Final Paper by Cherith

During the program I was exposed to a variety of different performances. I am very grateful for the opportunity and learned very much from my experience.

Without On Stage I might never have seen an opera, an orchestra or a Taiko drumming group. These performances have been very enriching ones for me, sometimes pulling me from my established tastes to see something fresh and new and often surprisingly wonderful. Some of the performances I did not like (orchestra), but at least it was based off of personal experience now as opposed to simply assuming that I would not like it. Some things embedded themselves quite thoroughly into my heart (Aida). I will highly recommend this program to anyone who asks. It was an awesome way to get an English credit! I loved meeting the performers and hearing them, and I was really impressed with our consistently amazing seats! Thank you again for the amazing experience!

Final Paper by Holand

Write papers, get concert tickets! It seemed too good to be true, but it was real. OnStage, ISU's theatre program for high school students, had arrived. A veritable smorgasbord of events, I would get to see an opera, a musical, a string quartet, a symphony, a play, and much more.

The program was full of surprises. While I had known about Aïda, I knew the opera, not the musical. The creations of Sir Elton John and Sir Tim Rice were amazing, and I now count Aïda as one of my favourite musicals. Likewise, I was familiar with Figaro from The Barber of Seville, I was wholly unprepared for the continuation of the mischevious tenor's antics in The Marriage of Figaro, and it was a very pleasant surprise.

I thought that string quartets were limited to classical music. I was wrong. The Turtle Island String Quartet played jazz that was smooth like a New Orleans night. I also believed that Taiko drumming, because it came from Japan, would be refined and elegant. I had no idea how passionate, how chaotic, how firey it was!

Getting to see such a variety of performances made me reevaluate how I had previously looked at theatre. When I saw that my initial assumptions had been quite off the mark, I grew to understand that good performances are hard to categorise, and that indeed, it's best not to try, but to let yourself get caught up in the action.

I also got inspiration from the performances. I am currently working on a musical, and I learned how successful musicals work, as well as getting to hear music that has elements that I might use in my score. For example, the frantic, vibrant drumming of the Taiko drummers is evoked in a scene that deals with a revolution. Likewise, the jazzy flow of a violin is evoked in the theme of a laid-back, nonchalant character.

In conclusion, I learned not only about the wide variety of performances that is theatre, but also, about myself. I'd like to thank ISU and Stephens Auditorium for such a great opportunity, and who knows? Maybe something I write will be performed there on the boards.

Final Paper by Jo

Being a part of Onstage was a really great experience. When I heard about the opportunity I knew right away it was something I wanted to do. I was really impressed with the program, and I was very excited to be a part of it. It was great that there was such a variety of performances; I think it really enhanced the experience.

My favorite performance was definitely the Turtle Island String Quartet. I loved the music, and I appreciated the fact that the show was relatively short. I thoroughly enjoyed the performance, and the smaller, more relaxed atmosphere was a nice change of pace. It was really interesting to listen to the musicians following the show. Their stories and experiences were nearly as entertaining as their music.

Anther enjoyable show was Aida. I liked that it was more of a “story” than some of the other performances. The acting and music was fun to watch, and I felt it was a good way to start of the season. Additionally, the actors were some of the more enjoyable ones to talk to after the show, although, quite a few of the casts were very interesting. I’m glad I had a pleasant first impression of the program with Aida.

San Jose Taiko was a unique experience. I really enjoyed the drums, and it was probably my second favorite. I think it was a very different show than many of the students were used to seeing. I’m really glad it was included in the set of performances because it brought more diversity to the whole experience.

The performances, the actors, and certainly the food all went into making Onstage a very unique and beneficial experience. I think it’s a wonderful opportunity for a lot of students to experience a little more diversity and culture in their lives.

On Stage Final Paper by Haema

ONE NOT TO BE FORGOTTEN

A high school student’s senior year should always be filled with fond memories and stories that they can pass on. This may be about friends they have spent time with, shows they have seen, etc. Luckily, I have made countless wonderful memories with the program, On Stage. I have seen the arts right in my own backyard, and spectacular ones at that. It is undoubtedly an experience I will never forget.

I came into the program thinking that I might see a couple of mediocre shows, since nothing exciting ever comes to Ames, Iowa. Delightfully, I was shown that I was quite wrong. Every show that the group saw was wonderful. Whether it was music, acting, dancing, or a combination of all three, the performances were always a thrill. I absolutely loved the variety that we saw; I never felt I saw the same show twice, thus, this program exceeded my expectations tremendously.

The biggest factor that made me love this program so much was the opportunity to meet the artists. We all see performers on stage, and they seem angelic, awe-inspiring, or even disappointing, but sometimes we forget they are people just like us. They learned from the basics as any other person has to, starting at a young age, or while they were older. Hence, this puts everything we saw into perspective. The work that goes behind each and every one of these productions is astounding. It just makes the audience respect all the actors, actresses, directors, and crew people exponentially more. In my opinion, the greatest part of meeting the artists was asking them how they got involved in the field that they are in now. For example, some members of the Turtle Island Quartet only got into jazz music during their teen years, but, on the other hand, the director of the Moscow State Symphony has had music running through his veins his whole life, and has played since a young age. All the differences of personalities and stories of these artists were very intriguing.

It seemed after every performance I left Stephens in a euphoric state of mind. I wanted to be a flautist in an orchestra, or a singer in Broadway, or even act on stage; these shows seemed to melt all my inhibitions away, at least for a small amount of time. My life and the performances on stage would always, at least for a short moment in time, intertwine. These were probably one of the most stress free, lighthearted moments I’ve felt all year. I left all my worries behind, and allowed myself to become immersed in an opera, or a play, and forget the world around me.

If I ever have the chance to do any program remotely close to On Stage, I would take it up in a heartbeat. This program has given me so much, and I am extremely grateful for it. As I keep on making new memories that finish off my senior year, I will always be at peace knowing that I was part of a magnificent program that I will never ever forget.

Final Paper by Elisa

Being part of this program really helped me understand all different sorts of theater. Not just focusing on one certain type (plays, operas,symphonies, etc.) really helped me get a feeling for which types ofperformances I enjoy, and which ones I don't prefer. This program has helped me appreciate all the different types of theater. Sure, I don't particularly enjoy all of them, but I've learned to appreciate them. The performance I enjoyed best was Romeo and Juliet. I can't exactly say why I enjoyed that one the most. It just seemed to get my attention more easily then the other performances. The program was pretty much what I expected going into it at the beginning; performances, papers, fun, etc. And quite frankly, I was happy with the program. Although, the jazz quartet performance time was abit odd since it was at 9:30 p.m. but other than that, I was happy with the program as a whole. Even though the On-Stage program was/is school related,it didn't feel like it was. The environment was laid back and stress-free for the most part. I liked having that socialization time with my fellow students. Even though we see each other everyday, we usually don't get other contact then at school. Over all I really did enjoy this program this year and I am glad I signed up for it.

Final Paper by Jasmine

Before entering my first OnStage! performance I had no idea what to expect. I knew that my brother had been in the program before, and I recalled some excited exclamations about some drums, but to be quite honest I hadn’t been listening to him. At that time I was in middle school, and I had a lot of “better things” to worry about. One thing stuck with me however, the impression that in high school I would apply for the OnStage! program, because if he was so excited about it then it must truly be something significant. I came into the program not knowing what to expect, and now I leave with the intense desire to join again and again.

Embarking on the journey of discovering theater has expanded my knowledge and experience to unimaginable heights. Through OnStage! my love for the visual arts now extends to all aspects of the performing arts. Because of this program I have had the chance to attend concerts and musicals I never would have seen otherwise, and even more significantly I have been able to meet with the performers in the shows, acquiring a personal view into the lives of such talented artists. Their passion and dedication have inspired me to be fervent in all my endeavors, teaching me to love what I do and to do what I love.

