Announcing the 2019-20 Theater Season
By Katie Krietzer, Theater Director
September 11, 2019
Over one hundred students gathered in the Lillian Theater after school on August 29 to witness the CDH Theater Season Announcement. The event seems to get more exciting every year with theater students on pins and needles in anticipation for the big reveal. This year was no exception.
Fall Show: "The Hobbit"
The season will commence with the classic fantasy "The Hobbit" based on the popular book by JR Tolkein. Bilbo Baggins’ quest seems like a perfect tale to tell in high school. Just like in high school, the journey may be difficult, but there will be others who will help you along the way.
Theater Assistant, Chris Hill ’01, is the perfect director for the fall show. He has a passion for this book having read it as a child, and is now reading it to his own son. Chris’ playful improvisational style will aid the necessary physical elements that the show requires of the student actors. It is already looking like a spectacular production. Gender-neutral characters permeate his casting choices including a female Gollum and Gandolf. Don’t miss this exciting kick-off production October 25–27 and November 1-3.
Children's Show: "Miss Nelson is Missing"
The annual children’s show, held in December, always seems to put the theater department in a happy place. Annually falling a week or two before Christmas break, CDH theater students discover that one of the best gifts to give to children is the magic of theater. This year will be no exception. "Miss Nelson is Missing!" is based on the popular children’s book about a grade-school teacher whose students constantly take advantage of her until one day, she doesn’t come to school. The unruly students have to face the substitute teacher, Miss Viola Swamp, the “meanest substitute in the whole world.” The play includes wonderfully developed characters with a plot twist that makes everybody happy in the end. Mark your calendars for December 12-15 for an opportunity to share theater with the young people in your life.
Black Box: "1984"
The winter Black Box production provides an opportunity for our community to experience theater in a new way through flexible staging and intimate audience viewing. This year’s production, "1984," also based on a popular book, should truly capture the uniqueness of our Black Box. The story takes place in a dystopian future in a world where history is erased, food and energy are rationed, government surveillance is omnipresent, and the ruling class distracts the lower class from the truth. CDH grad and theater enthusiast, Angie Haigh ’95, commented sarcastically, “1984 should be a fun little puff piece!” Seriously, though, the George Orwell novel has been a CDH English Department novel choice for several years. And, this year, a few English teachers are on-board to incorporate the book into their curriculum and hopefully generate interest for the winter Black Box production.
Spring Musical: "Holiday Inn"
Finally, the season will end with a specTAPular classic, "Holiday Inn." The musical is based on the 1942 film with the same name. The gorgeous and charming score by Irving Berlin will ignite your memory with songs you have heard for years but you probably forgot (or didn’t realize) were from this musical. Songs like “Blue Skies”, “Heat Wave” and “White Christmas” all originated in this show. Much of the content from the 1942 film has obviously been updated with a recent Broadway revival in 2016. And, if you were a fan of the original Fred Astaire and Bing Crosby numbers, you’re gonna love it.
We hope you find your way to the CDH Theater this year. Without an audience, there is no theater. Thank you for your continued support.