Core Charter Academy Drama Club to perform original play
Apr. 17—The Drama Club at Core Charter Academy in Marysville is preparing to perform an original coming-of-age play on May 1, 2 and 3 entitled "Reflections of Childhood."
The play was conceived by the school's Drama Club leader, Cathy Willoughby, and written by Willoughby and some of her drama students.
The play focuses on growing-up experiences. Growing up, there could be the experience of having a first camp crush, going to your first school dance, navigating your parents' divorce or having a grandparent with Alzheimer's disease.
A ninth grader who will be in the play, Aryana Domenigoni, said that it is almost like the students get to see their own experiences performed on stage.
"When I see a lot of coming-of-age movies, they're all very cliche," Domenigoni said. "Like the dorky girl who was bullied in high school by the popular kids, I'm not saying it doesn't happen, but it's like the same story over and over."
Domenigoni said she thinks this play is special because actual kids who are going through these issues have written monologues that are in the play.
"Of course, you can remember your childhood, right? But these kids are going through it now, and they're telling their own unique experiences," Domenigoni said.
For the play, Domenigoni wrote a monologue about burnout that another student will perform. Domenigoni said that the monologue does not apply to her directly, but she has had feelings of burnout — she found that the jump from eighth grade to high school came with pressure.
"(With students performing other people's monologues) it's kind of like stepping into the shoes of other people, and most of the monologues that people wrote are very personal experiences," Domenigoni said.
Willoughby said that there is something very healing about seeing someone else perform your monologue, which adds some credibility and normalcy to whatever you are going through. For this sharing to occur, it was important for the class environment to feel safe.
"There is that trust that you have to have in a play, because we're also dealing with middle school and high school insecurities," Willoughby said. "We always talk about how what happens in drama stays in drama."
Willoughby said it does not matter if you are a kid who people never talk to in the hall, because once drama starts, everyone gets close to each other.
Willoughby said the play itself will be a magical experience, and the energy in the room will be over the top.
"When you look at the title 'Reflections of Childhood,' it's allowing you to go back and experience things. It may not be the same story of firsts for you, but you can certainly relate to having those moments at some point," Willoughby said. "It really is a journey of childhood."
Like the journey of childhood, the play will feature both light and dark moments. Songs are included to enhance the story: "Gonna Make You Sweat," "Girls Just Want To Have Fun" and Edwin Starr's "War."
After all, the theater bug has just gotta be spread.
"I push them, and I want them to push themselves because there is nothing better in life than being proud of yourself, and that's what I want for them," Willoughby said.
During the three performance days in May, the play will run at the FIVE30 Center, located at 1104 J St. in Marysville, from 5:30-7:30 p.m. Tickets can be purchased at the event.
