The Directing Project Showcase
Student Directors in the Spotlight at New Trier
The New Trier High School Music & Theatre Department will host the 20th Annual Spring Directing Project Showcase on May 16-22 in the Hayes-McCausland Theatre at the Winnetka Campus. Tickets are not required for general admission seating.
A celebration of student directors, technicians, and performers, the Showcase process began in September with the students of the Theatre 4 classes. Each student selected, cast, staged, and presented a short play during their theatre class this spring. These 22 productions featured over 55 student actors in a variety of plays of diverse genres, cast sizes, and subject matter. Student directors in good standing had the option of presenting their play again as part of the Directing Project Showcase.
Theatre 4 instructor, Nina Lynn says, “These seniors have demonstrated such resiliency and creativity since they started their high school careers on zoom in fall of 2020. These Directing Projects are a great demonstration of how much they’ve supported one another and learned together. These plays are a great representation of their interests, perspectives, and personalities.”
“The Directing Project Showcase is an important part of our season,” says Hilerre Kirsch, Winnetka Performing Arts Coordinator. “It’s a chance for our advanced students to develop and demonstrate a specific directorial point of view and exercise their artistic voices as part of our larger season.”
Please note that all of the plays contain mature subject matter and might not be suitable for more sensitive audience members.
Thursday, May 16, 4:30pm
- Twilight Zone: Nothing In The Dark by George Clayton Johnson, Directed by Jackson Hiltabrand
Featuring David VanDamme, Mireya Devaraj, Kate Malikowski - Greensleeves by Joyce Carol Oates, Directed by Tolga Bozkurt
Featuring Sydney Rusie, Jack Porter - A Coupla White Chicks Sitting Around Talking by John Ford Noonan, Directed by Tori Stone
Featuring Tessa Gardiner, Mara Saltzman
Friday, May 17, 7:00pm
- Kisses of Convenience by Kaya Jansen, Directed by Kaya Jansen
Featuring Jared Famacion, Maggie Ruey - Athena by Gracie Gardner, Directed by Izzy Ornstein
Featuring Addison Maute, Deena Husain - The Shadow Box by Michael Cristofer, Directed by Grace Weir
Featuring Jorie Collins, Eden Pave
Saturday, May 18, 11:00am
- The Dumb Waiter by Harold Pinter, Directed by Emily Boyd
Featuring Charlie Corley, Carli Winn - A Game by Dennis E. Noble, Directed by Maddie Brady
Featuring Reilly Leahy, Mia Soffer, Claire Karnes, Katie Mae Krupski - This Is A Play by Daniel MacIvor, Directed by Miles Davidson
Featuring Haven Turner, Devin Gibori, Julia Dale - Finding a Chord by Catherine Keyser, Directed by Lucy Yager-Madden
Featuring Lily Generes, Gwen Girard
Wednesday, May 22, 4:30pm
- Admissions by Colleen Neuman, Directed by Sophia Burnell
Featuring Charlotte Crocker, Alex McElvenny, Alice Green - Oprah Made Me Do It by Bradley Hayward, Asher Alcantara
Featuring Thomas Franklin, Sivan Belkind, Shea Straitiff - Driver’s Test by Don Zolidis, Directed by Suvali Dhar
Featuring Charlotte Budington, Phoebe Kunzler - I and You by Lauren Gunderson, Directed by Megan Trubey
Featuring Nate Gale, Caroline Wolfe