Drama Devils put on ‘Sleepy Hollow’

Erin Russell, EHS Drama Coach
Posted 10/20/17

EHS to put on play

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Drama Devils put on ‘Sleepy Hollow’

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Are you looking for some spooky fun for Halloween? Come to the high school for some great laughs and scary thrills as the EHS Drama Devils present their first production of the year with Washington Irving’s “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow,” adapted by Chris Cartmill. The show opened on Thursday, but has another showing on at 7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 21.

This all-school play is based on Irving’s classic poem and will make the audience laugh out loud with the silly antics of Ichabod Crane as he tries to win the affections of the fair Katrina VanTassell. However, the arrival of the Headless Horseman should thrill and scare the audience along with the hapless Ichabod.

Cast members, led by Dylan Phillips as Ichabod and Anya Tuft as the lovely Katrina, has enjoyed their time putting this show together for the school and community.

Stage manager Grace Lester said, “It was a lot of hard work, but the payoff and the fun I have with it are worth it.”

Phillips has enjoyed taking on a major role, and he’s worked hard to develop the voice and mannerisms for his character. He is excited to share his work with the community.

Almost all of the roles take on moments of narration, challenging the students to develop both their show character and their narration presence. Senior Maggie Russell and sophomore Maya Angwin play two gossips about town, and they have loved working together, finding that their combined energy makes for great comedy, even while narrating. Tuft said she’s enjoyed “doing the hilarious parts between Dylan and [her]; those have been really fun to practice.”

The cast includes fourteen high school students: Phillips and Tuft are joined by Sam Russell, Jordan Peace, Karsten Heyrend, Hannah Linford, Job Anderson, Alex Stewart, Jenny Barnes, Chris Holmes, Tearza Lowry, Aimee Skaggs, Jesse Roberts and Bailey Bettinson. There are also a few younger students as the children of Sleepy Hollow, and one middle schooler who stepped into a larger role when one of the cast members had to drop the show.

Russell’s technical crew has been hard at work for many weeks on the sets, props, and the considerable audio-visual effects in the show.

“They may not get the limelight, but these kids put as much heart and soul into a show as the actors,” director and four-year theater student Caitlyn Morrow said. She also designed the original posters, tickets and programs.

Other stand-out technical students are Brady Wagstaff and Seth Lester who helped build the sets, Destanie McCauley and Laura Hernandez who painted the backdrops, Moises Liberato who runs the sound effects, and Sam Russell and Dean Lester who learned the ins and outs of stage lighting in just a few weeks.

As a special favor, Nancy Hallows, the pottery teacher at EHS, will be in full, headless regalia as the audience arrives at the high school, providing opportunities for pictures with the old Hessian himself: the Headless Horseman.

“Taking on a more creepy style play has been a new and exciting experience,” Tuft said.

Tickets for Saturday’s show cost $3 for adults and $2 for students and senior citizens. Children under 5 get in free, but, as this show has scary elements, the director would encourage not bringing such young attendees. The production is about an hour long.