Although I thoroughly enjoyed each and every one of the performances I attended, Aida, remains my favorite piece. By integrating dance, instrumentals, drama, and song, Aida touched on every aspect of the performing arts. From the intricate choreography to the spell-bounding notes, I was captured with every movement, every line, and every portrayal of true emotion through action and form.

Meeting with the performers after the show also gave me wonderful insight into the lives of the faraway professionals on the stage. I loved the intimate question – answer format because, as the first time I had ever met a professional performer, it made me realize that they were simply normal, everyday people, doing the job that they love to do. I held an entirely new level of respect and admiration for them; their sparkling attitudes and light – hearted spirits made them great people to meet and be around, to look up to, and to learn from. I was blown away by the charismatic group, not at all proud, condescending, or detached as I once imagined professionals to be. The entire show and the meeting afterwards will stay with me throughout my life, reminding me again and again of the magic of the theater and the enthusiasm of those who bring it to life.

It is hard to express just how much I owe to the On-stage! program and to the numerous phenomenal performances I’ve had the opportunity to view this year. This has been an amazing experience that has taught me an immense deal about the theater and its many exciting aspects. More than just beautiful songs and memorization of lines, the performances have succeeded in touching my soul and evoking true emotions – the very effects that art should forever strive for. The beauty created through such ardent minds and hands has shown me more devotion than I have seen in all the years of my high school career, and I will continue to visit the performing arts with undying interest and appreciation. I would like to thank all the teachers, artists, and all those who made this opportunity possible, and I am truly excited for the new group of students next year who will, no doubt, be just as educated, influenced, and inspired as I have been through the OnStage! program.

Final Paper by Anna

I'm sad we're done with all the performances! It went by so fast! I really enjoyed this oppurtunity that i got to experience through OnStage. It was fun to go to a variety of performances that I wouldn't think of going to on my own like operas or symphonys. The 6 performances we got to go to were all very different which made every one of them fun to go to. My favorite is still probably the first one (Aida) just because I love broadway plays like that. It reminded me when i was in New York and saw Wicked and Lion King. I definitely am really glad that I did this and didn't pass up this wonderful oppurtunity. The program itself is very nicely set up. I like how the 6 performances are spread out and all different. I also enjoy talking to the performers after the performance. It really adds to your experience and allows us to ask any questions we had during the performance. That part was always were interesting. I also like how you combine Gilbert and Ames schools together for this. It allows us to meet new people, or in my case, catch up with an Ames girl that I already knew. I also like this program because it's an awesome way to earn an english credit. I don't have to double up with english classes my senior year like most people do. It was a fun way to earn an english credit instead of just sitting in a class reading about plays and such, we got to experience them! Another good thing I'll mention about the program is that the email system worked very well and was convineint to be able to just email our papers to you. Also, I always got the information about times and other stuff on time through the email and was just an easy way to communicate. Overall I think that the program did an awesome job and there's not anything I would change about it, I definitely would do this again next year if we were able to. Thanks for everything!

Final Paper by Amy

I am so thankful that I was given the opportunity to participate inthe OnStage! Program. Being able to go to all of the performances and talk tomany of the actors, singers, and musicians afterwards has been veryrewarding. My knowledge and experience with performing arts has expandedgreatly and I can truly appreciate the hard work that it takes to put a showtogether. I think the OnStage! Program is a great chance for students to “diptheir toes” into performing arts. If I wasn’t in this program, I may haveonly gone to one CY Stephens event. Had this been the case, I’m certain thatI would have chosen one that I was sure I would like. If I had done that, Iwould have never seen the others, simply because I didn’t want to take therisk of not liking them. This program “forced” me to see different types ofperforming arts, such as operas and symphonies; that I wouldn’t haveotherwise. A couple things I would change about the program are: I wouldn’t goto any on school nights. That night ran a little late, and trying to fit inhomework and go to the show, didn’t work to well. I would also set someguidelines for the papers. Not strict rules, but general guidelines forthem. As a student it is hard to write a paper while not knowing what isexpected of you. All in all the OnStage! Program was a wonderful opportunityand I am glad that I was given the chance to be in it. Thank you!

Final Paper by Brittany

This has been a wonderful experience. I can’t believe that it’s already over, in a sense. I hope that just because this program is over that it doesn’t mean I won’t be able to experience more shows. This program has helped to open my eyes to new types of performing arts, like opera and the symphony. Along with the amazing performances, to be able to meet and talk to the performers was something special and it was really fun and interesting to get their input on what they do and how they do it.

My favorite event had to be Aida though; it was just such an amazing show. Also Romeo and Juliet it was really interesting to see the way plays took place in the days of Shakespeare. Another element that made this show so good was the way they did the roles. In the years to come I hope that other on-stage participants can experience something like this show.

This last performance, the marriage of Figaro, is one I’ll never forget it was really interesting and not what I was expecting in a soap opera. After going to this performance in fact I’m interested in going to another opera sometime soon. The only down side to the performance was that it was difficult to read the subtitles above the stage. To help in the future I think it would be nice to have more than one prompter to read from.

Overall I think this was a great experience and I’m sad it has come to an end. I hope this program continues in the years to come. I know it has opened my eyes to so many different genres of the performing arts, and I hope that others will be able to experience this to. I hope after this that I will still be able to find the time to attend some of the events at Stephen’s, because there’re so many new shows I’m interested in see after this program. Thank you for this experience it’s something that I will never forget.

Final Paper by Aimee

Due to lack of motivation or too busy of a schedule, it is rare that teenagers get the opportunity to experience a wide spectrum of theatrical arts. On Stage provided that opportunity for myself and many other students this year. This spectacular program gave me the chance to see so many types of shows that I never imagined seeing before. An opera, a Japanese drum performance, and a string quartet were some of the types of shows that I had never seen live but enjoyed very much.

My favorite show of the season was probably Aida, because musicals are always so enjoyable for me. It was an excellent way to start the program and I enjoyed progressing through the season by seeing more and more types of shows I had never experienced.

Another performance that I really enjoyed was the Turtle Island String Quartet. The musicians were so talented and the show was really fun and personal due to the small audience. After seeing that show the cello became one of my favorite instruments to hear in music in varying genres. It is such a beautiful instrument, and the String Quartet increased my appreciation for it by using it to create so many different sounds.

On Stage is a unique program that exposes students to the value of theater and different arts. It is so important to create and maintain an appreciation for the arts in a time when television and Hollywood flood the minds of adolescents. This program successfully built that appreciation for me and I am so glad to have experienced it. Some of the shows I saw are not ones I would have attended on my own, but I am so glad that I was able to go. Taking a trip down to the theater is not something that most teenagers will choose to do on the weekends but now my view of the theatrical arts has changed. I enjoyed this program so much and I value the experience of seeing shows unlike anything I have seen before.

Final Paper by Andrew

On-Stage has been an amazing program that has allowed to us to see hard work, dedication, different art forms, different cultures, and altogether different events. Of course the program had its ups and downs, most of which would tie in directly to personal preference (such as if you liked symphony or rock operas) and others would be related to the program. To truly understand how I saw the potential flaws and benefits of the On-Stage program I wish to divide the paper into various different sections: brief program history for the 2006-07 season of On-Stage, common themes highlighted by each performance group, the perks of the program, potential pitfalls of the program, and the programs overall affects that it had on myself. With these reasons I hope I can truly better the 2007-08 On-Stage season for those who are lucky enough to get the chance to be part of it, who knows, it might even be me again.

