Remote learning presents numerous daily challenges for our HSD students, teachers, and staff. Greg Saum, HHS English teacher and director of The War of the Worlds, The 1938 Radio Script, which aired online this past weekend, December 4-6, 2020, was presented with the unique task of coordinating student rehearsals, recording, and presenting live theater while adhering to social distancing requirements presented by COVID-19 health guidelines.
According to Saum, over ninety percent of the HHS Theatre Company’s weekly rehearsals were held over Zoom. Fortunately, the nature of The Radio Script lends itself to an online format as it relies heavily on individual dialogue and is meant to be performed with script in hand as a guide; a “Reader’s Theater.” And while Saum and the students were often presented with technical difficulties during rehearsals, they persevered.
Saum describes how the students involved in the production of The Radio Script embraced the opportunity to connect during these difficult times, coming together not only as cast and crew, but as a close-knit “dramily” ( a ‘drama family’). He relates how students are grateful for the creative outlet acting provides but also for the support system that is created by working together and building each other up on stage which translates into the growth of relationships offstage.
The cast and crew were able to come together on stage at HHS on November 19th and 20th to film the performance during a brief time when students were allowed into the school building while following distancing and mask regulations. The team of students were able to not only successfully bring together an online suspense-filled performance, but also captured the black-and-white videographic characteristics of a late 1930s newscast punctuated with the realistic sounds of a true alien invasion.
If you were able to watch The Radio Script write a comment on the “Hockinson HS Theatre Company” Facebook page or email Greg Saum directly at greg.saum@hocksd.org. Performing without an audience is one immediate drawback to online theater and these students deserve some kudos!! Please pass them along!
And if you weren’t able to tune into The Radio Script, be sure to be on the lookout for the next HHS Theater performance of It’s a Wonderful Life due to hit an online platform near you just in time for the holiday season. This production will also take the form of a radio play with a script lifted directly from the movie we all know and love––but this time, viewings will be limited because students will be performing online––and live!
HHES THEATER – WAR OF THE WORLDS
Program Information
CAST MEMBERS
Aiden Anaya/Policeman/Gunner - freshman
Morgan Berg/Announcer Three/Mrs. Wilmuth - senior
Kaylen Duncan/Announcer Two - sophomore
Sam Finklein/Orson Welles/Captain Lansing/Officer - senior
Alex Gutridge/CBS Announcer/General Montgomery Smith/
VP of CBS Harry MacDonald/Observer - sophomore
Abby Hansen/Announcer - sophomore
Olivia Henwood/Professor Rachel Pierson – sophomore
James Kruse/Reporter Carl Phillips/Operator Three – senior
Indy McBride/Stranger – sophomore
Anabelle Morguess/Operator One – sophomore
Olivia Stewart/Operator Two – sophomore
Andrew ‘Danger’ Swatosh/Announcer One/Commander Voght/
Operator Four – sophomore
Abigail Tulip/Secretary of the Interior/Operator Five – senior
CREW MEMBERS
Sakari Hill – stage manager – sophomore
Emily Trager - lights
Greg Saum – Director/Soundboard – Teacher and Theatre Director at HHS
FILM/EDITING Musse Barclay and Naomi Neve
POSTER DESIGN Ellie Seiff and Andrew Swatosh
MARKETING Sam Finklein, Avrie Kellogg, James Kruse
HAIR AND MAKEUP DESIGN Abby Hansen, Olivia Henwood, Bianca Redinger,
Olivia Stewart, Abby Tulip
LIGHT AND SOUND DESIGN Aiden Anaya, Milton Copeland, Gavin Smith
COSTUME DESIGN Alex Gutridge, Christie Manibusan, Indy McBride,
Annabelle Morguess, Andrew Swatosh