SHS presents fall play - Stardust

Stillwater High School Theatre is set to present its fall play Stardust this November at the SHS Performing Arts Center.

"Stardust is an obscure little comedy from the late theatre critic Walter Kerr,” says Theatre Teacher Elizabeth Ziegler. “He was one of the most feared critics at The New York Times, a Tony Award winning writer and a former acting teacher himself.” 

“This 1946 show, is a wonderful spoof of The Method, and even Actor's Studio itself,” she says, “It concerns the students of a dramatic academy awaiting a famous artist, played by junior Jenna Stewart, who will guest star in one of their plays. They are all trying to ‘live’ their art. The director, played by senior Clark Ranone, is very conscious that he studied under Stanislavsky, creator of the famous method acting, and reminds the students of this fact at every opportunity. Into this madhouse comes the famous actress. To the dismay of all, she is a normal, hard-working girl who teaches the students that there is no substitute for hard work and good sense."

Ziegler says this show is a fun nod to the art of acting and she could not be more excited to put it in front of audiences. 

Stardust will feature a cast of eighteen, including eight seniors, seven juniors and three sophomores. The cast was selected from 48 auditions, which Ziegler says is more a fall production has received in years. 

“We have a very talented cast, who have all done an amazing job of really honing in on who these characters are and bringing them to life,” says the teacher. “This cast has done incredible work to ensure the show is a hilarious look at the inside of the ‘true’ actor's brain." 

Stillwater High School Theatre’s production of Stardust is produced by special arrangement with THE DRAMATIC PUBLISHING COMPANY of Woodstock, Illinois.

SHS will present Stardust for three shows – November 14 and 16 at 7:30 p.m. and a 2:30 p.m. matinee on November 17. Tickets ($8/student, $10/adult ) are available now at: www.stillwaterschools.com/stardust or at the door (cash only).

Cast List

Janet Ross - Hazel Priest
Phil Ford - Devin Greene
Marion Phipps - Hannah Garrison
John Redman - Kyan Reeves
Cynthia Keene - Jenna Christian
Raimund Brown - Gabe Campbell
Mavis Moriarity - Paige Gofourth
Tad Voorhis - Jackson Johnson
Stella Brahms - Vivy Bobo
Miss Freeman - Ayanna Brown
Miss Robinson - Lexi Dotter
Miss Jones - Kaitlyn Jenkins
Mr. Bach - Clark Ranone
Dean of Women - Grace Howell
Prudence Mason - Jenna Stewart
Claire Carter - Elliot Hale
Jerry Flanagan - Hank Hanrahan
Arthur Scott Jr. - Dillan Pinney - Mahler