Text by SOFIA ANTEBI and KATE MILNE Photos by ZOË WONG-VANHAREN
The Kentucky Cycle
STUDENT DIRECTORS TAKE CENTER STAGE IN SELF-LED PRODUCTION
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N OPENING NIGHT, the lights of Palo Alto High idea to direct and engineer the show without teacher involvement. School’s cozy theater classroom dim as two students Baldwin, her friend and fellow theater enthusiast, was equally exwalk to center stage, announcing the beginning of the cited by the prospect, and they brought the plan to theater teachperformance “The Kentucky Cycle.” Paly’s first ever er Kathleen Woods who gave them the green light. From there, student-run production begins, telling a dramatic Southern tale. Woods was almost entirely uninvolved. Lined on all sides by chairs filled with an eager audience, the “The production was very successful,” Woods said. “The show classroom’s capacity is significantly smaller than the main stage of was well-paced and made strong, creative use of the space, lighting the Performing Arts Center, but the close-up nature of the per- and props. The show was well-supported and well-received.” formance creates an intimate setting that Void of the guidance from typical engages each viewer. Despite the spatial PAC performance leaders like Woods, restriction, 54 audience members manage Tech designers and actors the rehearsal process had a palpably to squeeze in, selling out the play’s Jan. 17 different feel to it than past Paly prowere pretty blended todebut. ductions. Because the students were The production came to life through gether as opposed to a responsible for every aspect of the perboth practice and performance. During formance’s success, many participants the busy two months of rehearsals leading regular show.” felt there were more opportunities for — SKY CROCE, senior up to opening night, the team of students growth and collaboration than there from all grades worked together to ensure would have been if adults were involved. the show’s success. Actors ran lines and blocked out scenes, stop- Additionally, students were able to undertake multiple jobs, which ping for helpful tips and redirections from their peers. Cast and created unique learning experiences. crew members spent hours testing lights and sound systems, taping “Tech designers and actors were pretty blended together, as down wires and placing props. Only one thing was missing: an opposed to a regular show,” Croce said. adult. Taking over this role of mentorship are two Paly seniors: di- Student leadership rector Sky Croce and student producer Bees Baldwin. Croce was “The Kentucky Cycle” follows a Southern family’s encounter first introduced to “The Kentucky Cycle” — a series of nine one- with storyteller J.T. Wells, who enthralls them with tales of city life. act plays by Robert Schenkkan — in her Theater 4 Honors class at The family’s daughter, Mary Anne Rowan, has a turbulent love life Paly. After working intensively on one scene, she came up with the and finds herself falling for the charming yet deceptive J.T.
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18 FEBRUARY 2020