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Wakefield School set to open 'Romeo and Juliet'
While swashbuckler Errol Flynn made it look easy, dueling actors brandishing their swords takes lots of planning and practice. And cast members of Wakefield School's upcoming production of Romeo and Juliet are following their choreography methodically.
In preparation for the school's upcoming performance of “Romeo and Juliet,” Upper School student actors gathered in small groups this week to stretch their muscles before demonstrating their fencing abilities during rehearsals. They will be performing in the Lower Gym on Thursday, May 21 and Friday, May 22 at 7 p.m.
The show will star John Patton as Romeo and Kelsey Jennings Callahan as Juliet. Michael Byrne plays Capulet and Rachel Christian-Fenwick is Montague while Alex Alexander is Prince, Ian Fontaine is Benvolio, and Lexie Gains-Smith is Nurse. Ann Marie Glen plays Gregory, Thomas Hood plays Friar Lawrence, and Thoreau Martin will portray Paris.
Ava Marvin is an apothecary and a town person and Samantha McLaugherty is Balthasar. The role of Lady Capulet is played by Gracie Morrison and Shane Music will be Sampson. David Muss is Mercutio, Catherin O'Meara is Friar John, Patrick Penderville is Peter, and Gabby Vazzana is Tybalt.
This production will be the last one directed by theater teacher Chris Guyotte. Having been in charge of the school's 22 productions for the last five years, Guyotte will be heading to South Dakota State University to teach undergraduate and graduate students. While he will be an assistant professor in theater, he said it was a real struggle to make the decision to accept the new position.
“I love Wakefield. It is one of the most supportive places I've been that offers creative freedom,” he said.
Leaving the day after graduation, Guyotte will first go to Interlochen Center for the Arts in Michigan for the summer. Having spent the last 12 years at the center, he describes it as the “premier arts camp in the world.” Two thousand students attend each summer for intensive studies in music, theater, art, dance, motion picture arts and creative writing. He said, “That's where Wakefield first found me.”
A native of New Hampshire, Guyotte doesn't feel thwarted by the South Dakota winters. He is a little ambiguous about leaving the K-12 students for a college campus. He seems to enjoy seeing his younger actors develop their skills from being “awkward to graceful” on stage.
Offering them a wide range of activities, Guyotte works with sixth graders in moving-making, from writing, acting, directing and editing. His seventh-grade students help with school productions and the eighth graders not only learn the technical aspects of the theater, they try their skills at “clowning.”
Upper school students can take acting classes or do independent studies in such areas as directing. The theater teacher said, adding that with a longer tenure he would have liked to combine the classes into an acting studio.
The cast of “Romeo and Juliet” have all done a show with Guyotte. While he appreciates having a cast with experience, he said he always “likes to have new blood.” Students have ample opportunity to join the fun as the school presents four productions a year.
Guyotte will be missed...but the show must go on. There will be more theatrical opportunities for students and their audiences next year.
E-mail the reporter: afelts@timespapers.com
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