The Montezuma-Cortez Middle School theater program produced a steady theme through its 2022-23 productions – “Consider Yourself Family.”
Under the guidance of M-CMS theater teacher and director Angela Gabardi, the middle school production of “This Girl Laughs, This Girl Cries, and This Girl Does Nothing” carries a powerful message in a coming-of-age story that theatergoers are sure to appreciate. After the success of their winter musical – “Oliver Jr.” – the M-CMS production brings to life another story of finding a home through the challenges of a long journey.
Written by Finegan Kruckemeyer, the play follows three sisters – Albienne, Beatrix, and Carmen – through more than two decades of their lives, as each learns lessons of trust, love, friendship and perseverance.
“The audience can expect a wonderful journey with three girls finding who they are in a large world,” said seventh-grader Devin Astor, who plays the role of father in the production.
“The sisters find their way to each other after being a part for a long time and learning what they were looking for the whole time,” added seventh-grader Olive Gray.
It’s a production that will include plenty of difficult acting techniques and movement, which has presented both challenges and opportunities for the 65 students involved in its creation. “The students have been extremely creative,” said Gabardi. “They’ve had to memorize a lot of lines, and have been so collaborative every step of the way.”
“This has been one of my favorite plays to put together,” said Rebecca Story, who has participated in numerous other performances for the high school and community theater, and plays Beatrix. “The story is very poetic, and has been a new type of acting for me.”
The play offers the student performers and stage crew an opportunity to be reflective about the message, “with all of the drama and terrible things that happen, they eventually smooth out and become good again – just like in life,” said seventh-grader Costner Hernandez.
After countless rehearsals and adjustments to the production, the students are excited to allow the community to see the finished product. “It’s been great with all the characters we’ve created,” said eighth-grader Brian Sandner, who serves as the play’s assistant director, “and we’ve seen a lot of growth as a production over the hundreds of times we’ve practiced.”
The show is set for three showings, on Friday, March 3 at 7 p.m., along with Saturday, March 4 at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. in the M-CMS Gymnasium. Tickets are available at the door or at mchsdrama.booktix.com, with $10 admission for adults, $6 for seniors and non-M-CMS students, while M-CMS students and staff can attend for free.