I see a brief review of the year is in order so that I can give a view point on what I remember and what genres I felt that the productions were supposed to be placed in. The very first production was for Aida, a rock opera of sorts that I believe almost all the members of the On-Stage program liked as (one of) the best. Like all rock-operas it portrayed intense music and, thankfully, a good storyline that came across as the perfect love story. Following Aida came the percussive Japanese Taiko group, San Jose Taiko. This performance was enjoyable, but at the same time felt something more geared towards children, which was reinforced by a reference I remember about the program saying that children would like it. Most members that I talked to were mainly bored or unimpressed by the Taiko group, although I found the technique they used to be quite useful when it came to my own drumming. Besides this point was the fact that most of the comments they gave after the performance were leaning towards mysticism, tradition, or general randomness. For me the highlight of the On-Stage season came next with the Moscow State Symphony. As a percussionist, especially a timpanist, I was awed by how much I could learn from just hearing the professional player play. They also manage to awe me with their incredible encores pieces, which were mainly up tempo nationalistic marches. Other On-Stage members had more mixed reviews ranging from the length of the music making it dull to a more general statement of, “At least it was better then the Taiko”, This piece fit into the Orchestral genre which was unlike our next presentation that fit into the String Quartet genre. The Turtle Island String Quartet came off with an incredible interpretation of Miles Davis’s work that had me on the edge of my seat in amazement. Even afterwards when we talked to them they were very friendly and left a nice impression on most of the On-Stage members. The next two were more or less the ones I feared. Primarily because Shakespearian genre and Opera genre are two of the most varied forms out in the theatre, but Romeo & Juliet came as an extremely pleasant surprise. Instead of being disappointed or bored we, the audience, actively helped choose their roles and then got to watch some real drama and excitement unfold between the actors onstage. These too got mixed reviews from people attempted to compare it to Aida, which was unfortunate since the two were very different but both were enjoyable. Then the Opera known as The Marriage of Figaro concluded the On-Stage season. Most members I talked to were generally either complaining of strained necks from looking at the subtitles or were more pleasantly surprised about the music, rather then the acting. In fact, looking back on it all, it is quite amazing that we got to see so many genres: Rock Opera, Percussive Group, Symphonic/Orchestral, String Quartet (Ensemble), Shakespeare, and even an Opera!

Each group, no matter the genre, had important and common themes that they embodied. Regardless of how anyone looks at it, these artists from Aida to Figaro to the Third Viola all had some themes in common: hard work, dedication, patience, and passion. Almost every paper I turned in, except The Marriage of Figaro, had at least one section dedicated to highlighting the importance of these themes and how apparent they were. You could see it in every dance number, symphonic encore, and solo that they all had passion. The Moscow State Symphony showcased an incredible passion, especially through their ability to play four encores from memory for us and those who participated in Romeo & Juliet showed incredible passion during their scenes on and off stage. The Marriage of Figaro also showcased the dedication and hard work through facial expressions and body movements and how they sang in sync with their own symphonic group. Arguably it is these themes that decide the difference between a run of the mill, boring production and an exciting, appealing, and engaging production. Another important point I saw throughout was the obvious coordination that went into the productions and the time that was spent outside of the actual “practice”. With all of this apparent, even the duller or more unbearable productions (for others) were at the very least enjoyable to watch and you felt compelled if not to be involved, at least to watch and pay attention.

By far and wide the wide range of performances attended and the genres were the greatest benefits for the On-Stage program. This would have been of little use if it hadn’t been for the after performance interviews after each performance. These provided incredibly valuable insight into how and why these people had such a passion for what they did and how one day we too might join their ranks. Another thing I noticed was that the On-Stage program helped to integrate different cultures, and seemingly as commonly, different languages. Throughout the entire program we were exposed to different genres, cultures, and languages. We were also stationed right the in the front of the stage, a prime spot to get the most out of facial expressions, minute bodily movement, and dynamic contrasts for the various bands the performed. Furthermore the program has a very healthy balance of performance time, interview time, and review time.

What I see as the potential pitfalls of the On-Stage program are almost all related towards various positive aspects of the program. Although, as I just stated, there is a healthy balance between the times, I believe more time should be devoted to the research prior to the program so that as members of the On-Stage program, we can bring a better understanding to the table and come away with more advanced concepts from the performances. Another point that should be worked on more is the post-performance essays. I see this as a two-pronged method that needs to be worked out. The first would be that all of the essays get turned in on time and that more well-known and obvious due dates are established. By this I mean to say that I had all of my papers done in time with the exception of Romeo & Juliet. I had completely forgotten about it after the performance to write up a review. It wasn’t until, sadly for me to say, March 4th (I am sure this is well past the deadline) that I woke up at 1:30 AM and raced up stairs and spent the next 1 hour working on that paper, embarrassed that I had forgotten all about it. I am pretty sure that other people also didn’t place a very high priority on some of their papers as well, which was obvious from the people who needed to turn in their reviews on our teacher’s door. I also think that if people don’t turn in their papers they should be nudged through email by the On-Stage program to get to work and fulfill their commitment. The second part of this two-pronged idea that would greatly help benefit the On-Stage program would be if some sort of critique or pointers came back after each essay. I can understand that some of the essay’s might get dull and tedious after awhile (I know for sure as essay’s 1-5 were almost mirrored images of each other, it wasn’t until I was writing about Figaro did I even think of breaking that trend), but without that feedback I wasn’t sure if I, the On-Stage participant, was fulfilling my duties. Also from my own follow-ups with other participants in the program and my own opinion, I would attempt to drop the San Jose Taiko for another cultural group that is more geared towards high school or college level students. Even though I did take a lot away from listening and watching the Taiko’s, I felt as if this was a more childish element for it and saw it as the overall least engaging and invigorating. Also using my hindsight I see that many, many cultures were represented: pseudo-Egyptian, Japanese, Russian, American, English, and Bulgarian. Likewise I think that the San Jose Taiko could be dropped for more engaging performances such as RENT or Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat and would still provide yet another glimpse into other cultures and issues that were more pertinent to the On-Stage Members. The only real complaint I ever came across during the performances came from the very last one, The Marriage of Figaro. It was a strain on our necks to be looking up at the subtitles if they were present and then quickly glancing down to make sure we weren’t missing any of the action. If anything I wish subtitles would have been consistent throughout the entire production, and not just the more major parts and musical sections. I did thoroughly enjoy watching a foreign production done in a foreign language and think that it should definitely be kept.

For myself, I felt as if I came away with so much more then when I started. I watched incredible productions from incredible groups that were hard workers and dedicated to their cause. Learning was also a big thing for me. The research papers handed out prior to the performances allowed for great introductions into the backdrop of each story or performance selection. I was even able to glean some techniques for how to play the timpani from just listening to the timpanist! I also saw great ways to expand my own acting in school productions and presentations.

The On-Stage program was an overall and complete success. It showcased a variety of cultures, although not all seemed to be pertinent or captivating. The program also allowed us the incredible chance to interview the actors or musicians after the show and get some burning questions answered. Such questions always lead me to the conclusion that they all had passion, dedication, and hard work that were placed deeply into their form of artwork. The only points that I would like to see worked out came mainly from the desire to see more advanced cultural themes (rather then the Taiko) and to revise the methods used to get the reviews turned in. Overall the program has taught me a great deal from different cultures, actors, and groups and helped to reaffirm my love for the arts. Thanks for such a great line up of programs for the 2006-2007 On-Stage season and hopefully will continue to view presentations at Stephens in the future.

The Marriage of Figaro by Courtney

The Marriage of Figaro was the first opera that I have ever gone to and I so enjoyed it. The performers were incredible singers and there acting was just as wonderful. I loved the opera itself. The thick plot was overwhelming at first, but with our overly stimulating culture today the opera was still intriguing and interesting and it was definitely worth paying to see. I loved the Figaro and his Love and the relationship that they had; playful and yet very passionate. I still am marveling at the tremendous projection that the performers’ voices had. I was amazed when the singers had to sing at the same time, all with different melodies and they had to follow the orchestra. The orchestra was also amazing. I would have enjoyed the opera more had the subtitles been lower since it was quite a strain on the neck, but other than that I absolutely loved everything, the music, the Italian language, the costumes, the actors and even the simple stage set.

