Five students. One Saturday detention. A story that proves we’re all more alike than we think. This Fall, HHS’s drama department will bring the classic 1980s film The Breakfast Club to life on stage.
For English teacher and Director Brooke Barfield, this production is extra special–it’s her final show before retirement.
“This is my last play since I will be retiring this year,” Barfield said. “I wanted to do something fun and something that has a small cast and something that would be fun for the audience since the kids are acting out kids.”
The cast, made up of juniors and seniors, has impressed her with their dedication and teamwork.
“They’re fantastic,” she said. “They all bring something different to the show just like the characters do in the movie.”
Behind the scenes, Jordan Harvey, senior and stage manager, is making sure everything runs smoothly.
“I’ve done crew for the past three years, so it’s nothing new,” Harvey said. “When we do the show nights, but it’s a really good cast. I feel confident that it will be our best show yet.”
Taking on a leadership role has been an adjustment for Harvey.
“It’s gonna be more stressful than previous years,” Harvey said. “I had to rely on Miranda [Guss] and Faith [Unger], and now me and Tierany [Ford-May] are those people. It’s weird to have people come to me for questions.”
Serving as assistant director, senior Ford-May works closely with both the cast and crew to keep rehearsals on track.
“I watch more people, so there’s more people under my supervision,” Ford-May said. “But I also have Jordan, so it’s like a two-for-one and it makes it easier.”
Ford-May said she’s enjoyed taking on the leadership role.
“I’ve been involved in theater for a while, and it’s nice to watch everyone grow into their parts.
On stage, Senior Sayde Tyra takes on the role of Claire, the “princess”, while Senior Adam O’Brochta plays the strict principal, Mr. Vernon. Rehearsals, they said, have had a few rough patches but continue to improve with each run.
“I think we get better each time,” Tyra said. “The casting worked out perfectly because we’re all similar to our characters, so the only thing we really need to get down is tone and timing.”
For O’Brochta, playing the tough principal comes with a mix of fun and frustration.
“The most fun part for me is being able to yell at everybody,” O’Brochta said. “But the hardest part is probably the cues.”
Trya said she enjoys the moments that challenge her acting the most.
“The most fun part for me would be the emotional scenes, where you get challenged because it’s really hard as a high school actor.”
