During lunch and after school on October 8 and 9, student directors Cristina Jerney (12), Hannah Prutton (12), Cecilia Lang-Ree (12), and Lori Berenberg (12) led the Student Directed Showcase auditions with guidance from Performing Arts Department Chair Laura Lang-Ree.

Lang-Ree, who advises the student directors, explained the casting process.

“The girls work with me four days a week in class […] I act as their teacher and advisor, but I am not the one […] saying you have to cast so-and-so,” she said.

When auditioning, students had the choice of preparing one of the four gender specific monologues posted online and on Lang-Ree’s door. Each director chose one play, consisting of a 30-minute act.

Many freshmen expressed their excitement about auditioning, and performing arts students like Janet Lee (9) said they did not feel very nervous before entering to audition.

“Although each actor does not get much time with the directors, since the directors are fellow students, they can see us working in other environments such as the fall play,” Janet said.

Some older students who have gone through this experience before also thought the audition process had an easy flow.

“You […] audition in front of the panel and […] it’s less stressful than most of the other auditions just because they are closer to your age,” Maya Nandakumar (10) said. “[The directors] are really supportive of you, and it seems like you are just performing for your friends.”

Each director had different requirements for their cast. Lori, director of The Choice Is Yours by Keith Jackson, explained how she was choosing her cast members.

“[I cast by] seeing who can play big and […] who’s just ready to have a lot of fun,” she said.

Hannah chose DNA by Dennis Kelly as her show and expressed her opinions about the qualities she is looking for in her cast members.

“I need [the cast members] to be very youthful,” she said. “I also need them to be committed to the show because it’s a difficult show to pull off.”

The Shadow Box by Michael Cristofer will be directed by Cecilia, who offered advice for those auditioning.

“For my show in particular, I’m looking for honesty and mature relationships with the other actors when they come in for callbacks,” she said.

Cristina also spoke about the play she is directing, The Madwoman of Chaillot by Jean Giraudoux.

“It has a lot of heart; it’s a cute and quirky comedy […] but it’s also a satire,” she said. “At the end of the day, it’s lighthearted and just meant to make you smile.”

After the directors decide the results of the auditions from yesterday and today, callbacks will be held on October 11.