Gracie Ruland

Sophomore Preston Withrow strikes a pose as the titular role in Peter Pan. Directed by Madigan Pound, the show was self-written and inspired by folklore, legend, and the Disney movie.

Students get excited for TYA shows as they start to rehearse in their nightly rehearsals. The rehearsal process is crucial to every show because how you prepare can determine how the show goes. 

“During rehearsal, we run through the shows a lot because they are very short shows,” sophomore Preston Withrow said. “We also do lots of character work since we normally have big and outgoing characters.

TYA shows are directed by the seniors at Bowie who have been taking theater classes since their freshman year. Being directed by a senior can add a relaxed feeling and ease to the rehearsal process.

“The rehearsal process for TYA shows is comparatively less rigorous than that of other show blocks,” senior Historian of the STC, and director Adelaide Mosel said. “The rehearsal schedule for TYA shows is a nice break in-between fall shows and musical season.”

“I love being directed by seniors,” Withrow said. “It feels like there is a lot more comfort and fun when you are being directed by a senior and you can play around more.” 

Mosel said that she selected the show “The Enchanted Bookshop” because the characters were very silly and fun which will be very entertaining to the kids who watch the show. The directing process for her show has been different than expected for her but in a very positive way. 

“Directing TYA shows so far has been a fun challenge. I’m learning to plan rehearsals and work with my techs and assistant directors to put the show on a stage,” Mosel said. “As a director now, the rehearsal process is very different from the rehearsal process as an actor but I’m really happy with how rehearsals are going thus far.” 

Not only are there senior directors but there are assistant directors. Some juniors get to stand by the senior directors and learn how to direct their own show for when they are seniors. I had a chance to talk to a Historian of the STC and assistant director Olivia Nanda about what her experience of being an assistant director has been like for her. 

“I’m so excited about assistant directing Peter Rabbit! I’m so happy to be working with so many talented people,” Nanda said. “Assistant directing is different [from] acting in a TYA show because I have the opportunity to make decisions that make the show come to life.”

During the rehearsal process students need to be constantly preparing for each of their different roles. Actors need to find their own personal way to prepare to ensure their directors and cast members that they are ready to perform. 

“I am in the show Peter Pan and I’m playing Peter Pan,” Withrow said. “I am preparing for my role by trying to save up and have a lot more energy during rehearsal because my character is very high energy during the whole show and I need to be ready for it!”

TYA shows have something called funishments in which if you don’t learn your lines in time the director is obligated to give you as many of these funishments as they please. Funishments keep students on their toes during the rehearsal process and tend to persuade students to learn their lines. 

“Funishments are fun punishments we give to the cast members when they forget something during their off book/lines off day,” Nanda said. “ Usually these punishments involve doing something embarrassing in front of other TYA casts.”

According to students the overall rehearsal process of TYA shows has brought lots of high energy and excitement. 

“My show is coming along really well, Nanda said. “Having such a small cast allows all of the cast members to grow close and become friends throughout the weeks of rehearsal!”

“I’m feeling amazing about my rehearsal process, I have loved this character and movie for so long,” Withrow said. “The cast is so much fun and I can’t wait for the performances of it!”