Amongst the busy schedule of football games and fall sports, there’s also fall play rehearsals on the calendar. This year’s fall play, directed by Daniel Rodriguez-Hijo is “Gold in the Bones.” Rehearsals have already started, and performances are scheduled for November 14-17.
“Gold in the Bones” is a 80-90 minute play with three different acts based on the writings of Washington Irving.
Rodriguez-Hijo has been with the district for 11 years, and is in his third year directing plays at the high school. In the application for auditions, he wrote that they were looking for “Enthusiastic actors, crew, and more to bring this one-of-a-kind production to life!”
Freshman Makenzie Karasek was a part of theater at the junior high with Rodriguez-Hijo and is the narrator for the “Gold in the Bones” production.
“I feel like it’s a lot more complex,” she says of high school compared to jr. high theater. “…like it’s not like too strict, but it’s more like heavy driven, like more heavy focused, like you have to stay on task, but it feels like such a bigger and better family than it did in junior high. Like it feels more serious this time.”
This production is the biggest one Jonathan Alder High School has done, containing 30 actors this and 14 crew members.
Especially with a group of this size, theater is about more than the production, and experience isn’t necessarily required.
“You don’t have to know everything, or even consider yourself as an actor to be in Fall play,” Rodriguez-Hijo says. “The program is not just you getting up on stage and doing it. You are learning. You are working with your peers. You are creating friends. It is a big growing process first and foremost”
Karasek thinks that working with her peers is one of the best parts.
“It’s amazing,” she says. “It’s literally like a family…I look forward to this every year. It’s literally, like a family. Everybody is so, like, unjudgmental.”
The production this year has darker elements and whimsical aspects.
“The crew and cast is so excited to show off this newer production as it’s unlike anything they’ve shown before!” says Rodriguez-Hijo.
Tickets are $10 per person. There will be an online link to buy tickets soon, but audience members will also be able to buy tickets in person on the show dates in November.
