Starring Mr. Buell as Charlie Brown, Ms. Markel as Sally Brown, Ms. Rahmig as Lucy, Mr. Wang as Linus, former Pres teacher Mr. Cozort as Snoopy, and other Pres parents and alumni, this show clearly featured a star studded cast.

Mr. Buell performed an animated Charlie Brown who had a crush on a red-headed girl at school, but was too nervous to talk to her. This is only one of the problems Charlie Brown encountered. Mr. Buell portrayed the character as an average kid who just wants to fit in. The audience found themselves both rooting for Charlie Brown to succeed and feeling sorry for his failures. Buell relayed a very relatable character that both children and adult audience members could associate themselves with.

Ms. Markel brought consistent energy to the stage performing the character of Sally. Her high pitched voice, bright pink dress and enthusiasm perfectly translated to the classic Sally character we all know and love.

An audience favorite was a song titled “My Blanket and Me,” performed by Mr. Wang as Linus. In this number, Linus explained how his blanket was his best friend, even dancing with it as if it were a person. It was both humorous and exciting when four walking blankets entered the stage and danced throughout the number with Linus.

Although we are used to seeing Ms. Rahmig around campus as a blond, she easily pulled off the black wig necessary for playing Lucy. Rahmig was both classic and sassy, hitting the high notes with impressive ease.

Mr. Cozort didn’t need face-painted spots or headband ears to be recognized as the lovable dog Snoopy. Cozort was exactly in character as he ran around the stage chasing rabbits and howling on his dog house in anticipation for suppertime.

The sets were very convenient with no need for any set changes. A wonderful bright colored platform stayed on the stage throughout the entire show. Both Snoopy’s house and Schroeder’s piano were pulled right out of the block and used when needed. The set was simple, but perfect for portraying the simple lives of regular kids.

All the songs were very catchy and entertaining. Charlie Brown and his peers sure encountered some interesting scenarios during their quest for a happy childhood. Through it all, both the characters and the audience learn that, “happiness is anyone and anything at all, that’s loved by you.”

Stay tuned for the next TADA! production that will run from April 20-29. Alumna Kathy Gutto will be directing “Rodgers and Hart: A Celebration,” which is a collection of songs from the forties. As always, it will feature talented teachers, alumnae, parents and friends of Pres, so don’t miss out!

At $5 a ticket, students were treated to an hour of competitive comedy hosted by Presentation’s Improvisation Team, Spontaneous Combustion. The Presentation team split into four smaller groups. These four teams competed, but only one would be victorious.

First, Referee Scott, an official from Comedy Sportz San Jose, warmed up the crowd by explaining rules and regulations of the games. Next, the first two teams came out and the competition began!

One of the most memorable games from this battle was called “Celebrity Punishment,” in which both teams must compete to see who can come up with the most puns relating to a specific celebrity name. This game was especially fun because the audience got to choose the celebrities. A particularly funny celebrity target was the infamous Kim Kardashian. Junior Kate Pashby made a memorable joke saying, “If Kim Kardashian’s marriage lasted longer than 72 days… oh wait…”

In the next set, my favorite game was the “home shopping channel game.” One player had to guess what product the other two players were mimicking silently and pretend to sell it on a shopping channel. Items ranged from Sham Wows that clean up goats to Proactiv endorsed by Taylor Lautner. Although it took a while for both teams to recognize Taylor Lautner, they finally got the idea when other teammates mimicked taking off their shirts like Twilight’s Jacob Black.

The final round was a game of freeze tag, but this is not the normal freeze tag you may have played in middle school. Two players (one from each team) began a scene. At any point, a player on the sideline could call “freeze,” take on the position and gestures of the girl they tagged out, and begin a new scene. The scenes ranged from a boyfriend breaking up with a girlfriend to Rose from Titanic asking Jack to “draw her like one of those French girls.” Points were awarded for a successful, funny scene.

Although, in the end, not all of the teams could win, each member of Spontaneous Combustion did an excellent job and provided the audience with much laughter. Some notable performances came from the team’s two seniors, Amanda Camillo and Athena Santos. These excellent performers kept the energy high and inspired the team to take their improv to the next level.

