The Fine Arts Department finally performs Puffs or Seven Increasingly Eventful Years at a Certain School of Magic and Magic. The play was originally scheduled for two performances in March. Senior JeryElijah Nathaniel, casted as Wayne Hopkins was injured in a serious car accident and hospitalized. Nathaniel would later be released and confined to a wheelchair.
“When I received the news about JeryElijah being in a car accident, Puffs was the last thing on my mind. I just wanted to make sure that he was ok. I am lucky to have really great people around me like Amanda Fisher and Samantha Lam, who stepped right in to figure out a better date and get it posted. After solidifying a date, it was a waiting game to see how quickly JeryElijah was going to recover. I was not going to do this show without him. Once he was released from the hospital and able to come into the school, we took a tour with his therapist to see what adjustments we needed to make. I commend the cast of Puffs for being able to smoothly adjust to Jery being in a wheelchair and jumping back into the groove of things. We were able to put on two successful shows and I could not be prouder!”
Joshua Johnson, Choral and Theater Director
“After solidifying a date, it was a waiting game to see how quickly Jery [Nathaniel] was going to recover. I was not going to do this show without him”, shared Johnson. The show was cancelled in April and the new dates were May 10 and 11.
“ It [more cast changes] definitely put a damper on things at first. Amberly Davidson was unable to make the date change so Kennedy Mack stepped up and learned all of her lines and blocking. We also probably lost a few people due to the date change but each night had a very good turn out,” continued Johnson.
(Connor Ruesch)
In the role of Leanne, “My favorite moment for Puffs had to be the scene where Jery and I danced together during the Yule Ball. Although we had to make some changes for the second show, it was so much fun being able to laugh and have a good time dancing together on stage,” said Ava Wilson.
On May 22 and unlike years before, the Fine Arts Department announced two shows: Addams Family and Six for next year’s performances. “We have a great amount of talent in the Fine Arts Department and we are very happy to offer them multiple opportunities to shine,” declared Johnson.
“It was a great adjustment but an even greater reward in the end,” exclaimed Johnson. Nathaniel is still recovering and with crutches he was able to walk across the stage at the graduation ceremony on June 7.