The Marriage of Figaro by Jo

The “Marriage of Figaro”, while definitely not my favorite performance, was not quite the nightmare I’d imagined it to be. The characters were mildly entertaining, though the repetitive, light-hearted humor was somewhat less than amusing. The story, which seemed to be simple enough, would’ve been much more enjoyable had it been about one-third the length while I normally don’t mind subtitles, it was difficult to pay attention due to the awkward angle of my craned neck. I know my pessimistic views of the show must sound like rants—however, I’m sure for an opera it was pretty good. It’s not really the story I didn’t enjoy, I just didn’t really find that the opera is for me. I’m glad, however, that I went to see what it was like. Going into it, I dreaded the fact that not only was it going to be a painful night of horrific opera, but additionally one which I’d have to read. At the end of the night I wasn’t exceptionally impressed, but I can now say I have a reason not to like opera—my opinion is no longer just an untested notion. It is important to try new things and attempt to keep an open mind rather than prematurely deciding against it. I feel that I have a better understanding and appreciation of the opera, even though I didn’t particularly enjoy it.

The Marriage of Figaro by Holland

Figaro!

I had seen 'The Barber of Seville', but never the sequel. Now I know just what I was missing.

The marriage of Figaro picks up where 'Barber' left off, but surpasses the original in several ways. While I was familiar with the music, there is a difference between listening to a soundtrack CD at home while washing the dishes and actually seeing the opera in real life.

The role I thought was the best cast was the role of Doctor Bartolo. He had the most vivid facial expressions of all the cast, and he was very funny. I was also impressed with his ability to project. It's quite hard to project the very low notes, but he did it extremely well.

Mozart's use of puns and innuendo are characteristic of the times, but also of his own personal flair for the dramatic. Comedic operas were just starting out at the time, and he was the one who popularized them, setting the stage for later composers.

In conclusion, 'The Marriage of Figaro' was a wonderful play, and I'm very glad I got to see it.

The Marriage of Figaro by Amy

When the opera started, I can honestly say that I thought it was goingto be the longest three hours of my life. But, as I got more into it I was soimpressed by their amazing talent and hooked by the storyline. I reallyenjoyed how I had to think through out the entire thing, because if youdidn’t, you were lost. There were so many characters who all thought that soand so like so and so, but they were married to the other guy, and if youweren’t paying attention throughout the entire performance, you were lost.Part of me wishes it would have been in English, because it was hard to goback and forth, between reading the translation and watching the performance.I guess, if it was in English, it would have lost some of its elegance andmeaning.

Having never been to an opera before, I think this was good first onefor me. It wasn’t boring, and it wasn’t at all what I thought it would belike. I thought it would be some old lady standing on the stage, singingrandom notes. I guess I was ignorant when it came to operas. After watchingthe Marriage of Figaro, I definitely want to see more operas, and also have anappreciation for the hard work it takes to put them together.

The Marriage of Figaro by Kendra

I have never been to an opera before, so this was completely new experience for me. I didn’t really know what to expect before this performance. I thought that it would be in English, but I was surprised to find out that it wasn’t, but luckily for all of us who didn’t speak Italian, there were subtitles. Although sometimes even with the subtitles I thought that it was a little difficult to follow, because I couldn’t recognize some of the character’s roles because there were no speaking parts so sometimes it was hard to figure what their names were and the purposes they played. But as the production progressed, it was easier to follow.

I did think that it was a little long and a bit boring, especially when you don’t always understand what they are trying to sing, and there is absolutely no talking. I am glad though that I have now experienced the opera, and know what one is like. I probably would not go to another one in the future, they just really aren’t my cup of tea.

I would not recommand this to anyone my own age, but perhaps to someone who was older and liked to watch people belt out in another laguage.

The time that was spent after the show, talking with the cast, was very good, because we got to learn about their careers and ask them questions. They were very friendly and I appreciate the time that the spent with a group of high scholars after a very long performance.

The Marriage of Figaro by Andrew

One of the more interesting pieces of theatre that we were honored to go to was the theatrical Opera buffa of The Marriage of Figaro. Compared to the other performances, this one was in a foreign language, Bulgarian, that was completely different from the other languages of symphonic music, percussive music, or even the English language that we have seen throughout other performances such as Aida or even Romeo and Juliet. Rather, I had to rely on my ability to read their movements on the stage and the translated sections during the major musical scenes. Also a major point to be made was that instead of just hearing what one might call “gibberish”, the band that played the music was an integral part in understanding of the scene and allowing for a better understanding of the context of the scenes.

First and foremost, the body language provided the most obvious signs of what the actors were portraying. Since, no doubt, most of us couldn’t understand the language being spoken we had to virtually rely upon these movements. Following normal theatrical performances, the actors had broad and bold movements that allowed us to be able to follow more clearly what was “going on during the scenes”. When angry or happy, sad or confused it was the body motions and facial expressions that allowed us to see that they were in fact pouting or plotting, in control or out of control. Without such broad body movement and overly emphasized facial expressions we would have been unable to glean much, it not anything from the performance.

One of the second big aids to decipher the scenes meaning, context, and overall atmosphere came from the superb symphonic music being played from the pit. It set the mood and allowed for reoccurring themes to be played with similar instruments for like characters. You could always tell when it was Figaro’s major part because the instruments would focus their attention on the supporting instruments for Figaro, and likewise for every major character. The music also offered a cushion to the headache that listening to something (such as a foreign language) can bring if you can’t understand or follow it. Instead of being confused or lightheaded, I was able to use the music as an extension to the singing to gain even more essential information.

The last point that allowed Figaro to be an enjoyable production was the subtitles and the reoccurrence of general vocal inflections during specific scenes. Instead of being dictated by the music, the actors seemed to be combined with the music to increase their inflection, allowing us as the audience to gain more from the performance. I thoroughly enjoyed this point as the music and actors were almost perfectly in sync in portraying the emotions through inflection and dynamics. The only point I found folly towards was the lack of subtitles throughout the entire production. They provided subtitles during major musical numbers, major plot points, and minor (but important) musical bits of smaller musical numbers. When parts of the audience laughed at a joke, it was no doubt because they understood what was being said (or at least had some understanding). Most of us that couldn’t speak the language were left to decipher the superb body language and at times musical accompaniment. I would think that Figaro would have been much more comical if I understood everything he said, but at the same time I was still able to come away with the story line, plot, and major events that were influence from The Barber of Seville.

As the last production for the On-Stage season Figaro was a great choice for many reasons. It showcased an incredible connection between musical numbers and vocal numbers, inflection and dynamics, physical motion and facial expression. Where it fell short came from the lack of understanding of the language and the inability to glean anything from the funnier points in the production as a result of the lack of subtitles that were provided during the less major points. It was a great choice for a World production though. It allowed us to see such an influenced story (I counted eight or nine different countries that influence the production and play) that had a fairly well known production and storyline. I can safely say that I would see The Barber of Seville if it came to the Iowa State Centers stages anytime soon and would try to understand a little more of the language prior to coming to the theatrical event.

The Marriage of Figaro by Brittany

This performance was one that I really wasn’t too sure about going into it. I’m not really a big opera person myself. However I found this performance to rank up there with Aida and Romeo and Juliet. This “opera” was more than what most people would or do expect. It was a comedy, an opera, and multiple love stories all at once, and like a story it even contained a lesson at the end. I believe it was able to reach out to more people do to its ability to show case all of these genres. Not to mention they did it in a different language.

In reading our summery about the performance it had a short description on what is kind of going on throughout the tale. And like it said after reading the summery I was able to enjoy the opera so much more, and I didn’t have to always look at the subtitles, because I had an idea of what they were trying to get across. However having to look at the subtitles when I did was a pain but if I was given the choice of subtitles or performing in English I’d pick the subtitles some things if not most would have been lost along the way otherwise.

After the show when we were able to talk to them, someone had asked how they project their voices to fill such a large space. They told us that they use the same amount of air as we do when we breathe. It’s hard to believe that that’s even possible and that’s before you take in to account the different pitches they were all able to range in. it must take so many years to really understand your voice that well. You can tell that for them to work on this for so long that it something they truly enjoy. Which is able to be reflected in the performance, and kept you want more like this opera has in the past. However, we weren’t allowed all of the encores.