Camillo said, “I think everyone did very well. There were a lot of new people, and they did a great job for their first show ever!”

The next time you are looking for some fun, hilarious entertainment on a Friday night, look no further than a show from Spontaneous Combustion. The team will have more performances and competitions next semester, so keep an eye out in the school bulletin.

When did you begin doing theater tech?

I began teching freshman year for Into the Woods. Once I got involved, I just couldn’t stop.

For how many shows have you been on the tech crew, and what have some of your roles been?

I have teched for 20 shows to date. I have done everything from run crew to spotlight operation to stage managing.

What is a ‘run crew?’

The run crew consists of the people backstage who move the sets, as well as do rigging and special effects.

What do the other members of the tech crew do specifically?

There are light board operators, soundboard operators, spotlight operators, a costume crew, and a hair and makeup crew.

What is your role in Presentation’s current production, The Phantom of the Opera?

I am the Assistant Stage Manager and I am in charge of special effects. Since day one of auditions, I have been in the theater overseeing the rehearsal process. I collaborate with my fellow stage managers and Mr. Houle on how to pull off all the technical challenges in the show. I usually stay at the theater until about 8 or 9 p.m. every night.

What kind of special effects are in the show?

There is a chandelier crash, a boat on a lake, fog and air cannon effects, a trap door, and many more. The Phantom of the Opera is by far the most challenging show technically that Pres has ever done. In addition to the special effects, there are countless set pieces, costumes and backdrops that all have to change simultaneously. We have never needed a bigger crew for a production here than we need for this show.

What is a typical rehearsal like for you?

I make sure all the actors arrive on time. I also take notes on blocking, choreography, and vocals. I look through the script for props and any special technical effects. I maintain order and keep the rehearsal on schedule.

Do you tech for productions other than the fall musical and spring play?

Yes, I have teched for summer shows and I am also an International Thespian Society (ITS) Officer, therefore I am involved with all ITS productions. In addition, I have been involved with the TADA! productions of Little Shop of Horrors and You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown.

Why do you do theater tech?

I tech because I love it. Ever since my first show, I have loved to be a part of the fantastic productions we put on at Pres. As strange as it sounds, I live for the stress and intensity of the rehearsal process because, in the end, it is amazing to see all of your hard work come together into an amazing production.

Why do you do theater tech as opposed to acting on stage?

I used to act, but once I did tech for the first time, I realized how much fun it was being a part of making the show come together. Even though the audience only sees the actors, all the technical aspects of the show are equally important in making it a success.

What do you love most about theater tech?

What I love most is the reaction from the audience after a great show. I really enjoy being able to hear my friends say how great the show was, and I love knowing that I was a part of it.

What is your favorite memory from theater tech?

My favorite memory would be opening night of Always and Forever, Kate. It was an original show and I felt very connected to it because we had so much opportunity to create something new and unique. It was so exciting to see all of our hard work pay off at opening night.

Will you participate in theater tech in college?

Probably. Although I am not pursuing a theater major, I know I will not be able to stay away from the theater. I will participate in as many productions as I can.

What will you miss most about Pres theater tech after you graduate?

I will miss my theater friends the most. The friends I have made are the best kind: they are supportive, funny, unique, thoughtful and are just great people overall. I have enjoyed working with them so much for the past three and a half years. They’re my family.

Mr.Houle started the night off by sharing a personal bully story from when he was in high school which set the tone for the rest of the show. The Presentation Dance team then followed with a dance done to the song “Born This Way,” by Lady Gaga. It was the perfect way to use lyrics to make a point.

Speeches were next, including a PowerPoint with shocking statistics on bullying, many of which seemed too cruel to be real. It made the unrecognized issue a reality.

An original speech, given by senior Demi Pace, was a plea for love. It was strong and powerful enough to bring tears to some of the crowd’s eyes. The speech brought attention to the way society acts and how horrible we, as humans, can act towards each other. It certainly left the audience thinking.

The songs performed by Pres students truly showed their talent. Songs were performed a cappella, with instruments, solo, or with a group of friends. No matter the way it was performed, each song was done beautifully. It was gratifying to see how much hidden talent exists in our school.

