After months of preparation, Sequoit Theatre presents “Clue.” The directors, actors, crew members, and many others involved in the production have strived to produce a show that showcases the many talents of everyone involved. With their dedication to creating a remarkable show, the program is on its way to state. On Jan. 9, 2025, Sequoit Theatre will be headed to the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign for state.
The production “Clue” begins in a mansion with six mysterious guests who come together for a suspicious dinner party. With blackmail and murder on the menu, all six guests become suspects and are led by Wadsworth the Butler; played by senior Lucas Osborne.
“I think the outcome of the show exceeded my expectations,” Osborne said. “It wasn’t until a week before the actual performance that I saw the show actually come together. As a leader now, I try and talk to almost everyone on the cast to make sure they feel at home.”
Establishing trust and empathy with cast members is foundational to a show’s success. Creating healthy bonds with one another ensures a safe space for them to provide constructive feedback and become the best they can be. Osborne continues to positively influence the cast and bring this mindset to state.
“We have to go through a whole process, redo the whole set, and I think the biggest challenge will be remembering all the lines from now to January,” Osborne said. “My favorite part of state is watching all the performances. When we go to state, every single thing we said had insane laughter, and because it is all theatre kids, everyone supports you. 900 people cheering when you go on stage is the confidence you need to build you up.”
Confidence on stage is necessary, just as much as it is backstage. Stage manager; senior Jack Menzies ensures everything is running smoothly. Whether it be technology, making sure everyone is set, or calling cues, Menzies has it all prepared.
“Any time something happens on stage, it’s because I call the cue,” Menzies said. “I make sure everyone is in place before we start. I also help a lot with designs for the scenic stuff and lighting and sound. The most difficult part is trying to make everyone’s voice heard, you want to take everyone’s idea and make the best product out of that.”
Strong leaders on and off the stage is what fosters the success of the program. Menzies looks forward to going to state with everyone and using this experience as a tool to help with his future endeavors. Before jumping to the collegiate level, preparing for state is the next step.
“We have to adjust our set, lighting, and pretty much everything to whatever the space is and that is a big challenge… then plan how to load everything in,” Menzies said. “I was excited to do this show because it is fun… our last one was not a comedy and I was excited to do something funny this time.”
Senior Julia Johnson also enjoys the thrill of performing a comical show. Casted as Mrs. Peacock, Johnson has been a prominent leader and inspiration for many in the theatre program. Johnson enjoyed the laughs and how perfectly the show came together.
“The preparation for state is by rehearsing and adapting it to whatever theater we are assigned to at state,” Johnson said. “We have to practice with the new setup, taking down the set, and putting it back up. The theatre community is so fun. At Theatre Fest, the crowd is cheering like something you never get in a normal high school setting.”
The practice of performing in front of thousands of people will help Johnson in the right direction for her future career. Johnson plans to grow her talents in college and participate in more performances. With her ever-growing talents, Johnson will only continue to evolve in the music and acting world.
“At Theatre Fest, you never know the people in the crowd,” Johnson said. It is super helpful since I am going to be performing in college doing shows, it is a good experience to get more feedback.”
With a strong foundation of leadership in the theatre program, Sequoit Theatre is ready to take on the challenges of state. Their talent will continue to drive them to success and prepare them for state. The cast of “Clue” has put on numerous shows and the members look forward to showcasing it in a new environment in front of a larger audience in January.