The Marriage of Figaro by Anna

It was my first time going to an opera so i didn't know what to expect. Overall, I enjoyed it for the most part, although it did get a little confusing because it was in Italian. It also was kind of difficult to read all the subtitles and watch the play at the same time. The actors were all very talented and sang very well. I'm not a big fan of opera, but it was enjoyable to watch. I don't understand how the girls can get their voices to go that loud and high. It amazes me. It also impresses me how they can memorize all the songs and all the words for the whole 3 hours. During some songs, they get really fast too, and they never once stumbled on a word at all.

I thought the orchestra was super good. It was neat to hear the orchestra play and the singers match up exactly with the speed and tone of the orchestra.

It's really cool to look in the program and see that this production first started in 1786 and ever since that first time it has traveled all across the world. Even though it was late on a school night, I'm glad we went to this because it was a neat and different experience!

The Marriage of Figaro by Jasmine

The Marriage of Figaro, a comical and playful story of a web of relationships surrounding a wedding, was presented beautifully by the Bulgarian State Opera Company. This was the first opera I had ever seen, and the experience is one I will never forget. The voices of the performers were astounding, and the actors and actresses were all very entertaining in their roles. The opera itself was a wonderfully written piece, and the music evoked moods and ideas that carried along the story line.

At first, I thought that the intricate story would be very confusing for me. However, as the show progressed I found myself understanding more and more the plot and the characters. The performers made it very simple and easy to follow through facial expressions, movements, and tone, and the subtitles helped a great deal! The sequence of events was especially entertaining, as the plot became ever more intricately twisted. Count Almavida performed perfectly the role of the high and mighty lord of the house, at times becoming angry and at times making tender apologies. The Countess had both a beautiful voice and expressed great emotion though moving songs. Susanna acted just as a young maid would – bubbly, charming, graceful, and kind. Figaro, though at times jealous, kept the story light hearted as well by using his wittiness to outsmart the count. Each of the actors and actresses presented their roles with great passion and professionalism, portraying the emotions the characters themselves were feeling.

Meeting with some members of the company after the show was also a great experience. Although language was a bit of a barrier, it did not obscure at all the passion that the artists had for the occupations they hold. A unique group of people traveling with an entire orchestra, the hardships and grueling hours that the actors and actresses endure give a testimony to their love for the arts. Their well-trained voices reach unbelievable notes, and hours of performing are not at all a daunting idea. Sitting in the audience, I was amazed by the way that their voices echoed. Their great skill, talent, and ability are demonstrated by their remarkable performance, and the ease with which they sing makes me wish I could do the same.

Though The Marriage of Figaro was the first opera I have been to, I hope that it will not be the last. The magical performance put on by the Bulgarian State Opera Company has placed in me a great love for the opera. The performers and their voices have left deep impressions on me, and I will no doubt continue to admire and support the arts. An elaborate and crowd-pleasing opera, The Marriage of Figaro presents themes of love and forgiveness while allowing the audience to appreciate the artistic value of Mozart’s works. Through this opera I have come to appreciate this distinctive form artistic expression, and I embrace it with all my heart.

The Marriage of Figaro by Haema

OUTSTANDING OPERA

Everyone has seen the skits in sitcoms or comic strips in which writers claim that operas are extremely boring and painful to listen to, however, to say this statement, with all honesty, these writers must have never witnessed the Bulgarian State Academic Opera perform The Marriage of Figaro. Once a person has seen this spectacle, no stereotype about operas can ever be reaffirmed again. Simple, yet decadent props and costumes ornamented the fabulous acting and singing of the artists on stage during the opera, The Marriage of Figaro.

I have never seen an opera before, let alone heard the story of The Marriage of Figaro, thus everything I witnessed was brand new to me. In fact, I came into this performance with the stereotypes our society has about operas. I imagined an oversized woman in a Viking’s hat belting out notes so high and loud that they would shatter glass. Luckily, I did not see anything remotely close to this. Instead, I watched the beautifully, crafted masterpiece of, the genius, Wolfgang Mozart, through extremely skilled and delightful singers.

The performance was dramatic, funny, loving, and enthralling. I fell in love with specific characters. For example, I just could not seem to get my eyes off the singer who played Susanna, not only was her voice out of this world, but she acted the part of Susanna, a servant girl amidst the utmost confusion concerning love affairs. That’s not to say I didn’t enjoy the others as well. Surprisingly, also one of my favorites was the gardener, who, without a doubt, was always drunk. Additionally, the actors and actresses worked with each other so well, you forgot this was merely an opera. You could see relationships being established, forced, and shattered, all quite amusing.

I’m ecstatic that the very first opera I have ever seen was The Marriage of Figaro, presented by the Bulgarian State Academic Opera, because I have witnessed a true spectacle. Never again will I fall back on the stereotypical notions of opera. Instead, I will remember this night and the great performance that I had the pleasure of watching and listening.

The Marriage of Figaro by Aaron

"The Marriage of Figaro" was a fantastic show. Its simple set and diverse characters made for a great performance. Although there were many things going on in the opera, and many people impersonating one another, it all came together in a clever and comic way.

The characters were all very unique and interesting. I was surprised at how funny they were. Cherubino was probably the funniest of them all. The actress who played Cherubino seemed to be a very comical person herself. Susanna, likewise, was very funny. She was very clever and had good ideas to trick people such as the Count. The actor who played Figaro did a very good job. He portrayed him very well. The characters were what made the show so interesting and unique.

The set was very simple with a slightly raised floorboard and a few accents added to create the mood of the scene. They probably used such a simple set so that people do not focus so much on that rather than the characters and the opera singing. I think they could have used a little more elaborate set. The set was very boring and dull looking. The show was interesting none the less.

The complex story and confusing situation held the attention of myself and most likely many others in the audience. Beaumarchais had to be a genius to create such a complex story. The opera singing was wonderful and the whole cast did an excellent job. I look forward to when this show returns. This was my first experience of going to an opera. It's an experience I won't forget. I hope to go to many more opera shows in the future.

The Marriage of Figaro by Aimee

Opera is an art form rarely recognized in modern theater. Considering its popularity in previous centuries, opera is not nearly as common in contemporary entertainment. After attending my first opera, The Marriage of Figaro, I realized that performers in the genre must have an immense amount of skill on many levels. This skill was evident in the cast of the Bulgarian State Opera.

The most striking quality about The Marriage of Figaro was the way the actors were able to portray such a complex plot even though they were singing in a foreign language. Even without reading the subtitles above the screen, the audience was able to see the relationships between characters and the emotions they were feeling. I cannot imagine having to concentrate on hitting and holding the correct notes while also keeping a certain facial expression and moving around the stage. Something that I never realized about opera was the way it incorporates several talents that require a great deal of practice.

Although the actors on stage made singing, dancing, and acting look effortless, it was fascinating to find out how much training it takes to enter the profession. The performers must dedicate their life to building their strength and ability to sing opera. This fact makes the show so dynamic, because the audience can tell how much the people on the stage have devoted to their role.

Another aspect of opera that I never considered was the amount of raw talent it involves. Some songs during The Marriage of Figaro had so little instrumental back-up that all the audience could hear was the genuine voice of the singer. This clearly proved how talented the actors were. On the other hand, when the instrumental parts were louder, the actors were still able to project beyond the sound of the orchestra, which is an amazing feat.

The Marriage of Figaro is a fabulous performance. Despite the complex plot and the fact that it is performed in Italian, the actors portray everything clearly and beautifully. Opera requires so much skill and is often passed over in our modern society. Hopefully more people will recognize the extraordinary nature of this art form and have the chance to attend a performance that exhibits so many talents.

