POULSBO — The North Kitsap High School drama students have done a remodel of their own.
The computers, desks and cords in technology building room 702, formerly a computer-aided design classroom, have all been removed and replaced with a stage, makeup tables, prop storage and a green room.
The front half of the room is painted yellow and the back half is black — the perfect color for a black-box theater.
The drama remodel, which began last May and is now lights, camera, action-ready, is the new home of NKHS drama.
“Drama hasn’t had a home at North Kitsap for years,” said drama director Randy Powell. “We decided this would be a great place to put in a black-box theater. It’s a great rehearsal space too, before we didn’t have any place to rehearse.”
The converted room, which has fire department approval to seat up to 70 people, will serve as the drama department’s primary play venue, replacing the North Kitsap Auditorium.
Powell said the NK Auditorium, which seats 600, has become increasingly difficult to fill and they’d like to do more plays with smaller casts, but needed a space.
And the newly converted room is perfect, as it allows the drama department to present up to five plays per year with more variety. Powell said patrons can look forward to the likes of dinner theaters and improv.
But before then this year’s show must go on, in the new venue of course.
The NKHS drama “Dream Cast of 2008” — a group of 10 actors and actresses who’ve all starred in plays throughout the year — are presenting the world’s longest running musical, “The Fantasticks.”
“This is an intimate show and it really should have a small venue close to the audience,” Powell said. “Kids will get a kick out of it, they’ll laugh. Adults will laugh.”
A peek inside the theater and at the cast during a rehearsal provided a snapshot of the pending laughter. One cast member, adorned in full-body red longjohns with a pair of ragged brown shorts over the top, emerged from sleeping inside a large wooden crate. Others don overalls and large hats cluttered with flowers and feathers.
All involved agree the audience is in for a funny feast of the senses.
“It’s a remake from Shakespeare so you can’t really go wrong, but it’s more modern so we can make it silly,” said senior Taylor Cowan who plays The Old Actor. “I think we’ll get some laughs. The best thing on stage is hearing people laugh.”
Another feast awaiting the audience is a smorgasbord of theater food group offerings, as concessions aren’t served in the NK Auditorium.
There will be popcorn, soda and licorice, if that’s what the audience wants.
“If they want Twizzlers, we’ll have them,” Powell said.
The stars began running lines and singing tunes one month ago. And freshman Bryson Breakey, who plays Matt, said preparations have been crazy, as usually the cast has three or four months to prepare.
On Tuesday, the black-box theater was abuzz with excitement and opening night anticipation. The play opened on Thursday, a day the cast was looking forward to.
“It’s just that rush you get,” Breakey said of the moment the curtains rise. “Adrenaline is going the whole show. It’s like skydiving for two hours.”
“The Fantasticks” runs at 7 p.m. today and May 30 and 31 in the NKHS theater room and at 2 p.m. on May 18 and 31. The cost is $7 per student and $9 for adults.
A drama fundraiser event is planned for May 22 in the NK Auditorium. The evening, aptly called “Five Events in One,” starts at 7 p.m. and a $15 ticket buys patrons a ham buffet (because the cast is made up of hams), entrance to a silent auction of faculty art, a special presentation of Broadway concert songs, attendance to the drama awards presentation and a viewing of “The Fantasticks.” All proceeds benefit the drama program and Powell hopes to raise upwards of $3,000.
“It’s going to be a really great time,” said senior Amanda Guay who plays Huckabee. “North Kitsap drama has helped a lot of people have a lot of fun. It’s a worthy endeavor to support.”
“The Fantasticks,” opened on May 3, 1960, and played 17,162 performances before closing Jan. 13, 2002. The new revival is currently running off Broadway at the Snapple Theatre in New York City.
