Two years ago, Kenneth McCarthy was a freshman playing a smuggler in a historical drama. Now a junior, McCarthy steps back into the spotlight taking on the unexpected role of a ‘tragic villain’. Like many others, the Spring Play offers McCarthy a full-circle moment in a drama career that began with South’s Spring Play, McCarthy said.
The Spring Play this year is, A Wrinkle in Time, an adaptation of the classic fantasy and science fiction novel “A Wrinkle in Time” written by Madeline L’Engle, showing from April 15-18 in the Auditorium. While the musical occurs every year, the performance space operates on a rotating schedule, hosted by South every other year, Shellard explained. This year the musical is at North, providing South the space to perform the Spring Play, Debby Shellard, Spring Play Director, said. For Shellard, the two-year gap highlights the development of the cast members since their last production in 2024.
“I have seven returning students this year that were freshmen and sophomores when they auditioned for me two years ago when we did the production Number the Stars,” Shellard said. “It’s great to see them not only grow as individuals but to grow their acting as well.”
In addition to McCarthy, senior Isabel Arranz is also a returning student who acted in the Spring Play during her sophomore year. Compared to the last spring play, a historical fiction story, A Wrinkle in Time’s sci-fi feeling requires actors to be more imaginative, McCarthy said. To build the terrifying world of Camazotz, the crew repurposed equipment from V-Show to create the fog-heavy atmosphere and eerie lighting, McCarthy explained. The cast is also required to use their stage presence to build the world of the play, Arranz, who plays Meg, one of the main characters, explained.
“A lot of creative liberties had to be taken in order for us to convey that fantastical setting in a play environment,” Arranz said. “It’s interesting to see how a lot of people are going to be trees and wind, but also characters.”
Beyond the technical challenges, the Spring Play provides an intimate community due to its 16-member cast, Arranz said. There are some people who are shyer and need a little longer to warm up, but as they open themselves up more a community is built around that, Arranz added.
For McCarthy, his schedule had to be rearranged in consideration of rehearsal dates and the six-week long commitment to the play. Although practices are every day after school, this play is something that gives him a break from academic stress, McCarthy explained.
“It’s really the only activity where I feel fulfilled from going to practice,” McCarthy said. “I feel reenergized even after a long school day, to be able to enter the drama room or auditorium, and see the people that I’ve been friends with for so long.”
Returning to the Spring Play encouraged McCarthy to give underclassmen a similar experience to what he had during his freshman year, displaying the beauty of the play and drama community, McCarthy said.
“Joining a community as tight as this is not an opportunity I would want to pass up,” McCarthy said.
For many of these students, the bonds they share today were forged during their first production together, McCarthy explained.
“Having an event like this, not just to dive into these characters but learn more about who we are as friends and actors, I think is an unparalleled experience,” McCarthy said.