Romeo and Juliet by Elisa

The Romeo and Juliet performance was amazing. Before we were given thepapers, I wasn't really sure what to expect. I didn't know if it would be amore modern production or more old fashioned. I really liked the fact thatthe cast used very little props and very few costume changes. I think thelack of costume color and props made the audience focus more on the linessaid. I also liked that the cast knew every part and allowed the audience torandomly pick which parts the cast played. It allowed the audience to reallysee how hard the performers worked on memorizing their lines and thededication they had to the acting company. I was also surprised at how fewactors there were. I mean, there were only six. That really impressed me andit was an interesting, but good, experience. I think having so few actorsreally let the six actors show off and have more freedom to expressthemselves as compared to having a large number of actors. I also liked thefact that a male played the nurse part and a female played a male part. Itgave the play more character and made things more interesting.Meeting with the actors after the performance gave me the opportunity tobetter relate to them. It also gave me a more personal experience. Justlearning how they became interested in acting, who their influences were andthe audition process was interesting to learn about. I was surprised at howfar distance wise, each came for the audition and how they could live so faraway from home. All in all, I really did love this performance. I neverreally understood the jokes Shakespeare included in Romeo and Juliet untilafter this performance. I never realized that there were so many, *cough*sexual immuendos. Never the less, I still enjoyed the performance.

Romeo and Juliet by Courtney

I was quite concerned to learn that this acting troupe was not interested in doing your typical run of the mill Romeo and Juliet. I guess I’m old fashioned because I just don’t like change. I especially don’t like change when the change in characters’ genders could change the entire meaning and interpretation of the whole play. Romeo and Juliet is a tragic romance and I hardly doubt I could have interpreted it in that way if there was a man playing Juliet and either a man or woman Romeo and vice versa. I know I would have hated the night had it turned into a comedy of sorts with untraditional parts. Fortunately for me almost all of the parts were played by the right gender and the parts that were not, weren’t too bad. I had never attended a play such as Romeo and Juliet where it is all speaking parts, but I am glad I tried a new thing because I thoroughly enjoyed it. This particular style and interpretation was very advanced and for very learned crowds. I say this because I would have been completely lost had I not studied the play script of Romeo and Juliet extensively before attending the play. The expression and passion of the actors would have entertained me even if I didn’t know the script, but I could have never really appreciated the play had I not known the script.

Romeo and Juliet by Amy

Wow! That performance has to be on top of my list of favorite one’sthis year. The actors were amazing and the way the portrayed each individualcharacter was phenomenal. From the very beginning it drew you in. Theability that they gave us, to pick the parts, is probably what made this standout above all the others. I am amazed at how they had all the partsmemorized. I thought that since Romeo and Juliet is a longer play, that theevening might drag a bit. But, the evening went by so quickly I couldn’tbelieve it was over.

The only bad thing I can say has nothing to do with the play, or thecompany, but rather chance. I wish we could have seen a more, “out of theordinary”, version. It would have been really interesting to see a male-malelead, or a female-female lead, or even a female as Romeo and a man as Juliet.I think it would have been nice to see a more far-fetched version that wewould never get to see again. However, the male nurse was amazing! It isalways interesting to see who the one gender would play the opposite. Isuppose, it comes down to your stereo-types in what makes it funny.

The thing that got me at the end, was when we were speaking with thecompany, and they showed such passion and hunger for their job. They alsoacknowledged that they were blessed to be were they were, and that they didn’ttake it for granted. It always amazing me at how real the actors andactresses are. I guess, in my mind I picture them as so far above me, or on acompletely different level; but after talking to them I realize that they arethe same. The have families, they have dreams, they have goals, they’veexperienced disappointment, and they work hard. Talking to these actors fromRomeo and Juliet, really showed me how “human” they are. The night wasdefinitely a night to remember.

Romeo and Juliet by Madeline

I'm going to be perfectly honest: I was dreading Aquila Theatre's performance of Romeo and Juliet. While I'm not one of those Shakespeare purists who insist on every Shakespeare play being performed exactly as it was written and with no artistic liberties taken, I think there's a fine line between presenting a play in a new, creative way and mangling it beyond recognition. I was certain that Aquila would cross that line. I thought that their minimal cast and unusual casting methods would turn Shakespeare's classic play into a confusing disaster.

As I watched the performance, I decided that I had been partially right. The method of drawing roles from a bag worked out all right during the performance I saw, but there were a hundred ways it could have gone badly. I personally was looking forward to seeing a homosexual Romeo and Juliet because I wanted to see if the actors could make it work, and was almost disappointed to see that the two actors chosen to play the title characters looked just like the thousands of other actors who have played Romeo and Juliet before. But I guess it was a good thing that the main roles were played traditionally; I don't know if the majority of the audience would have been okay with two men (or two women) playing the famous lovers. The two female characters who were played by men (Lady Capulet and the Nurse) were very funny when they were played by men, especially the Nurse. However, their comic appearances that worked so well during comic scenes were almost a distraction during the dramatic parts of the play.

None of this critisism is aimed at the actors of Aquila Theatre - each one of them played his or her role wonderfully, and I was awed by the way they could effortlessly become their roles with no help except a simple costume piece. The entire cast did an incredible job portraying all the vital roles with minimal costumes and even less of a set. I would attend an Aquila performance again, if only to see these incredible actors perform again.

On average, I enjoyed the play. However, I've seen a total of four stage and film versions of Romeo and Juliet, and I've read the script, so I was fairly familiar with the play and was therefore able to follow the plot despite the unusual cast and the fact that Aquila left out several scenes that appear in the original play. I would recommend this performance only to a person who was very familiar with Romeo and Juliet, as well as Shakespeare in general. I felt sorry for anyone for whom Aquila's performance was their first Shakespeare show. I'm afraid they left the show feeling a little confused.

Aquila Theatre did a wonderful job of taking an extremely well-known and overdone play and making it seem new with their fresh approach to the casting and the script. However, their play was aimed at a very specific audience: one who is so familiar with Romeo and Juliet that they want to see a theater company go to extreme lengths to make the material seem fresh, and won't mind the company deleting characters and entire scenes from the original play in order to accomplish this goal. I don't know how many of those people were at Stephens Auditorium that night.

Romeo and Juliet by Hannah

Possibly one of my favorite On Stage performances I’ve seen, The Aquila Theatre Company’s version of Romeo and Juliet definitely went beyond any expectations that I could have had. I’ve seen many versions of Romeo and Juliet, from the movie starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Claire Danes to my brother’s 8th grade abridged production, so I wasn’t sure if this performance would captivate my attention, seeing as I already knew the script. Well when I read about them in the sheet that we got, I was impressed by the fact that all of the actors knew the whole script and traded off parts every time. The production itself though, was far better than I had even hoped for.

It’s really hard to say which one character was my favorite. The actor who played Mercucio and the Mistress was excellently flamboyant and funny. I thought he had a great interpretation of the script, but the actor who played Juliet had such a different interpretation that I’d never seen before. At first I didn’t like the way she was portrayed as kind of a bubbly glitzy teen, but then I began to realize that the reason I didn’t like it was because all the Juliets I had seen before were depressed and dramatic, but when you think about it, Juliet was only fourteen. She probably was a bubbly teenager. Both of those characters were very refreshing and brought a certain light to the stage that I’ve never seen before.

I don’t really think I can say anything specific that was my least favorite aspect of the performance. I think the play was excellently done and I really wouldn’t critique anything. I guess it would’ve been even more original and exciting if there had been different genders for Romeo and/or Juliet since they have been played by their respected gender in all of the productions I have seen. This play has definitely opened my eyes to the fact that there is always more than one way of interpreting a character, and has inspired me to bring out my own uniqueness in the characters that I play.

Romeo and Juliet by Kendra

I wasn’t really sure what to expect with this performance, I had heard from other people that it was not like a normal presentation of Romeo and Juliet. Which was partly true. I was very surprised when they said that all the actors knew all the parts and that the audience got to draw the parts for them. I thought that it was amazing that they could do that and I thought that it was neat that the audience got to decide the roles.