One powerful performance was the song “Beautiful,” featuring junoirs Haley Henson, Marisa Peckham, Julia Salisbury and Gaby Capiton. With Julia playing the piano and the other three singing in perfect harmony, the song was incredible.

Demi Pace and Emily Griffith performed an original skit. It was an extremely personal story that brought attention to the hardships of teenagers in high school, who are treated a little differently. It showed the audience that bullying is not a joke—it is a serious issue that can cause any person a great deal of harm. A well-deserved standing ovation followed their performance.

Another touching story of bullying was shared by Katcy Stephan. Her story was a relatable one–a story about feeling like an outcast. However, her story got better. She pointed out that Presentation was the change she needed in her life, because when she came here, the bullying stopped. This gave hope to the audience that even though bullying exists, it can be prevented.

A performance of “There is no difference,” featuring most of the cast topped off the night perfectly. It was sung beautifully by a great number of students which is why it got a standing ovation.

To lighten the mood, Eric Buell, Tim Case, and former teacher Chris Cozort performed a skit for the upcoming play, “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown,” a TADA show that will appear in January. It was hilarious and wonderful to see the current and old teachers of Pres make a fool of themselves as they pretended to be Snoopy on stage. At one point, Mr. Buell poked fun at Mr. Case’s height, which got the whole crowd laughing hysterically.

Presentation students and faculty showed true talent that will not go unrecognized. All in all, ITS’ Concert For Love was a night to remember. It was personal, relatable, entertaining, and a wonderful way to address the serious topic of bullying.

Snip-ITS, the annual fall production by the International Thespian Society (ITS), features an array of individual scenes, much like short stories or vignettes acted on stage. This year, the ITS coordinators decided to use original scenes written by Pres students in conjunction with scenes selected by the ITS officers. Some of the scenes were written and subsequently directed by seniors Emily Griffith and Grace Hoffman and juniors Kate Pashby and Isabelle Polito.

Considering that every scene was its own story, unlike the usual play or musical, the flow of the show was a fresh, easy to digest way to start the fall season. True love, death and acceptance were all played with depth and humor, but did so quickly, creating rapid-fire tableau of wide emotional range that any audience member could appreciate.

Before every scene a song was played that foreshadowed the scenes. Each set was meticulously designed to give diversity to the different stories, from colorful blocks and benches to a solemn, dimly lit bare stage. It was clear to the audience that each scene stood out on thought provoking drama.

The show began with “Bus Stop,” written and directed by Emily Griffith. With an excitable pregnant woman arriving at a bus stop trying to relate to this generation’s typical teenage girl, the scene accurately portrayed the hilarity that is a mother attempting to be ‘hip’ and relate to a younger generation with spastic head banging to the apparent god of this generation’s music industry — ‘The Biebs.’

Immediately after, the tone of the stage evolved into a philosophical drama by Kate Pashby entitled “The Crossroads.” The heavy drama was set on the basis of a newly deceased woman meeting the personification of death as it gives her a difficult choice. Would this wife and mother go back to painful life to learn the fate of her beloved son or journey into a familiar afterlife modeled after her childhood? The actresses, senior Mandy Heiser and junior Erin Hughes, drove the gravity of the situation home, highlighting the deep philosophical lines with skillful technique.

A few comedic highlights of the show were featured in the scenes “Artistic Inspiration” and “Camp Freaks.” Both featured engaging rants between eccentric duos of unique and clearly defined characters. Senior Katcy Stephan kept the crowd breathless with hysteria as she performed her almost dual personality disorder delivery of her Twilight-esque manly man and deliriously enamored teenage girl. In “Camp Freaks,” seniors Elizabeth Bernal and Kelsey Klosterman stole the show with their characters of a girl with self proclaimed ‘swag’ and a girl with cat ears who frowns upon people with a hiss if they dare claim to be a dog person.

All of the actresses featured in the scenes were impeccably in character, whether they were an eerily satisfied woman who had just burned her entire house down with her kids and dog inside, a woman who shot her husband and merely cared about how hungry she was after, or were a part of the group of adorable and lovable daycare children and the unibrowed, aptly named ‘Ms. Buttkiss’. The use of ‘fourth wall’ and vocal tone were among the acting techniques expertly employed in the dramas and comedies that kept the audience engaged and invested.

