ATA is Foothill high school’s Advanced Theater Arts class. This class consists of a large array of students, 24 to be exact, ranging from sophomores to seniors.
So far this year they have completed two full shows, Meet ATA and Almost, Maine, as well as bi-weekly scenes in the library during lunch, dubbed the “Brown Bag Theatre.”
Both Brown Bag Theatre scenes to date have been both lighthearted and comedic.
The first scene, performed by Jackie Nieto and Ileanna Ramirez, was a discussion between a troubled wife and an actress. The wife was questioning the actress on whether her husband had cheated on her with the actress. It was very comedic as the audience watched the actor sneakily discard all evidence of their affair.
The second scene, performed two weeks later by Jordyn Jones and Cade Libertoski, was a conversation between two ticket sellers in a ticket booth, which they call the “Fish Bowl,” during which they talk about their lives and personal affairs before ending the scene with a dramatic kiss.
Almost, Maine, ATA’s most recent show, was a romantic comedy that consists of nine shorter scenes, all tied together with a little magic. Each scene took place between two different characters in an imaginary location in Maine during the same ten minutes. The relationships between these characters were revealed over the course of the play and provided a sense of mystery.
Each scene featured some metaphorical representation of love. The representations were abstract and provide a fun twist on otherwise regular conversations.
For example, during a breakup scene a couple, consisting of Gayle (played by Ileanna Ramirez) and Lendell (played by Spencer Thomson) are returning all of the love they gave to each other. This love is represented by literal red bags of love that Gayle drags on stage.
The play focuses on the struggles and rewards that come with love, leaving a sense of satisfaction at the end of each scene and a smile on many faces. This feeling of happiness was augmented by the amazing performance put on by the actors.
Even though the actors were high school students, they performed with the professionalism and talent of career actors. Their enthusiasm created a positive atmosphere that allowed the audience to enjoy the scenes to their fullest and left a lasting impact. The entire performance was captivating up until the final scene which really brought the production together.
If you missed Almost, Maine, ATA has an upcoming musical, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. This musical is about a spelling bee put on by a middle school in Putnam County, featuring a cast of quirky and fun characters.
To see this musical, make sure to keep an eye open for future ATA performances, and support our school’s actors.