Scared Silly: An Opportunity For Everyone

Student directors took the control of the stage as they executed the different “Class Acts” in Rock Ridge Performing Arts’ first show of the season

Naomi Cho

In the act ‘Caf Zombies,’ freshmen Tenlee Czarny and Lily Bridges play characters Zantac and Tagamet. The act “Caf Zombies” was the first of the two freshman acts in the play. “I was extremely nervous, I messed up some words, but other than that [it was good],” Czarny said.

Naomi Cho and Prajna Chakravarty
November 16, 2021

Rock Ridge Performing Arts’ kicked off the year with “Scared Silly,” a performance consisting of six different acts separated by grade, all directed by students. There were two plays involving the freshmen, two involving the sophomores, one involving the juniors, and the last involving the seniors. The first night of the production began on Oct. 21 with three more shows in the following two days.  The play involved many unique aspects including having the audience sit on the stage, brand new actors, and student directors.

Freshman Shayne Mitchell played “Zach” in the freshmen act “Mummy Witch.” Mitchell attended several rehearsals for her “Scared Silly” play. “Trying my best is exhausting, but at the end of the day, it’s so worth it because there is so much experience that comes out of it,” Mitchell said. (Naomi Cho)

The class acts not only consisted of the members of the Rock Ridge Performing Arts classes, but also it gave people who have never been on stage before the opportunity to perform. The cast was open to any student of Rock Ridge regardless of their involvement in a theatre class. The RRPA veterans agree that this was a good opportunity for people who have been a part of a theater production.  “A lot of people from my cast have never even been on stage before, so it was really exciting to introduce it to them because this is something I’m really passionate about,” senior student director Ellie Schubert said.

Freshman Hannah Howell crouches on the couch as she waits for further directions from the mummy witch. (Naomi Cho)

Underclassmen who were performing in Rock Ridge theater had a positive outlook on their experience and their performance overall. “I felt like the audience was very interactive, so it made it very fun,” Mitchell said. “ It was cool to experience a Rock Ridge Performing Arts event.”

Returning RRPA cast members saw the Class Acts process as something new. “The process is definitely different, but the show felt the same. It felt good to run it. I felt super confident,” senior Maggie Cantwell said. 

Sophomore Emily Gruessing polishes her glasses as she waits for her husband in the winning class act “The Kev-Burger.” (Naomi Cho)

Many upperclassmen, who had undertaken the role of directing, expressed nervousness for their actors. “Directing was definitely different because you’re a little more nervous for your actors than for yourself,” Schubert said.

Their efforts in preparing their fellow classmates paid off, as students who had never participated in theater got to experience the thrill of being on stage. “I can’t explain it, it’s a feeling you get, the adrenaline rush you get from being able to go on stage in front of people. I love it,” freshman Tenlee Czarny said.