Overall, Snip-ITS was a brilliant success and the audience was able to walk away with smiles on their faces and new perspectives to reflect on. Don’t worry if you missed out on this curtain call; ITS will be performing Musical Snip-ITS in February 2012 and the benefit Concert for Love on October 6.

The Voice: “In general, how do high schools around the bay area select their musicals? What is the process like?”

Mr. Houle: “I would imagine that the process is different for every high school. I know that the International Thespian Society sends out a monthly magazine, and once a year, they list all of the shows that high schools are doing. I see the most popular shows that high schools all over the country do, but I think the selection process is different for each performing arts director.”

The Voice: “Specifically for Pres, being a Catholic school, are there any boundaries we face on what types of plays we can do?”

Mr. Houle: “The boundaries are not so much because we are a Catholic school but because we are a girls’ school. You have to find musicals with good female roles and not just prostitutes, which a lot of musicals had as their female roles for many years. Now it’s changing: Legally Blonde, Wicked, they have great female characters. But in the forties, fifties, sixties and seventies, when most of the musicals that high schools perform were written, they were almost all male-centric. So that would be the main challenge for Pres in terms of musicals. They haven’t said no to any of my suggestions so far.”

The Voice: “Do we have to get all of our plays approved, and if so, who are the people that approve them?”

Mr. Houle: “Yes. Well, we have a committee that makes a recommendation, and our administration does the ultimate approval, as they do for everything else on campus. They want a cohesive theme for our campus, so the musical must fit into it as well. Although I think if I made a really good case to do something like Sweeney Todd, they might let me do it–I just did Little Shop of Horrors where a crazy plant ate a whole bunch of people, and that was okay!”

The Voice: “Besides the strong female roles in musicals, what do you personally look for in shows you choose?”

Mr. Houle: “Well, I look for challenging roles for students to learn and grow up. That’s number one. Then I like to have a title that the audience may know and might be interested in, because that’s the other part of theater. We have the performers and then we have the audience, so there needs to be a nice balance between the challenging roles and a title that people will know.”

The Voice: “In terms of next year, we have Phantom of the Opera and Pride and Prejudice. I understand that the rights of Phantom of the Opera just were released, correct? How do you find out that the rights have been released?”

Mr. Houle: “Yes; yes, they were. There is a publisher. Once the rights have been secured by the publisher, they are all packaged together–all the books, the trumpet books, the lines, et cetera–and then they send it out to us high schools and ask if we want to do it. They send out a catalog every year with a whole bunch of publishers; five or six people a year are constantly trying to get me to do their shows through the mail. Every time we do their show, they make money. If we do someone else’s show, then those people will make money instead of them. Hundreds of thousands of high schools may perform Guys and Dolls- imagine how much money that is for the publisher!”

The Voice: “Why do you think the publishers are reluctant to let high schoolers perform their work?”

Mr. Houle: “Well, it’s not the publishers who are reluctant because if it were up to them, they would release it the second they get it. It is the creators who are reluctant because they want to protect their work. For example, there is a tour of Grease going around, and we almost had our rights pulled for the summer production of Grease because the people who own it want to make the most money through the tour. They don’t want the audience to come to my production instead of theirs because then they don’t make as much money. Phantom of the Opera has been around for around thirty years or so, and only now they released it. Sometimes you just never know when the rights will be released.”

The Voice: “Are there any specific plays you would do if the rights were released?”

Mr. Houle: “Wicked and Legally Blonde for sure. Just think of the great roles- three, four, five great female roles with all the incredible music! A story that everybody knows and a title? That’s the perfect show for Presentation! I would love to do something like Hairspray, but we don’t have the racial diversity to do it because it is very specifically required that you have people of certain races, so that’s a show that I can’t do.”

The Voice: “For Phantom of the Opera and Pride and Prejudice next year: are there any reasons why you picked those two together? Do you feel that the cast for next year will be especially strong?”

