Skip to main content

BHS Drama Club

BHS production of 'Little Women' transcends time, retains relevance

By Joanne Beck
 Photo by Steve Ognibene
 Photo by Steve Ognibene

Walking down the Batavia High School hallway as the Drama Club prepares for dress rehearsal, it's notable how there’s a surprising number of males in a show about women.

That’s because there are also very important male roles, director Caryn Wood says.

“Teddy is a very excellent example of a very important male role. John Brooke, obviously, how he affects (the story), and you see how they all interact and what the effects of those relationships are. And so, yeah, there's a bunch of men in the show too," Wood said during rehearsal Monday at BHS. "And so, I just think it's a wonderful story, and I think that these kids are rising to a challenge. It's hard because it's such a classic, and they have their own expectations. Because the characters are. But then there's the movie that came out in the 90s from one Winona Ryder, which was part of my childhood, and there's so many different versions, and they can all kind of meld and become one, almost. 

“And so we're just trying to do a classic is not a crazy way, very intimate because it's a black box,” she said. “You're very close to the actors, and a story that is so much about the relationships. I think it's awesome to do it in such a close, intimate proximity, like a black box theater.”

“Little Women,” about the lives of four sisters — Jo, Amy, Beth and Meg March and their mother, Marmee — after dad goes off to the Civil War front, debuts at 7 p.m. Friday and continues at 7 p.m. Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday at BHS, 260 State St., Batavia. 

For anyone unfamiliar with black box theater, it’s about as up close and personal as you can get in theater — on stage with the actors, action and sets. Jeremiah Childs, 17, who has the role of Teddy, aka Laurie, enjoys sharing the spotlight with an audience, he said. 

“It’s interesting, being that close to the audience,” he said. “You can hear everything and see everything. So if they laugh, you can see the laughter. If they do a face, you can see the face. I like it.”

His character is similar to his own personality, but there was a challenge he’s had to deal with, he said.

“Laurie is a lot like me: he’s funny, he's very out there, he likes doing what he does. He has some traditional values,” the 12th-grader said. “But with Jo, Jo tries to break him out of that, and he just can't. And they don't end up together, which is kind of sad. But if you watch the movie later on, they do end up together, but he's very fun, he's very charismatic. He's very loving, and he desperately wants to get into this March family.”

Jo March serves as the head of the family and works as a surrogate father in his absence. Kelsey Kirkwood wanted the role when she auditioned and was elated when she won the part, she said.

“I’ve just been in theater for a very, very long time, and I could tell that I’d been working my way up. And so when I got picked for her, I was really excited,” she said. “I’ve been in shows since, I think I was like eight, so probably third grade, and then I’ve been doing the shows here at the high school since ninth grade. I definitely want to keep going with it in college, but more so just for fun.”

So tell us about Jo., and are there more similarities or differences between you?

“Jo is very, very, I can’t think of that word for her. She's very not spiteful, but she knows her way. She's very set in her beliefs, and she just goes against the social norms, which I think is pretty cool, because that was a little difficult to do in her time,” 17-year-old Kirkwood said.  “I relate to her a lot because she kind of, I wouldn't say I'm defiant, but she's kind of defiant, and she knows her own way, and she definitely is passionate about what she believes in, and she fights for it, which I think is pretty cool.

“When father goes away, Jo kind of takes over for him and ends up being like the quote, unquote, man of the house,” she said. “And so she just kind of, she tries to keep everything in order, and she's not always great at it, but she tries.”

There are 22 students in the cast and five student crew members for a traditional and familiar adaptation of the story, Wood said. So if you have ever read the book or seen any of the movies, this will seem fairly customary, with one catch.

“One thing we're doing a little differently is that ... because it's supposed to be during the Civil War, but so many of the themes are so applicable of Little Women, obviously, there's some feminism, and women leaving home to find work, and the transition to working outside the home, Jo has a desire to make a living for herself, to support herself in the future, and she isn't sold on the idea of marriage, necessarily, and so many of those themes and ideas are still so relevant even today, more than 100 years later. So we're taking it out of any one time period, and we're kind of making it of any time period," she said. "You'll see costumes like modern clothing. So there's some modern clothing in there, and then many of the women are in clothing from various time periods. We've got some 60s, 50s, there's a 50s housewife kind of look on one person. There's almost a regency kind of look on another girl. There's almost a Victorian look on another, so we're just mixing up all the time periods because it is so timeless, it’s such a classic story that could almost fit in any time. 

"So instead of making it any one specific time, our costumes should reflect the character and the person more than necessarily the time period itself," she said. "And so that's something unique that we're doing.” 