So it was very funny when one of the actors who were male had to play a female part, and one of the girls had to play an all male role. But the acting was very good and you could tell that they had spent a lot of time working on this production and practicing numerous roles. They also had no props, which just show how much work they had to do.

I know that if I had not read Romeo and Juliet in ninth-grade, then I probably wouldn’t know what the heck was going on. But since I had this background knowledge, it was easier to follow along.

As always, I enjoyed the time after the show with the actors. They gladly answered out questions and told us about all the hard work they had to do and what started them in the drama business. They were very friendly and I had even more appreciation for what they do and before the show.

I would recommend this show to anyone who liked Romeo and Juliet and who understood the story line and what’s going one, other wise they would not know, because they perform it in the Old English way, they way it was written.

Romeo and Juliet by Jasmine

Before seeing the Aquila Company’s production of Romeo and Juliet, I must admit that I had always viewed Shakespeare’s great play as a kind of cliché. The entire story seemed, to me, a kind of staged romantic ideal, the kind of thing that doesn’t apply to my life at all. However, the Aquila Company’s rendition of Romeo and Juliet changed the way I viewed the play and introduced me to its deeper, more real and touching purpose – to act as a love story that evokes human emotions throughout the centuries. A living play and with timeless characters, Romeo and Juliet is truly the epitome of a classic yet ever changing story of love.

Romeo and Juliet, the story of two star-crossed lovers, was beautifully portrayed by the Aquila cast not only because of the purity of the lines and the play but also because of the amazingly heartfelt characters. The firs thing that struck me was that each cast member was able to play every role. The cast members even revealed at the end of the show that, when they didn’t have time to rehearse all of their parts right before the show, would often have to play with the parts and work with each other on stage if necessary. Thus, the parts required not only a great deal of hard work and memorization, but also a huge amount of talent, spontaneity, and quick thinking.

The intense emotion of the story was powerfully expressed through each of the characters. I found this part to be the most dramatic impact on me, because for the first time Romeo and Juliet ceased to be a simple book adequately summed up in a few paragraphs. The tears, laughter, and declarations of love were so sincere and moving, the desperation and despair so convincing, and the belief, the overarching faith in love, was so very inspiring. I had never imagined that a play with very little music, props, costuming, and people could create such a vivid scene. The actors and actresses used their own emotions to compensate for the simplicity of the set, using that simplicity to create a more real and down-to-earth atmosphere, brining the love story (and not a cluttered set) to our hearts. IN this way they emphasized the words of Shakespeare and the meaning behind them.

Meeting with the cast backstage was also an amazing experience for me. Each cast member came from a different background and all joined the Aquila Company sharing a common love for the arts. Their diverse personalities really showed through, and the sense of humor that helps them through long tours was plainly seen. Away from their family members for long periods of time, they pursue their careers relentlessly, finding faith in the mere opportunity to work.

Successful actors find ways to reach an audience through their speech, movements, and presence. Aquila’s talented and inspirational company did so without fail. Their incredible version of Romeo and Juliet proves the sincerity of Shakespeare’s words, demonstrates the beauty of the language, and conveys the feelings that prevail through the ages. A unique and dynamic show, Romeo and Juliet is truly a story that moves, grows, and yet always envelops the true meaning of love.

Romeo and Juliet by Anna

I really enjoyed this performance. I found it really fascinating that all the performers knew all the roles and parts. They all knew every line of every character. I thought it was really neat that we got to pick who they played for this performance. At first I thought it was somehow rigged and that somehow the guy who played Romeo always got Romeo but I found out that was definitely not true. They mentioned how every time they go out and perform, it’s like the first time performing because they don’t always play the same characters. They also mentioned how different people are better at some of the different roles, and it turns out different when different people play the roles. For example, some parts are funny because there’s a guy playing a girl’s part, but when the girl plays that same part, she doesn’t get the laugh. So it’s a lot different depending on who plays what role. I think that’s really cool, how the people who play the roles, determine the mood of the play.
The play itself was very humorous. It helped reading Romeo and Juliet in 9th grade. Some stuff was difficult to understand in the play, but for the most part, I understood everything. I thought it was neat how they didn’t need any props or scene changes and that they just used the same things for everything. That must make it convenient for them. I found it interesting how when the actors weren’t performing, they sat on the chairs but still on the stage. Also, if the actors weren’t performing, they would sometimes contribute somehow, whether it’s making noises or knocking.
Overall, I think that the group is very talented. It’s just so different to go to a play like this. It’s nice to get a change of style. This group seems like they work very well together and that’s always good for a production.

Involved and Engaged by Andrew

Romeo and Juliet

The Aquila Theatre Company’s adaptation of Romeo and Juliet caught me by surprise. I was expecting something that might be a little more drab, less colorful, “modern”, etc. etc. Instead I found myself eagerly engaged the entire time. Not since I have read Shakespeare’s original Romeo and Juliet have I been so awed by someone’s interpretation of the play itself. This was not drab and was far from a bore to watch and be taken in by. Most interestingly was the, once again, obvious levels of dedication and commitment to their art and the enjoyment they had on stage!

As usual it is hard not to harp on about commitment and dedication, so it should come as no surprise that every group including the Aquila Theatre Company have helped to showcase the best of the best in their fields (or at least the best suited for the tasks at hand). What made this group so much more unique, though, came from the fact that each one of the cast had to have every part memorized. This in itself would be worthless if they didn’t go out into the audience and have their roles drawn! It was a random audience member doing a random drawing and it was apparent that it wasn’t “fixed” by the fact that sometimes the same role would be drawn for one cast member that was already picked from someone else’s basket. Equally as impressive was the fact that it was an equal chance that a man would get to play Juliet and a woman could play Romeo (although this didn’t happen for our production). Truly an incredibly random spectacle that allowed us as an audience to gain more from watching their production and walk away with a sense that we had a hand in how the production was ran and what was going to happen during the production. Interestingly enough, this cast of 6 actors (4 male, 2 female) told us afterwards that they were also doing another play in which they had to have all of those lines memorized. Simply mind blowing to know that a group of 6 had lines memorized for not just one challenging play, but two!

One of the things that really brought out the enjoyment of the play was the fact that they were actually funny! I have never seen such a comical rendition of Romeo and Juliet before. A great deal came from the assigned roles in which a male was assigned as the nurse to Juliet. Coming across as more crude and frank, this male “female” nurse would go on and on and on about the same thing, making the audience laugh and jest alongside him. Another feature that brought out a great response was the vivid action and reactions. The nurses wild hand gestures, sometimes rather obscene, or Juliet’s little fits of eagerness brought a new, human, dimension to the stage. Instead of actors playing the roles, it appeared to be the roles being shown to the audience through such vivid and exaggerated motion. Rather then forced actions and words, this cast seemed to have a very strong flow and understanding of each others actions giving a very unusually human feel to their acting. One of the examples would come at the very end with Paris’ death, Romeo’s suicide, and then Juliet’s suicide. A very real fight scene turned into a bloodbath, for Paris, which in turn caused the actor playing Romeo to discover who he had killed and then laying his eyes of Juliet. He naturally gravitated to Juliet and seeing her “dead” found the strength to kill himself to meet her in Heaven. Then when Juliet awakens and sees Romeo dead and the voices of her parents/guards descending into the tomb, such naturally avoids such a life without Romeo and kills herself with his dagger.

Such scenes on the stage made everything more natural and gave all the more merit to their skills. While I initially worried that it might be dull or boring, I was quickly disproving! Such an incredible array of talent, comedy, and tragedy came together to make this one of the most interesting Romeo and Juliet plays I have ever seen. With an audience involved approach and great acting the actors had managed to captive all of us and then continue on to make the entire thing seem human. I equally enjoyed the discussion afterwards that revealed information about the actors and the fact that they did another play in this exact manner, only reinforcing the hard-work and dedication notation. If I had to see it again, I would definitely would go and also encourage my friends to come as well so that they could experience what it felt like to see actors portraying real human roles and to get a chance to be part of the production.

