With the school year coming to an end, Skyline’s Drama Department is preparing anyone interested for the year ahead. Eight events were announced at the annual department-exclusive banquet; two for mainstage, four for the Nest’s audition-only Second Stage class, and two for the new audition-only Skyline Studio class. While the time to audition for the advanced classes has passed, everyone looking to be in a show can audition next fall for the mainstage shows.

The eight theatrical events, in order, will start with a show from Second Stage. The class will be putting on Trap, a documentarial thriller, in October, and auditions for the mainstage musical Brigadoon will take place in late August. The musical will debut in November, followed by two holiday shows from the advanced classes. Don’t miss Second Stage’s A Christmas Carol, A 1940s Radio Play, or Studio’s Broadway Holiday, A Festive Musical Revue! Auditions for the Pulitzer Prize Winning Classic, Our Town, which will debut in February, can be expected around late November or early December. Following the mainstage play, Second Stage will perform The Tempest for March’s UHSAA One Act Competition. Then, it will be time to wrap up the year with Studio’s performance of the High School Edition of Grease in April, and Second Stage’s annual Skyline Shorts in May, following the theme That’s So Cliché. 

The Drama Banquet didn’t just announce the season, but also the drama club officers for the 2023-2024 school year. Current Junior Cameron Liddle will be taking on the role of Drama Club President from graduating Berkeley Horne. The roles of Vice President and Secretary will also be passed on from Seniors Kjiersten Lavine and Zachary Sorenson, to current Juniors, Samantha Stephen and Alexia Smith. The Drama Club Executive Board consists of the Historian, a role which will be filled by Junior Kate Nelson next year. “I did not think I would get this position,” Stephen says with a laugh. “I am excited to help with the running of Drama Club. I want to make sure everyone knows what’s going on as much as possible.” 

The Executive Board, as a whole, is very excited for the upcoming season. Liddle explains, “Tempest is probably my favorite show of the year. I’m really big into the competition scene, and Yamazaki always puts a lot of effort into those.” Liddle’s excitement for The Tempest was shared by his fellow board members, who also expressed excitement for Trap, Second Stage’s student directed play. “It’s a thriller show, so it’s a bit scary, which is something I quite enjoy. And [the Executive Board will] be able to direct that, which will be a lot of fun,” says Nelson. Apart from the shows, Liddle, in particular, is excited for the new talent coming into the classes next year. He says, “We’ve got a large Freshman population in Theatre this year and they’re going into Sophomore and able to join our advanced classes, and I’m really excited to see how they step up to these new challenges and roles.”

Next year’s Theatre season is “packed” (according to Nelson and Liddle) with amazing shows from all different eras and genres. Whether onstage, behind the scenes, or in the audience, this is a Skyline Season you won’t want to miss! Break a leg, Eags!