The common thread is a familial bond in a "coming of age" classic, clothing style notwithstanding, as these little women deal with the ups and downs of life.

Sophomore Willow Rozell plays Meg, and despite her nervous demeanor backstage, the 15-year-old can more easily slip into character once the quiet on set cue is given. She described a varied experience for patrons. 

“Oh, I think it's going to be fun, but it's also going to be sad. We definitely have a mixture. It’s supposed to be serious but fun, too,” she said, adding what she thinks is the show’s message. “I think family, specifically sisterhood, is really important, and to unite with that is a really important thing in the show.” 

Tickets are $9 in advance and available at www.cur8.com (search BHS) or $10 at the door.

To view or purchase photos, click here

 Photo by Steve Ognibene
 Photo by Steve Ognibene
 Photo by Steve Ognibene
 Photo by Steve Ognibene
 Photo by Steve Ognibene
 Photo by Steve Ognibene
 Photo by Steve Ognibene
 Photo by Steve Ognibene
 Photo by Steve Ognibene
 Photo by Steve Ognibene
 Photo by Steve Ognibene
 Photo by Steve Ognibene
 Photo by Steve Ognibene
 Photo by Steve Ognibene

BHS Drama Club tries to determine who murdered billionaire in eight 10-minute plays

By Howard B. Owens
batavia high school drama club the alibis

For those who love murder mysteries and comedies, the Batavia High School Drama Club is staging The Alibis, a collection of eight interconnected 10-minute plays that revolve around the murder of eccentric billionaire J. Leslie Arlington.

There are plenty of suspects in the murder, and all have alibis, which none of them want to admit to because they were all committing other ridiculous crimes at the time. The suspects include disgruntled chefs, teen detectives, and vengeful divas.

Performances are at 7 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and 2 p.m. on Sunday on the stage of the Batavia High School Auditorium, 260 State St., Batavia.

Photos by Howard Owens.

batavia high school drama club the alibis
batavia high school drama club the alibis
batavia high school drama club the alibis
batavia high school drama club the alibis
batavia high school drama club the alibis
batavia high school drama club the alibis
batavia high school drama club the alibis
batavia high school drama club the alibis

BHS Drama Club presents Sherlock Holmes play

By Howard B. Owens

The BHS Drama Club presents three performances this weekend of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes.

The play is a mystery adapted by Jon Jory.

Performances are at 7 p.m., Friday, 7 p.m., Saturday, and 2 p.m. on Sunday.

Tickets are $9 in advance or $10 at the door. For advance tickets visit  https://www.showtix4u.com/event-details/58348 (advance sales close one hour before the event).

The play is presented in the round on the stage of the Batavia HS auditorium.

BHS Drama Club's '45 Plays for 45 Presidents' starts tonight: U.S. history 'isn't all sparkles and fairy tales'

By Billie Owens

The Batavia High School Drama Club will present its newest play tonight called "45 Plays for 45 Presidents."

It starts at 7 p.m. and will also be performed Saturday at that time. There's a matinee Sunday at 2 o'clock.

According to Caryn Leigh Wood, musical and drama director, BHS swapped show time slots this academic year and held its musical in the fall, so the play that used to be in December is now in March.

"Basically the play is exactly how it sounds; one scene for each of our 45 presidents," Wood says. "It is considered experimental, historical, comedy and has some really interesting content."

A total of 25 students in grades 9-12 are in the production. The show was originally written for just five people, but the authors allow for expanding it.

"With over 150 roles in the show, it was quite a challenge to the cast," Wood said. "Every cast member has multiple roles, so the group dynamic is really important to the overall flow of the show. The student must really work hard to weave each of the scenes together, making it truly an ensemble piece. There isn't one single lead role." 

The play does not attempt to merely impersonate each of the 45 presidents; it's not written so that the actors are trying to mimic them, according to Wood.

Rather, the president in each scene is represented through the symbol of the "presidential coat" that is passed from one scene to the next. There are some points in the show that the coat is not even worn by a person, but handled in such a way as to symbolize the president in that scene.

Wood sums the production up this way:

"The cast has had a crazy and fun time learning this show; as you can imagine, because there is a TON of difficult content to cover. Our nation's history isn't all sparkles and fairytales and the authors don't try to gloss over that in any way. That's why the show is so dynamic and constantly changing; there are points where you can be in a serious and poignant scene, and then the next moment, you are in the middle of a comedy roast or silly game show.

"The juxtaposition and contrast can really leave you with a sense of whiplash at times. But isn't that somewhat true of our nation's history, too? Overall, this show isn't trying to make any one specific political statement, it all comes full circle again to the state that whatever your political convictions may be, a person's real power is in their vote....the final point made in the show is that our next presidential election is just over 240 days away."