Mr. Houle: “Well, I take a look at the possibilities for future performers, but in the end, I just know that the roles will be fulfilled by qualified people. Phantom of the Opera was just too tough to resist- I love the show so much–everybody loves the show–so it will be very fun to do. As for Pride and Prejudice, I saw a version in Ashland, Oregon last year at the Shakespeare Festival, and I immediately called up the festival and asked ‘Who has the rights?’ They gave me the person’s name, and I worked out a deal with them. I had just seen the show, and I liked it very much.”

The Voice: “In general, what can Presentation look forward to in terms of big theater production next year?”

Mr. Houle: “Well, next year, we are going to pull out all the stops! Both shows are going to be beautiful and very well performed. I would imagine that this will be one of our strongest years. Our selection of students is very strong right now, and everybody is in place: it’s the same team that has been working together for the last few years, and they are clicking really well. Everyone is excited about both shows and are looking forward to it!”

There have been many great student achievements this year from academics to sports. This month the Voice would like to highlight the creative and unique work of Emily Griffith and Grace Hoffman in their writing and production of the musical “Always & Forever, Kate.”

These two Pres juniors have worked relentlessly for two years to now enjoy the fruits of their labor: the production of their play will be shown in Presentation’s Valenzuela Theater for three shows during April. This modern student-produced musical, “Always & Forever, Kate,” is about a girl who joins group therapy after her best friend dies in a car accident. She befriends some quirky characters and rebuilds the notion of love and friendship.

The two students have different specialties that they applied to the creation of the musical. Griffith wrote the musical score and Hoffman wrote the script, but the collaboration of these two friends made the complete musical possible.

The inspiration behind the play was also a shared effort. “Emily and I sat down two summers ago and basically started hammering out ideas, Hoffman recalled. “We knew we valued a story about characters–little sub plots made us really excited!

“I jotted down settings where teenagers would be in some kind of group, and group therapy sounded unique. We also both knew a girl who lost a friend a couple years ago, and she wrote a monologue about her last conversation with that friend. It was really inspiring.”

Hoffman and Griffith have put a lot of hard work in the creation of the play, but they believe they couldn’t have done it without some help along the way. Both expressed gratitude to Performing Arts Director Mr. Houle and many friends for their constant guidance by reading the script, providing feedback and supporting them through the whole process.

Mr. Houle said he was thrilled to be of assistance. “When I overheard them talking about it, I told them if they were to finish it, I would be happy to produce it as an ITS production,” he said. “In order to prepare Grace as director, I installed her as my assistant director for Little Women.

“Both Emily and Grace have been directed by me in several productions, and Emily was in my own original musical this summer. Only students with a lot of experience doing theater could write a credible musical, so their past theater experience should help them prepare and present their original show.”

Hoffman and Griffith both have interesting backgrounds in theater. Their first experience of writing a play began in middle school, where they focused on a play about Greek gods. Ever since then, the dynamic duo have starred in a multitude of Presentation theater productions. The two students both love the performing arts but specialize in different areas of theater as Griffith says, “Grace has always enjoyed writing stories and seems to constantly carry a pen in her hand. I, too, love to write but my passion is directed more towards music and lyrics.”

Griffith and Hoffman have recently held the auditions for the small but hard-working cast of 18 students: 14 girls and 4 boys. They now look forward to working with this group of enthusiastic actors in efforts to produce a great show.

Junior Lauren Fisher will be playing one of the main characters in the show, Kate.“I really like that this show is so modern,” she said. “Already reading over the script at auditions, I could tell this musical was different.  Doing a musical with a few of my best friends is a lot less pressuring.  It is nice to be able to just be free in this environment.”

Griffith is proud of the great accomplishment she and Hoffman have achieved. “This is the first time an original musical has been written and performed by students from Pres and we hope that everyone will come to see it! Our cast is truly unbelievable and I couldn’t be more excited to watch them create magic on stage.” “Always & Forever, Kate”  will play in the Valenzuela Theater on April 7, 9, and 10!

The Dark Knight has vanquished comic books, movies, television and even short-lived fad dance crazes, but now he’s making his way to the stage. Will he be able to survive this stunt?

DC Entertainment, Warner Brothers and Water Lane Productions recently announced the official arrival of Batman Live, a touring production that will take the world by storm (or, perhaps, by Batmobile). The onstage production, as stated from the press release, is said to include “a host of other Batman characters, including villains like The Joker, Catwoman, The Riddler and The Penguin.”