Romeo and Juliet by Haema

The Unorthodox Romeo and Juliet

Nonconformist and unorthodox are only a few words to describe the performance of Romeo and Juliet. With only six members the troop enacted the whole play regardless of their individual genders. This unconventional style of acting started right at the beginning of the show. Initially, the actors and actresses went out into the audience to make the audience pick what roles each actor and actress would play. This action, as said from the actors themselves, makes the audience more connected with the actors while they take this journey through Shakespeare’s play and characters.

In our case, we had a man playing Romeo and a woman as Juliet. However, we also had a woman playing Father Capulet and the priest, and men playing the nurse and Lady Capulet. Hence, even though we had some fairly common gender abiding roles, there were exceptions of this. Even the actors stated that sometimes they are not allowed to play roles on a whim, for fear (in more conservative areas) that similar sexes might be playing Romeo and Juliet.

Regardless of the specific sex playing a role, the same vibe of the character, intended to be played, comes out. Since the actors and actresses don’t know what role they might be, they must know the whole play by heart. Thus, this makes the actors and actresses exceptional in their capabilities to perform to in such a challenging way. They even told us, that if you see one person playing the Nurse one night and you see another person playing the Nurse another night there are going to be differences in how they interpret the character. This variety adds depth to their performance.

It was so interesting seeing what we had read in 10th grade come to life on the stage, just like how Shakespeare intended for it to be done. With minimal sets and costumes the words on the pages came began to move. I understood scenes that never made sense before, and I learned that there was a lot more humor in the play then I had known of.

All in all the untraditional way of performing Romeo and Juliet brought the audience closer to the performance, broke conservative ideas about role playing, showed the amazing abilities of the actors and actresses, and brought to life the play that all of us read in 10th grade. This representation of Romeo and Juliet will always be in my memory. For I am fairly certain that I will not witness such different and neat methods of performing anytime soon.

The Phantom of the Opera by Aaron

One of the most popular and outstanding Broadway shows of all time is “The Phantom of the Opera.” The costumes, lighting, acting, and props were all wonderful features of this show. The costumes were very colorful and elegant. It was obvious that a lot of time and effort was put forth in the creation of the costumes. It’s amazing how quickly they were able to change in these elegant costumes. I’m sure that Velcro was widely used throughout the show. One of my favorite scenes and songs contains amazing costumes which is Masquerade. Each person has a completely different and unique costume. The costumes were an amazing feature to the show.

The lighting and props made the show even better. Lighting was used to put spotlight on people, and add color to represent things like water, and evil. Sparks, gunfire, and smoke were widely used throughout the performance. The sparks and explosions they used were amazing and added great effectiveness to the show. The show couldn’t have gone on without the props. The props were very well done and looked very realistic. The lighting, props, and other special effects were what created the show.

The acting was very well done for the most part. The actress and actor who played Christine Daae and the phantom did a wonderful job. Except for Christine Daae’s step-sister in my opinion did a poor job. She sang very quickly and added a weird twang to her voice when she spoke. Overall, the acting was done very well.

The show was fantastic. No other show can compare to the greatest Broadway show of all time, “The Phantom of the Opera.”

Romeo and Juliet by Brittany

This performance was so captivating from the beginning to the end. With the start being the actors, which there were only six of announcing that every one of them knew each part and that we would be deciding who would play each. I thought this made you get even deeper into the story and helped the audience feel like they were a part of “the action”. It also provided for the play to be able to take on a slightly different character. An example is how in our version the nurse was played by a man who made a few parts in this piece more comical than they could or would have been.

Another key to the play was how like in the day of Shakespeare they didn’t use scenery or props. It was left up to the viewers’ imagination. And also helped to shoe case the actors’ true skills, because they have to be able to really bring things to live, which each of these actors was undoubtedly able to. They were able to make you picture the octagon stage as a balcony, a garden, even a church.

One thing though that I did notice is that if you have read this story before, which I have, is that your able to pick up on a few more details and it really helped to understand, being there was no backdrop to help guide you through. However I truly enjoyed this version of Romeo and Juliet. I had heard it was a different style and was going to be a more modern show. Although it was different it was still the same a classic, tragedy. I recommend is show to anyone and not only to go once but twice which I would love going again just to see it in that slightly different light. However I would also recommend that if your going to go and see this play that you take some time to read the story, so you can pick up on those key things and you can have a deeper understanding of what is going on no matter who plays whom.

Romeo and Juliet by Holland

"Two houses, both alike in dignity,
In fair Verona, where we lay our scene."
"De rotura antigua del resentimiento al nuevo motín,
Cuando sea civil la sangre hace las manos civiles sucias."
"En avant de l'échine mortelle de la paire de ces deux ennemis
A de tenez le premier rôle-cross'd la prise d'amoureux leur vie;"
البروز مخيفة من هم يحكم حالة حبّ
والاستمراريّ من والدهم غيظ"
"Vilka, men deras barn avslutar, ingenting kunde ta bort,
Nu de två timmarnas äger rum kapacitet av vårt arrangerar;"
"The which if you with patient ears attend,
What here shall miss, our toil shall strive to mend."


Shakespeare is timeless. His work transcends language, culture, setting, race. Romeo and Juliet, especially, is a play that has captivated audiences for centuries and will continue to do so for years to come. It deals with star-crossed lovers, lovers from feuding families, who seemingly cannot be together, but nevertheless conspire to do so, with a tragic ending.

Societies all over the world have variations on the theme of Romeo and Juliet. Manju and Layla in Persia, Tristan and Yseult in Wales, Hagbard and Signy in Scandanavia, and many more. Shakespeare is known for appealing to universal themes, and the theme of doomed lovers is one as ancient as humanity itself, yet as modern as possibly can be. Even now, new stories in that vein are being created: West Side Story, Moulin Rouge, and the Chinese opera 'Butterfly Lovers'.

The performance we had the privelige of seeing was astounding. They transgressed the bonds of gender and age to produce a performance that was both familiar and new. They interpreted the text with grace, and while several minor characters were removed, the play flowed seamlessly from one scene to the next.

I have had the opportunity to see them before, and I recall with mirth how well they performed both Much Ado About Nothing and A Midsummer Night's Dream, the latter of which was part of a 'Three Nights, Three Companies, One Play' event where three different companies gave their interpretations of one play.

I hope the company comes through Ames again soon, as I love their style. Maybe next time, they'll do another of the great romances, or a comedy. Whatever they perform, you can be sure that I'll be there, applauding.

Romeo and Juliet by Jo

Before the performance, I was really unsure of what it would be like. Last year, for English, I read Romeo and Juliet, and I really disliked it. I enjoyed the story, but I hated the confusing language. I didn’t know if the play would use the same language or create something different based solely on the storyline. Because it seemed that much of the script was directly from the book, the show, most unfortunately, was only mildly entertaining.

The connection between the fate of star-crossed lovers and the fate of which actor plays which character was very creative. I was impressed by the originality of the thematic connection. Also impressive was the fact that each actor learned every part. If any of them forgot their lines, it was completely imperceptible. The acting was very good, at least to my untrained eye. The portrayal of emotions was outstanding and the versatility of each actor between characters was incredible.

The language unfortunately made the play very boring. I understand that it’s the way the original was written, but I still found it very drab. The costumes, most assumedly were purposefully designed, were curious. I’m assuming there’s some kind of reasoning behind the lack of detailing or color, but I found them to be quite lifeless. Maybe it is so the audience will pay less attention to their attire and focus more on the dialogue, thus only being for the purpose of character distinction.

Overall, the experience was not a bad one. It hasn’t been my favorite theatrical performance, but it was bearable. The improvisational aspect was an interesting twist and the skill of the performers was very impressive.