"45 Plays for 45 Presidents" is performed in the black box format, the same format as in the past. Seating is limited.

Be advised the play is not intended for children under age 13.

The play is offered through special arrangment with Playscripts Inc. It was written by Andy Bayiates, Sean Benjamin, Genevra Gallo-Bayiates, Chloe Johnston, and Ken Weinberg.

Tickets in advance are $9 and available here. At the door, they are $10 for adults and $8 for students and seniors.

The school is located at 260 State St. in the City of Batavia.

Mark Your Calendar: BHS Drama Club to perform '45 Plays for 45 Presidents' next month

By Billie Owens

The Batavia High School Drama Club will present its newest play next month, called "45 Plays for 45 Presidents."

According to Caryn Leigh Wood, musical and drama director, BHS swapped show time slots this academic year and held its musical in the fall, so the play that used to be in December is now in March.

"Basically the play is exactly how it sounds; one scene for each of our 45 presidents," Wood writes in an email. "It is considered experimental, historical, comedy and has some really interesting content."

It is performed in the black box format, the same format as in the past. Seating is limited.

Be advised the play is not intended for children under age 13.

"45 Plays for 45 Presidents" is offered through special arrangment with Playscripts Inc. It was written by Andy Bayiates, Sean Benjamin, Genevra Gallo-Bayiates, Chloe Johnston, and Ken Weinberg.

Shows are in the auditorium at 7 p.m. Friday, March 6th and Saturday, March 7th, with a Sunday matinee and 2 o'clock on March 8.

Tickets in advance are $9 and available here. At the door, they are $10 for adults and $8 for students and seniors.

The school is located at 260 State St. in the City of Batavia.

BHS Drama Club presents matinee concert from three Disney musicals Saturday at Jackson School

By Billie Owens

The Batavia High School Drama Club presents "Ice & Fire" in the multipurpose room at Jackson Primary School at 2 p.m. on Saturday, June 22.

This showcase concert will feature music from the animated Disney musicals "Aladdin," "Frozen," and "The Lion King."

Free-will donations will be collected at the door.

Jackson School is located at 411 S. Jackson St. in the City of Batavia.

BHS Drama Club presents 'It's a Wonderful Life' this weekend

By Howard B. Owens

BHS Drama Club presents a stage adaption of "It's a Wonderful Life" this weekend, featuring Cameron Bontrager as George Bailey, in the classic story of a man who stayed in his small town only to reach a point where felt his life hadn't made a difference, then learns what a difference he did make with the help of his guardian angel, Clarence.

Featured cast:

  • George Bailey - Cameron Bontrager (senior)
  • Mary Bailey - Eryn Dunn (senior)
  • Clarence - Riley Macdonough (sophomore)
  • Janie Bailey - Macayla Burke (junior)
  • Pete Bailey - Colin Dunn (freshman)
  • Tommy Bailey - Marla Schlaggel (freshman)
  • Zuzu Bailey - Kayla Stone (freshman)
  • Mr. Potter - Michael Bartz (freshman)
  • Potter's Secretary - Fay Pimlada Pattarachaidaecharuch (exchange student) 

The adaption was written by Doug Rand from the original screenplay by Francis Goodrich, Albert, Hackett, Frank Capra and Jo Swerling.

Performances are at 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and at 2 p.m. Sunday.

Tickets are $8 for adults, $6 for students and seniors.

Batavia HS Drama Club's show presents a unique retelling of the Wizard of Oz

By Howard B. Owens

Batavia High School teacher Caryn Wood has woven together songs from three musicals, "Wicked," "The Wiz," and "The Wizard of Oz," to create a new production for the Drama Club that will serve as a fundraiser for the program.

Wood said the songs are pulled together in a single timeline to tell the Wizard of Oz story.

"All three are very different musical styles, but we took some of the most well-known songs from each," Wood said.

Wood described the story:

Wicked tells the story of Elphaba & Glinda and their unlikely friendship that gets turned upside down when the young girl, Dorothy drops from the sky into Munchkin Land. Unfortunately, during a cyclone, Dorothy's house lands on a kills the Wicked Witch of the East who in Wicked you learn is really Nessa, Elphaba's younger sister.

Both The Wiz and The Wizard of Oz pick up the story at that point and follow Dorothy and her band of three friends (Scarecrow, Tinman, & Lion) as they travel the yellow brick road through Oz. In the Emerald City, they meet the Wizard who sends them on a mission to free the land from the grips of The Wicked Witch of the West.

But in Wicked the question is also asked...who really is the "Wicked Witch?" Perhaps the answer isn't quite as simple as you might think.

