Student Directors Step Into the Shadows with the Tales of Poe
This fall, HS theatre students in the International Thespian Society presented a new eerie and chilling genre in the show Shuddersome: Tales of Poe. This year, the HS student body will graduate 22 senior thespians, making the fall play a memorable final showcase for many of the YISS cast, crew, and student managers. The theatre community came together to design, construct, and manage many set pieces, costumes, and hair and makeup palettes in a spooky spectacle of a show.
Student directors took on mentoring their peers to showcase each tale. “The Tell-Tale Heart” was directed by 3-Star Thespian Michelle K., “The Bells” was directed by 7-Star Honor Thespian Luke K., “The Oval Portrait” and “Lionizing” was directed by 5-Star Best Thespian Alexis K., “The Raven” was directed by 2-Star Thespian Priscilla Y., and “The Masque of the Red Death” was directed by 5-Star Best Thespian Yerim C. Each director commented on their experience:
“Thank you to Ms. Terry, Mr. Ludwig, my fellow directors, and the members and managers of the crew for guiding and supporting me through this exciting project. It warms my heart to know that after we seniors graduate, our dedicated mentors and talented underclassmen will continue to bring their unwavering energy and enthusiasm to rehearsal every day. A special shoutout to my mom, who has supported me throughout my journey in YISS theater. Knowing that this chapter of my life is coming to a close is bittersweet, but I’m thrilled to see what lies ahead.” - Michelle K.
“Poe may have written this nearly two centuries ago, but his raw interpretation of life stands truer still. I hope ‘The Bells’ not only gave you the shudders, but also the whole scope – including the whimsical and sweet parts of our lives being told by Poe.” - Luke K.
“The beauty of art truly comes from within—three months of work for just a single hour of running time. Though it may be unnoticeable, working to achieve exceptional timing was the most difficult aspect of this show. A strong bond between the cast was necessary to engender shudders from the audience, which I'm so grateful to have seen and experienced myself during the production. I'm so proud of everyone involved in this show and would like to give a special shoutout to Damin, the hair and makeup manager, and Ms. Terry and Mr. Ludwig, who have guided us with confidence and positivity.” - Alexis K.
“Collaborating with the cast and crew on ‘The Raven’ has been an enriching experience this season. Their hard work and passion have driven our collective success, and I am incredibly proud of what we have accomplished together. Lastly, I want to thank my fellow directors and Ms. Terry for making this season very memorable. I also want to thank Catherine, Soul, and my wonderful parents, as they have been the most prominent supporters throughout my journey in theatre.” - Priscilla Y.
“To me, theatre is a community that has left a huge impact on my high school years. Working as a student director for Shuddersome: Tales of Poe, I got to see the many people who make the community what it is: the talented actors and actresses, the hard-working crew, the teacher supervisors and sponsors, the amazing theatre parents, and each person who came out of their way to watch the show. Directing was an experience that was unlike anything I've previously done in theatre: it made me excited for its future.” - Yerim C.
Thank you to all patrons of YISS HS Theatre, the faculty and student volunteers who make these productions possible, and the theatre parents who have supported their children wholeheartedly and hosted our cast and crew dinners and celebration brunch. Special thanks to Yerim C. for photography and the HS Film Club for producing our sneak peek trailer.
