FEATURE
A Play Called 8
In foreground: Geoff Harlan and Elena Beleno Carney ’97
by Laura Rogerson Moore
At the end of August, 2013, Theatre Director Joel Sugerman sent all employees an invitation to participate in a first-ever LA community theatre event. “This winter, joining other communities and theatres around the country, we are going to perform a staged reading of a play called 8, by Dustin Lance Black. The play chronicles the trial of Perry v. Schwarzenegger, the case about California’s Proposition 8, showing both sides of the marriage equality debate and using actual court transcripts from the trial.”
Sean Collins ’14, Kelly Burns ’14, Bev Rodrigues, and Laura Moore
An old theatre adage reminds us that when it comes to community theatre, the emphasis is always on “community,” and our experience over the next six months not only followed that maxim, but proved it unforgettably wise and true.
“I knew that I wanted to be in the play—any part would do— but I wanted to be a part of it,” Director of Academic Support Kimberly Poulin claims, “part of a moment that helped move us forward as a community.” English teacher Ned Mitchell states, “We players got to see and act with each other as members of a whole community rather than members of various groups who 12 I FALL 2014
have roles as department members or coaching staff.” Tony Hawgood, NGP science teacher and Winterim director, recalls “the nail-biting wait to find out my part, the real power of being in something so important, being a role model, the (re)understanding that education comes in so many different forms, and my thankfulness to Joel for enabling all of us to be part of another form of education.”
Kimberly Poulin
Ned echoes Tony’s gratitude, noting “the incredible inspiration I got from the director for the project and for its ‘reach.’ He translated his passion about theatre and the project into real excitement for his players, as well as involvement for the town and the school.” I played Sandy Stier, one of the plaintiffs, described as “sparkly” by her wife Kris Perry. I was initially puzzled that Joel had cast me as Sandy, but I knew enough to trust his expertise. Joel is a master teacher who invited his colleagues into his classroom where he gave us few directions, respected us, had confidence in the process and the script, prompted us with questions and turned us loose, always encouraging us to find something new, to listen and respond, to pay attention. In November at our first full run-through, I recall NGP history teacher Matt Greene ’01 delivering his monologue and history teacher Kacey Schneider ’04, math teacher Jarred Gagnon ’03,
