Arts & Entertainment

Reinventing a Classic: Seneca Valley Takes on 'Romeo and Juliet' in Spring Play

Students work with a professional choreographer to create realistic sword fighting scenes.

Most Seneca Valley students tackle Shakespeare’s classic Romeo and Juliet in their freshman English class, but bringing the drama to life on stage, well, that’s a whole different story.

“It’s definitely harder getting into character,” said Kristin Carmella, who plays Juliet.

The students will perform Romeo and Juliet as this year’s spring play.

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Carmella said while most of the cast members are close friends who like to joke around with each other during rehearsals, they’re transformed into citizens from centuries past in fair Verona when the stage curtains go up.

“They’re blowing me away,” said Seneca Valley Intermediate High School English teacher Amber Hugus, who is directing this year’s play.

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Hugus, who has directed the spring play for more than a decade, said she chose Romeo and Juliet for this year’s performance because she wanted students to experience acting in a classic play.

Typically, the students act out a light-hearted children’s story.

“It’s new for us because we always do a comedy,” said student stage manager Faith Kraynik.

While students will put on a modernized version of Romeo and Juliet (the plot is moved along with help from six narrators), the script remains true to some of the language and many of the play's famous lines.

Carmella and Chris Worth, who plays Romeo, even share a kiss in the climatic death scene between the two star-crossed lovers. 

Worth said he decided to try out for Romeo and Juliet at the urging of friends. Although he is a regular on the high school’s SV-TV, Worth’s only other experience on stage was during the senior class play in the fall.

“I had so much fun doing that I thought, why not,” he said of auditioning for Romeo and Juliet.

Worth admitted he initially was nervous about taking on such a large role, but he’s now glad he did. Hugus also had nothing but praise for her male lead’s performance.

“Chris came out of nowhere,” she said. “He’s great.”

In contrast, fans are sure to remember Carmella as Miss Hannigan in Seneca Valley’s spring musical production of Annie. In the year prior to that, Carmella, now a senior, played Belle in Beauty and the Beast. 

Although there’s no singing in the spring play, Carmella, who plans to major in musical theater in college, said she enjoys playing the iconic heroine.

For those who fear understanding Shakespearian lingo, she noted audiences would easily be able to follow the high school’s version of the classic.

“The translation is definitely easier,” she said. “It fits the tongue better.”

Other cast members in Romeo and Juliet include Derek Plautz, who played Daddy Warbucks in Annie, as Tybault, Josh Zahren as Benvolio and Vinh Bright as Mercutio.  

Audiences also are sure to be wowed by the authentic sword fighting in the play. Hugus said she brought in choreographer Shaun Rolly to teach several students how to battle using real, although dulled, rapiers.

“They have some really cool word fighting scenes,” Kraynik said.

Performances of “Romeo and Juliet” take place at 7:30 p.m. May 22, 24, and 25 at the Seneca Valley Senior High School. The cost is $5 for adults and $3 for students. All proceeds benefit the high school spring play productions.

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