'Jookalorum!' opens Nov. 12 at DHS
Posted on: Nov 9, 2020
Despite challenges posed by COVID-19, dedicated students from grades 6-12 are proceeding with a fall play that opens this week.
Eleven students, along with Director Jack Neveaux, set designer Mike Stoudt and costume coordinator Kerrie Olson, will present “Jookalorum!” at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday and Friday, Nov. 12-13 and Nov. 19-20, and at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 14.
In-person audiences will be limited to 50 people to comply with health and safety guidelines from the Minnesota Department of Health and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Tickets are available on the district website.
Students said that preparation for the series of scenes based on nine short stories by O. Henry has been difficult, since most rehearsals have occurred virtually, but all were glad to proceed with a show.
“It’s nice to have some normalcy, especially this year with how everything has turned out,” said senior Shelby Stoddard. “We can still have this sense of community even though there are all these obstacles we have to jump over. It’s nice to come together and have something to do.”
Senior Sydney Wuerger said that virtual rehearsals made it more difficult for cast members to interact in terms of movement and body language.
“The other difficulty is that when you are in person you have masks on, so you can never see the other person’s facial expressions,” she added. “And you have to be distanced, so that’s difficult because a big thing in theater is touch and communication.”
Still, there have been some benefits to the unusual rehearsal process.
“I think it’s cool that we’re still capable of putting on a production,” Wuerger said. “The technology aspect, even though it is difficult, means that we can practice every single day. We can do it any time of the day. We can be in completely different locations and it’s still possible.”
Because the cast is purposely small, with only 10 actors available to cover about 35 characters, each student plays multiple roles throughout the varied stories. This has challenged their ability to rapidly shift mindsets and attitudes.
“There are a lot of character studies,” said junior Autumn Langdon. “I go from richest lady in New York to a fake rich lady, to an old woman, to a dirt poor homeowner. And in the first scene I’m southern, so there is a completely different energy to each one.”
Cast members include Stoddard, Wuerger, Langdon, John Lahlum, Sophie Stevens, Drew Nielsen, Harry Stenback, Kyra Machakaire, Sydney Hintermeister and Lila Ford.
Emily Barron is the student stage manager.
“I’ve been doing theater since I was 7 or 8 in this school, and I did it a while before school too, but I’m a senior this year so it was super devastating to me when there wasn’t going to be a production,” said Wuerger. “So I just think it’s amazing that we’re able to put on a show in my senior year, and I’m super happy to be a part of it."
• For more information, see the Nov. 6 edition of the Delano Herald Journal.
Post Categories: High School