Club holds auditions for upcoming youth play

By TOM STANKARD

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Ironwood — The Awkward Stage Drama Club held auditions Thursday at the Ironwood Memorial Building for its upcoming production of “These Wonderful Years.”

Adult supervisor Mary Hansen said the club selected Heidi Brown to be director because she said it would be a good experience for the high school student cast.

When picking a play to direct, Brown said she was approached by cast member Ethan Puisto, who told her that the club was ready to take on a more serious play, instead of doing comedy.

Brown said the play is an ensemble piece that is excellent for the cast because it contains topics that are “very familiar with high school students.

“(The play) looks at different aspects of high school life, including everything from going on your first date to studying for the SATs, sports, taking classes and family life,” she said.

According to the synopsis in “These Wonderful Years,” written by Lucile McIntyre in the 1980s, actors move in and out of characters who are in high school. Some are making major decisions, some are dealing with major obstacles in their lives. As the play calls for the actors to work together as a team for the success of the play, it also calls them to work on “togetherness” and to be aware of those slipping into solitude.

During rehearsals, Brown said she wants to show the cast how to develop characters and to approach acting from different angles by using techniques they know and are familiar with.

“There’s some pretty heavy topics that are discussed within the play. To dig into that, they have to work on developing their trust in a different way,” she said.

Because the play was written in the late ‘80s, Brown said there are some aspects that “date the play.” As a group, she said they’re going to look at those parts and decide how to update them, but still keep the same line.

“We’ll talk about different music we can incorporate into it,” she said. “I know this group has lots of different tastes in music.”

Looking at the cast members, Brown said she’s excited to work with them.

“Some of the cast members I’m familiar with, some of the cast I’m not,” she said. “I’m excited to develop something we can give to the community.”

“What do you guys think?,” she asked the cast. “Yeah,” they said.

By being part of the ASDC, Hansen said members develop friendships and build confidence, which carries into their school lives. Hansen said the club has come a long way since it began three years ago.

“It’s very exciting to see the drama club continue and grow,” Hansen said.

Hansen said the play will be performed in March.