Since Great Crossing High School opened its doors in 2019, the theater department has grown and created an awesome community. It has also allowed students to showcase their creative talents and gain confidence through performances. From the hilarious portrayal of Dracula: A Comedy of Terrors to the dramatic rendition of Mean Girls to the heartwarming story of Matilda, the GCHS theater department has provided several opportunities for students to experience live theater.
This fall, the department is preparing a one-act comedy called Too Many Detectives At The Murder Mansion. With 33 cast members and 25 crew members backstage, this show is being directed by Warhawk Theater co-chair Evan Bentley, and assisted by Hannah Clea. This is their second year as a directing team.
Bentley has a large amount of experience in theater.. “I have been working in community theaters since I was in high school, and I have worked at least two shows a year since graduating high school.”
This production is about a group of crime scene enthusiasts who attend Madame Doyle’s annual Murder and Crime Gala who soon become suspects in a crazy over-the-top unsolved murder. Bentley said, “This production also features iconic characters like the Mystery Crew from Scooby Doo and Batman. Audiences are going to love seeing how all these characters interact with one another!”
Senior Sammy Brock has been cast to play Miss Marple, an older woman based on a character created by author Agatha Christie. She has been in the theater for years just like Bentley. “I have been doing shows since I was 6 years old, in theaters like Actors Playhouse of Georgetown (APG), Youth Theater of The Bluegrass (YTOB), and the Woodford Theater.”
Another crucial part of putting a production together is the stage crew. The crew assists with props, makeup and hair, set design, etc. Sophomore Maren Jump is the tech manager for the GCHS theater department. “The crew loves theater and our productions just as much as the actors up on stage. We love putting the show on. The crew is incredibly important to making a show work. We simply have a passion. The tech crew loves working with all the GCHS systems and the backstage crew loves creating the magic seen on stage.”
The future of the department is looking bright. Bentley said, “We inherited a good space with good foundations, but we are focusing on the basics to ensure we build up the good and ideally grow to be known to offer quality theater.”
If you are interested in seeing this upcoming production and supporting the Warhawk Nation, tickets are $5 for performances from Oct. 31-Nov 3 and will be available on gofan.com closer to the production date. Tickets will also be sold at the door, and can be purchase with a cash or check.
Valerie Maynard • Oct 22, 2024 at 2:36 pm
Great article! It’s awesome to see how much the theater department has grown since 2019. I love how you highlighted the hard work from both the cast and crew. Can’t wait to see the fun mix of characters in Too Many Detectives at the Murder Mansion—it sounds like a blast!