“When a character has as wide an audience and as rich a history as Batman, it’s truly exciting to see him introduced into an all-new storytelling medium,” says Jim Lee, Co-Publisher at DC Comics. “Batman Live will bring a completely new experience to fans of the character – it’s great to be able to give them something they haven’t seen before.”

So look forward to seeing this action and bat packed show, which is set to open in the UK this year, before touring Europe and on American shores by summer 2012.

Spider-Man: Turn off the Dark

The other show that many are clamoring to see is that of the Broadway production, Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark. At $65 million, it’s said to be the most expensive show ever produced on Broadway. However, it isn’t just the budget that has many raising their eyebrows.

The date for the premiere of the show keeps getting pushed back, especially after an unfortunate incident in a preview show when stuntman Christopher Tierney fell nearly 30 feet and suffered a skull fracture and a cracked vertebra. Since then, actress Natalie Mendoza, who plays the newly invented character Arachne and who was also injured on the set, quit the show altogether.

Altogether, this leads many to wonder if the musical Spider-Man could be the biggest disaster in Broadway history. However, the show has many pluses in its column, such as music and lyrics by Bono and The Edge from U2. It is also being directed by The Lion King creator Julie Taymor and stars Reeve Carney, a relatively unknown 23-year-old singer, as Peter Parker and his superhero alter ego, Spider-Man.

The Broadway musical is roughly based on the plot from the beginning Spider-Man movies, in which young Peter Parker discovers his powers, battles the Green Goblin, and falls in love with his childhood sweetheart. However, Marvel has also promised “super villains never-before-imagined” and Taymor has reportedly added a bit of Greek Mythology to spice it up.

With the official premiere of “Spider-Man” having been postponed five times, the latest projected opening is said to be March 15.Preview performances have continued as the show has often be reworked and those hoping to view the show should expect top ticket prices around $200, with the highest being $273.

The red team, led by Spontaneous Combustion’s co-captain, senior Tanya Padgaonkar, consisted of junior Athena Santos, sophomores Kate Pashby and Nura Kawa and freshman Haleigh Boss. Junior and co-captain Amanda Camillo led the green team, with members including sophomore Isabelle Polito, freshmen Angelina Maciel and Caitlin Gonzalez and Bellarmine senior Drew Antes

After a brief introduction by Ms. Rodriguez, the team’s moderator, the 10 players ‘rolled’ on stage while the song “Proud Mary” echoed throughout the theater. The referee explained the rules for the night, including punishments for any use of profanity or inappropriate jokes.

The games were kicked off with a riveting round of “What Are You Doing?”, in which one member performed an action, but claimed to be doing another. The other player acted out what the other person said they were doing. The red team won, scoring five points and the choice of their next game: “Replay.”

In this game, the red team performed a scene once normally, and then in different styles as chosen by the audience: Gothic, Western and in distinctive character voices. “The red team did a great job with ‘Replay!’ It really showed how well they worked together, and how creative their team could be,” stated green team captain Amanda Camillo, who chose “Blind Line” as her team’s next game.

In this round, the green team left the room while the audience was asked for famous lines from popular culture. These lines were written on scraps of paper, and the green team picked up a random line and incorporated it into their scene. The audience was asked to vote, by applauding, on which scene they preferred. The green team’s game was the winner, giving them five points.

Next, the red team picked the green team’s scene: “The Dating Game.” In this round, the ‘bachelor’ left the room, while three ‘bachelorettes’ were assigned characters by the audience—Betty Boop, Lady Gaga and President Obama. When the bachelor returned, it was his job to discover the identities of the bachelorettes by asking them questions.

Next, the red team was challenged to play “Slideshow,” in which three team members posed, while two players described what was happening on their vacation, based on the positions of the other players. Red team member Athena Santos stated, “My favorite game was ‘Slideshow!’ I got to use my facial expressions a lot, and it was fun to make funny poses and see how my teammates would react!”

