In the Old Rochester Regional High School (ORRHS) auditorium stands nearly a half dozen 10-foot-tall wooden planks, each painted in a coat of white primer in preparation for their transformation into the set of the school’s first play this year. In the performance, the planks will double as both the skyline of London and the interiors of its buildings.
According to the school’s new Drama Club Advisor, Andrew Leger, the idea came during a brainstorming session with students. When working with students, whether it be through conceptualizing set designs, inserting sound effects, or creating costumes, Leger said he looks to give students a sense of ownership on the production.
“I want them to understand that this is a complex collaborative art. I’ve done great things on my own, but the best stuff that I’ve ever done has been very collaborative,” said Leger. “I think [at] a lot of high school theaters, you come in, and they tell you what to do, and then you do it. But I want them to come up with ideas of their own because I think that makes it more enjoyable.”
Leger’s interest in theater began around the end of middle school, with his first show Shrek the Musical. While Leger was an actor, he said that due to his mother’s busy work schedule, he ended up also getting involved behind the scenes as well.
“I just kind of sat in on all of it, and I learned that it’s so much more involved than you ever think,” he said.
Reflecting on his early experiences, Leger said, “I think a lot of people think a director is just directing the actors to do this and move here, but you’re also conceptualizing the show, trying to find out what colors go with what emotions and how you’re going to dress your actor … I was really interested in seeing that behind-the-stage kind of action, and how that could be attributed to directing.”
The first show of ORRHS’ drama season will be One Man, Two Guvnors, a British comedy set in the 1960s selected by the school’s previous drama director Brayden Fanti. The show centers around a man simultaneously employed as a servant to a gangster and an upper-class elite, as he actively hides his dual employment, all while the plot escalates and entangles into absurdity.
“I really enjoyed playing into the deeper aspects of whatever show is going on,” Leger said of his favorite productions he’s been in. “I like shows that have this kind of subtext underneath, where there’s just a little bit more [to it], and if you take a couple seconds and if you do the show right, your audience should be able to pick up on these little nuances.”
Leger said he wants to create a space for students where they feel welcome and that their voices are heard. He highlighted the importance of adult leaders collaborating with students: “This is their organization, and we’re just kind of the facilitators.”
Ticketed showtimes will run November 19 to 21 at 7:00 pm, and 2:00 pm on Sunday, November 22. Additionally, on November 18, there will be a free senior citizen show connected to a canned goods drive. Shows are expected to last 60 to 90 minutes, with an intermission featuring concessions.
By Zakary Sarkarati