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‘Our Town’

Northwest Middle School theater students will perform classic play Nov. 17, 18 and 19

by JACOB LUCK, NWMS theater/journalism teacher

“Our Town,” described by Edward Albee as “the greatest American play ever written,” presents the small town of Grover’s Corners in three acts: “Daily Life,” “Love and Marriage” and “Death and Eternity.”

The play opened on Broadway at Henry Miller’s Theatre on Feb. 4, 1938, and was produced and directed by Jed Harris. The original cast featured Frank Craven, Martha Scott and John Craven. The play returned to Broadway four times: in 1944 starring Marc Connelly; in 1969 starring Henry Fonda; in 1988 starring Spalding Gray; and in 2002 starring Paul Newman.

As a young person, I can remember weekends traveling through the Appalachian regions with family and friends, seeing the colors of the leaves changing, the smell of firewood burning, and the Christmas trees over the hills in the distance. During my time at Western Carolina University eight years ago, my fondest memories are of the mountain ranges appearing as I traveled through the state down I-40. Much like Grover’s Corners, western North Carolina is steeped in culture and heavily influenced by the diverse communities that brought people together.

“Our Town” is one of the greatest and most performed American plays ever written. It is, and always will be, about us, our community, our families, and our pursuit of one another. I also connect with it personally, because at age 16 I played George Gibbs in Act I, and married the love of my life three weeks ago as Act II depicts.

“Our Town” represents the most valuable things we have: the timelessness of life, the rich traditions of our ancestors, and the footprints that started our journey thousands of years ago.

Northwest Middle School’s production of “Our Town” is directed by me (Jacob Luck, theater/journalism teacher), and our music director is Corey Yngsdal, the school’s director of choirs. The play features 30 Northwest Middle School actors and 15 stage crew members: Abby Swink, Abigal Teague, Amelia Winter, Anna Rivabem, Annabelle Lee, Annabelle Reece Biggs, Ava Helper, Ava Pike, Bella Demange, Calla Campbell, Cameron Alison, Caroline Verm, Cate-Thornton Reynolds, Chelsea Smith, Claire Ozipko, Dylan Joyce, Eli Landry, Gavin Brown, Grady Jones, Griffin Lund, Harley Campbell, Haven Swayze, Izzie Gile, Jenna Wunner, Kate Cohan, Kendall Hipsher, Maddie McDowell, Maya Adams, Meagan Brady, Mia Christman, Olivia Bogle, Olivia Gatewood, Reagan Mistysyn, Riley Lund, Rory Goss, Ryland Cooley, Savannah Mattei, Sofia Gatewood, Spencer Lund, Stella Harton, Vella Day, Will Cohan, Will Martin and Zella Lautzenheiser.

want to go?

“Our Town” will be performed in the auditorium of Northwest High School, 5240 Northwest School Road in Greensboro. Performances will be at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 17, Friday, Nov. 18, and Saturday, Nov. 19. Tickets can be purchased at the door each evening for $10, beginning at 6:30 p.m.