"The music from these shows is amazing and memorable, and our students have loved bringing all three of them to life," Wood said.

The price of admission: Whatever you are willing to donate to the program.

The performance is tomorrow at 7 p.m.  

Seating is limited.

Featured cast includes:

  • Madison Hoerbelt (senior) -- Elphaba
  • Madeline Keenan (senior) -- Glinda
  • Eryn Dunn (junior) -- Dorothy
  • Evan Bellavia (senior) -- The Wizard
  • Kathryn Fitzpatrick (freshman) -- Addaperle
  • Parise Ricks (senior) -- Madame Morrible
  • AT Thatcher (junior) -- Boq/Tinman
  • Elise Hoerbelt (junior) -- Nessa 
  • Cameron Bontrager (junior) -- Fiyero/Scarecrow
  • Tanner Kolb (senior) -- The Lion
  • Kristen Glosgowski -- Aunt Em

There are also six returning alumni participating in the production.

Jeffrey Fischer is vocal director and accompanist, Jane E. Haggett is on keyboard/synthesizer and Wood is the director and producer.

Top Photo: Tanner Kolb, Eryn Dunn, AT Thatcher, and Cameron Bontrager.

Evan Bellavia

Madison Hoebelt and Madeline Keenan

Photos: 'Sally Cotter and the Censored Stone'

By Steve Ognibene

Opening night of "Sally Cotter and the Censored Stone" SOLD OUT its first performance at Batavia High School last evening. Students from the Drama Club performed their 16th annual show and had the crowd laughing and on their toes throughout the performance.

Director Caryn Leigh Wood has worked with many students but this was challenging, especially toward the finale. Sorrow was still resonating for the cast, who lost a former BHS student, Tori Nigro, in a sudden accident last week. 

The Drama Club ended the performance with a tribute honoring the memory of Tori.

There are two remaining shows, tonight at 7:30 and a matinee tomorrow at 2 o'clock. Tickets are $8, and $6 for students and seniors.

For more photos go to: http://steveognibenephotography.zenfolio.com/p419033762

BHS Drama Club preparing to perform 'Sally Cotter'

By Howard B. Owens

Batavia High School's Drama Club performs "Sally Cotter and the Censored Stone," a parody by Dean O'Carroll, next weekend.

Showtimes are 7:30 p.m., Dec. 1 and 2, and 2 p.m. on Dec. 3.

Tickets are $8 for adults, $6 for students and seniors. Tickets are available at the door.

The cast:

  • Sally Cotter, Eryn Dunn
  • Sally's Mother, Tanner Kolb
  • Reubenon Ryebread, Cameron Bontrager
  • 1st Censor, Madeline Keenan
  • 2nd Censor, Alicia Scroger
  • Dave, Pierce Corbelli
  • Harmonica, Elise Hoerbelt
  • Ursa Malaise, Parise Ricks
  • Ed Molar, James Weatherbee
  • Professor Athena McDonaldsa, Tanner Kolb
  • Professor Shiftia Shape, Aubrey Towner
  • Professor Albatross Underdrawers, Evan Bellavia
  • Aaron A. Ardvarkovich, Gavin Tucker
  • Shea'mon Canavan, AT Thatcher
  • Navel Longfellow, Samuel Rigerman
  • Polly Pixie, Emily Kilner
  • Poppy Pixie, Riley MacDonough
  • London Liverwurst, Lillian Whiting
  • Val Crabby, Courtney Lougheed
  • Gerry Boyle, Oliver Havens
  • Freesia Chestnut, Jordyn Mott
  • Kitty Ball, Macayla Burke
  • Chloe Crane, Claire Griffith-Sarkis
  • Patty Petronia, Laura Lepkowski
  • Hedgerow the Owl, Phoebe Fryer

BHS Drama Club presents three performances of adaptation of Peter Pan this weekend

By Howard B. Owens

The Batavia High School Drama Club will present a special adaptation of "Peter Pan" called "Peter and Wendy" this weekend on the stage -- a theater-in-the-round setting -- in the school's auditorium.

The adaptation, by writer Jeremy Bloom, explores some of the deeper themes of "Peter Pan," including the relevance of time.

There are 28 students in the cast and four more working as stage crew. The production is directed by Caryn Burk.

Performances are at 7:30 p.m., Friday and Saturday, and 2:30 p.m., Sunday. Tickets are $8 for adults, $6 for students.

Pictured are: Shannon Cervone, Eryn Dunn, and Elise Hoerbelt as Lost Boys; Alex Mott as Peter, Chelsea Jensen as Tiger Lily and Sarah Wetzel as Tinker Bell.

Authentically Local