After another audience vote, the green team was again victorious. However, there was a catch-up round, in order to give the team with less points an extra chance. The red team was asked to play “Chain Murder,” where the audience was asked to choose a murderer’s occupation, the murder weapon and the scene of the crime. Each player was asked to convey the three details to the next, but without using words, and keeping within the overall 4-minute time limit. The players were asked to guess the details of the crime, and were awarded points accordingly.

With the score tied, both teams were called to play in the next game, “Continuation Story.” In this game, the players formed a straight line across the stage. They referee pointed to a member, who would begin to tell a story. As soon as the referee pointed to another player, the first speaker was required to stop mid-word, as the next player was required to continue the story from the previous word. The story’s title, as chosen by the audience, was “Charlie the Caterpillar who Defeated the Bears.” The last player standing, Amanda Camillo, won points for her team.

The final game of the night was called “World’s Worst.” In this game, the audience was asked to choose a profession. The players were then asked to act out the ‘world’s worst’ version of that occupation. Each depiction earned the player’s team one point. The game’s final score was 25-24 in favor of the red team. Both teams exited the stage while fighting each other in slow-motion, and greeted the audience in the lobby, giving high fives to all attendees.

Overall, Spontaneous Combustion’s fall performance was hilarious–the team members worked well together, and there were very few slow moments. Co-captain Camillo said of the team, “Every year, the team dynamic changes. It brings new challenges and we work together differently. The mood of the team is different every year!” The show was undoubtedly a success, as the team delivered plenty of clever one-liners and side-splitting scenes.

The show was also an achievement in the sense that it provided dozens of riotous moments, without resorting to inappropriate jokes or profanity. If the team continues to deliver such entertaining shows, Spontaneous Combustion’s future looks quite promising.

All are welcome to attend the team’s rehearsals and provide scene suggestions on Fridays from 2:45-3:45 in the Valenzuela Theater.

This fun musical tells the story of a man-eating-plant named Audrey 2. Unlike many Pres Theatre productions this show has a wacky plot line filled with fun songs, a love story and murder.

The plot of the show revolves around a boy named, Seymour, who works at a flower shop with a pretty girl named Audrey. The story begins when Seymour mysteriously obtains a strange plant that resembles a large Venus fly trap. Since Seymour is secretly in love with Audrey, he names the plant Audrey II.

When the strange plant starts to die, he turns to the obvious alternative, to feed it human blood. This interesting choice of nourishment somehow enables the plant to speak, and this spurs the crazy antics throughout the rest of the plot. To sum up the show, religion teacher Mr. Buell said that his impression of the show is,  “Goofy, but with great music.”

This odd blend of comedy, music, and alien plants is a great show for anyone looking for some laughs; whoever thought that putting a story about homicide and a giant alien plant to music would go so well together? Although some have said Little Shop of Horrors is one of the weirdest musicals ever, it actually has a great blend of comedy, singing and suspense. With a stellar cast of teachers, parents, and TADA members, this show is sure to be a great one.

With a cast full of parents, alumni, TADA members and teachers, Little Shop of Horrors is bound to be an amazing show. Mr. Houle said, “Little Shop of Horrors has four very big things going for it:  the faculty performances of Mr. Buell, Mr. Wang, Ms Rahmig and Ms. Foley.” Mr. Buell and Mrs. Rahmig will both be returning to the stage come January. Mr. Buell will be playing Seymour while Mrs. Rahmig will be playing Ronette, a Skid Row Denizen, or woman who lives nearby and helps narrate through song. Mr. Wang and Ms. Foley will be making their debut; Mr. Wang as the Dentist, Orin Scrivello, and a chinese plant salesman and Ms. Foley as Chiffon, another Skid Row Denizen. This stellar cast also includes many Pres parents and members of TADA. Mr. Houle said, “Rehearsals are going great and the show is going to be very entertaining.  Last year’s production of Godspell sold out, so don’t wait to get your tickets at pres-net.com.” If this amazing cast doesn’t get you thrilled to see it, then nothing will.

In the words of Mr. Buell, “If you ever wanted to see Mr. Wang do an Elvis impression, or if giant-man-eating-plants are your thing, come see the show.” Another thing to look forward to, Mr. Buell kills a faculty member, for the second year in a row – come see the show starting in January to find out who it is.