UNITY - The stage is set to showcase drama at Unity Composite High School.
After a pandemic-prescribed pause that resulted in the 2020 season halted altogether, and the early 2021 season starting, stopping, then having to present a production virtually, UCHS drama members are thrilled to be back on stage at the school Dec. 14 and 15.
The drama club has been a longtime extracurricular activity for students at UCHS and under normal circumstances, have presented live theatre productions both in the winter and spring of each school year. The team is excited to be presenting a Christmas-themed comedy, “A Good Old-Fashioned Big Family Christmas,” by playwright Pat Cook.
Director and UCHS teacher, Kyle Wood, says, “We selected this play because we liked the tone, the nods to the holiday classic 'Christmas Vacation,' and because it fit our cast. The story follows a couple who attempt to host a heartwarming family Christmas but find themselves in a mess due to miscommunication and the chaos of holidays.”
Wood is joined by UCHS teachers Heather Poitras, Jocelyn Clark and Kyra Huber in leading the drama club in 2021.
“We saw this year as an opportunity to have a bit of a ‘return to form.' We were fortunate last year, in the spring, to experiment with a drama production over Zoom. However, everyone was excited to get back to the dynamic of live performances," says Wood.
The drama leaders said they decided early on they wanted to kick off with something that they thought would energize the audience and be a fun production all around.
The cast of 14 includes Hailey-lynn Aldred, Jenay Bishop, Kerrigan Bowey, Jace Ducherer, Dallan Kuhn, Reid Martin, Sharri McCoy, Kade McLellan, Claire Moscrip, Carter Mutch, Carrie Poitras, Jada Poitras, James Rutley and Hailey Sacher.
The drama crew, for this production, includes several newcomers, led by returning veterans Kendra Brown, Ashley Loadman and Jacelyn Delhommeau.
As with past productions, UCHS is always happy to have additional help and this year that included Matt Poirier, UCHS teacher. who built some new set pieces. The club is excited that Greg Bick, retired UCHS teacher and drama leader, has come back to train students in lighting and sound, as well as he will lead the Rockband show at intermission.
“We're fortunate to have, this year, some of our senior students who have been dedicated to drama for the entirety of their UCHS career, but who experienced a two-year interruption after a lot of success in the Saskatchewan Drama Festival. It's great to see them on the stage and see them following in the legacy of the drama club by mentoring the students joining the group for the first time," says Wood.
UCHS drama is currently exploring the option of entering the Saskatchewan Drama Festival in spring, but regardless, they are planning at least one production for the spring season.
If you have missed live theatre, don’t miss your opportunity to catch their live performance by the UCHS drama team, and get another chance to add another dose of Christmas spirit to your season.
This article has been updated to correct the spelling of a name.
