the production alongside 32 students who will make up the production's cast.
Our Town is a three-act play by American playwright Thornton Wilder in 1938. Described by Edward Albee as "the greatest American play ever written," Wilder presents the fictional American town of Grover's Corners between 1901 and 1913 through the everyday lives of its citizens.
"My grandparents owned a farm in Nemaha County, Nebraska, that we would visit every summer. There was no indoor plumbing, only an outhouse, and we barely had heat," Hilt said. "Living on the farm in the summers taught me a lot about appreciating everyday life and everything that my parents gave me. They were hardworking people, and though their lives might seem plain by today’s standards, it was a refreshing glimpse into the past every summer."
Wilder uses metatheatrical devices, setting the play in the actual theatre where it is being performed. The main character is the theatre's stage manager, who directly addresses the audience, brings in guest lecturers, fields questions, and fills in some roles.
“Our Town has been such a special production to direct. In many ways, it seems we have lost sight of how simple life could be with our busy schedules and instant information with today’s technology and social media platforms," said Hilt. "It has been truly refreshing stepping back into 1901 with this cast of students, and it has been wonderful to have Mr. Bill Weaver providing a different viewpoint from a different generation as the role of the stage manager."
The play is performed without a set on a mostly bare stage. With a few exceptions, the actors mime actions without the use of props.
"My mother helped to advise the cast on some of the pantomime of household chores as she lived on a farm as a girl, and though she was born in 1944, she had to wash by hand and heat up an old wood burning stove and draw water from a well. She gave the cast some insight into the lives of her parents and her grandparents when preparing for this production," Hilt said.
The first performance of Our Town was at the McCarter Theatre in Princeton, New Jersey, on January 22, 1938. It went on to success on Broadway and received the Pulitzer Prize for Drama. It remains popular today with frequent revivals.
"I love the simplified scenery and very few props written into the production by Thornton Wilder. It is a beautiful show that embraces our community here in Salina and pays tribute to Grover’s Corners, New Hampshire, as this could be any town in America in 1901, and it could be our town as well," Hilt said.
Tickets are on sale online and will also be available at performances. The production's ticket prices are $7 for adults and $5 for students, with ZERO credit service charges added to this price if using a credit card to purchase tickets ahead of time online or at the box office. The running time is approximately 2 hours, including a 15-minute intermission.
CAST
* denotes inducted member of Thespian Troupe 639
Stage Manager……………………………………………Bill Weaver
Emily………………………………………...….Mackenzie Martinez*
George……………………………………………..…..Zander Flener*
Dr. Gibbs…………………………………….….Benjamin Campbell*
Mrs. Gibbs……………………………………………….….Q Duxler*
Rebecca Gibbs…………………………………………..Alyssa Maas*
Mr. Webb………………………………………….Donovan Johnson*
Mrs. Webb…………………………………….…..Michelle Simmons*
Wally Webb…………………………………………..Ava Weaverling
Simon Stimson………………………………………….Wyatt Angell*
Constable Warren………………………………....Gabriel Freeland*
Mrs. Soames……………………………………………...Anna Kraft*
Howie Newsome……………………………………...Mac Sheforgen*
Joe Crowell……………………………………………….Lillian Crow
Professor Willard…………………………………….Carson Ablard*
Mrs. Ellis………………………………………………...Dayzie Frank
Fred Cartwright……………………………………….…Hudson Duff
Mrs. Slocum………………………………………Alyxandria Aldrich
Bob Carter……………………………………………....Kort Comeau
Joel Hersey………………………………………….....Avery Jeakins*
Sam Craig…………………………………………..…Bishop Talbott*
Joe Stoddard……………………………………….…Joseph Zepeda*
Si Crowell…………………………………………………….Lexi Foos
Luke Hersey…………………………………………...Keaton Myers*
Farmer McCarty………………………………..Kaiden Christmann*
Mrs. Forester…………………………………..…..Kasheia Peterson*
Ernestine…………………………………………………...Jocelyn Hill
Louise…………………………………………………...Shalane Daves
Lois Slocum………………………………………..Daisey McWhorter
Mrs. Stimson……………………………...…………..Ashton Tollison
Helen………………………………………………………..Vy Nguyen
Lizzie………………………………………………………..Aerith Cox
Mrs. Corcoran…………………………………….Raylynn Carpenter
CREW
Director……………………………………….…………………….……………….Barbara Hilt
Technical Director………………………………………………………….…..Bill Weaver
Stage Manager………………………………..……………………..……Anastasia Corl*
Lighting Design………..…………………………..…Andrew Graber*, Barbara Hilt
Light Board Operator…………………………………..…….……….…….Marcos Lira*
Sound Board Operator……………………………………………..…Andrew Graber*
Sound Effects……………………………………………………………………....Ella Searcy
Costumes…………………………………...Barbara Hilt* & Addilyn Jagodzinske*
Properties……………..………………………………………..….Mackenzie Martinez*
Publicity……………………………………………………...……..Mackenzie Martinez*
Shop Foremen.……………………………………………………...…Montana Morgan
Photography…………………………..………………………….…………….Matea Gregg
Box Office………………………….……Tru Lawson, Holli Crawford, & Lin Miller
House Manager………………………………………………………………..Avery Jeakins
Ushers…………………………………………………………...Ensemble Cast Members
Scenic Design………….………………………………………...……………..…Bill Weaver
Scenic Construction/Painting…………Montana Morgan, Anastasia Corl*,
Lillian Crow, Nikolas Morgan, Gavin Schneider, Kale Shafer,
Ethan Shank, Benjamin Campbell*, Barbara Hilt, Zander Flener*,
Mackenzie Martinez*, Keaton Myers*, Michelle Simmons*,
Andrew Graber*, Seth Lepping, Keaton Myers*, William O’Neal,
Joseph Zepeda*, Alyssa Maas*, Mars Schultz, Alexander Vopat
Special Thanks
USD #305 School Board, Superintendent Linn Exline,Dr. Matt Brungardt, Pronto Print, Doug Stein, Matea Gregg (photography), Carmen San Martin, Mandi Graber, Parent Theatre Boosters, Drama Parents of Troupe 639, Sponsors & Patrons!
* indicates Thespian
bold names indicate Crew Chief