The Homestead Theater Department is producing Clue this fall. The event will be held Oct. 24-26 in the James Barr Performing Arts Center.
Based on the board game and movie, Clue is a murder mystery filled with many characters, plot twists, and comedic chaos.
“Some of the challenges that come with a show like this are not only the many sets and different locations but also the challenge of the actors having to respond so quickly to the circumstances around them,” said Mr. Morgan Gates, the temporary theater director at Homestead.
This is Gates’s first year directing at Homestead because he is stepping in while Mrs. Amelia Figg is on maternity leave. Both directors share a passion for theater, but their directing styles differ. Gates has brought a new perspective to the students, which has required the cast to adjust to a new creative process.
Nadia Haswell, senior, said, “Sometimes Figg will have us block our own scenes, whereas Mr. Gates tells us what he envisions and what he wants. They are two different people who have very different strategies in doing this.”
In preparation for the production, several students have taken on directing roles. Senior Addison Drumm is one of them; she helps to organize rehearsals and guide scenes alongside Gates. Drumm’s experience has been both challenging and rewarding. Directing has given her a deeper understanding and appreciation for past directors.
Drumm said, “It is really different [directing]. You have to be much more organized and on top of everything. You have a lot more respect for the people who do [direct]. Because I’ve acted and directed, I have a lot more respect for them now.”
Overall, the cast has worked together to bring this production to life. Every performer has played an important role in creating a show full of energy, each adding their own touch to the production of Clue.
Gates said, “A part of it also is that a lot of this cast has known each other long enough that they have a good chemistry with each other, and that’s a credit to both the actors and also to the wonderful job that Figg has done, really crafting that environment in this department.”
