The theater and drama program are preparing to present their next production, Elf the Musical. It is an adaptation of the 2003 movie with the same name. Rehearsals are starting as sets are being constructed. Costumes are being created for the actors.
Sophomore Punkin Brower-Francis is a set designer for Elf the Musical. The current direction for the sets is “a battle between whimsicality and cynicism,” Brower says. A key example of this is the contrast between the North Pole and New York. “The North Pole is inspired by those old 50’s advertisements with Santa Claus and Coca Cola, and New York is more urban and industrial,” Brower explains. According to Brower, production of these sets is going smoothly. Wood is used to create stable sets that can withstand wear and tear during performance.
Senior Lara Saban is a costume designer for the musical. The costumes are designed with the characters’ traits in mind. “Some characters are the office type. They’re in full suits; they wear more greys or blues. Other characters are super bright; they wear hot pink and a little more childish,” Saban explains. She uses Walter Hobbs from the movie as an example. “He’s like your typical New York businessman. [He wears a] sharper outfit with a suit, and he wears greys, blacks, and blues,” Saban said. “You will never see him wear magenta.” The department tries to sew the costumes, when possible, but when they cannot, they thrift for old clothes to alter.
Making plays and musicals takes a lot of time and effort for the students in drama and theater. They want to give students and their families an opportunity to have a good time while celebrating the hard work of their peers. There will be an announcement for when tickets will be on sale. “We would really like to have anyone who would like to come to the performance,” Brower said.
