The Alpharetta High School Theatre Department, under the new direction of Sarah Stoffle, will present, “A Night of One Acts” this fall with the family-friendly comedies, “Over the River and Through the Woods” by Joe Dipietro, and the student-directed “The Audition” by Don Zolidis.
In “Over the River and Through the Woods,” Nick Cristano (Alex Atchison) has a big announcement to make to his four grandparents: Frank (Karthik Ramiswami), Aida (Irene Veldz), Nunzio (Josh Maddox), and Emma (Christina Nguyen), but getting their attention proves to be a challenge. When everyone has settled down, he delivers the news: He's been offered a promotion and will be moving to Washington, far away from their home in Hoboken, New Jersey.
The Italian grandparents, determined to keep their “tight-knit family” together, conspire to convince Nick he doesn’t want to leave. What results is a high-spirited battle of wills and the formation of several devious — but not subtle — plots on the part of Nick's grandparents to convince him to stay with them in Hoboken. From guilt to girlfriends to delicious food — everything is laid out on the table.
Creating the main obstacle for Nick’s master exodus plan is Kelly Lumpkin’s sweet and spunky Caitlin O'Hare, the girl the grandparents invite to their weekly Sunday dinner in one of their efforts to get Nick to stay.
The ensemble is delightful as they laugh, tell stories and enjoy one another's company. Most of all, they show unconditional love for their grandson. While they so badly want Nick to stay, what they want more than anything is for him to be happy. This love gradually shifts Nick’s dilemma from one of how to get away to one of how to say goodbye.
“Over the River” will truly allow the audience to contemplate “tango familia” (the power of family) and how to balance dreams for the future with experiences from the past. “Over the River and Through the Woods” is an especially worthwhile journey that will make you cry, laugh and appreciate the time you have with loved ones.
“The Audition,” student-directed by senior Morgan Shields, is the poignant yet whimsical tale of what happens when adolescent actors are auditioning for their school musical. The play depicts a new high school theater teacher directing “A Chorus Line” and it’s time for auditions! Though the students range from shy to outrageous, from diva-like to determined, everyone has a chance to step into the spotlight. “The Audition” shows the hilarious and heartbreaking madness of auditioning and the process to get the perfect role.
Performances of “Over the River” and “The Audition” will be at 7 p.m. on Oct. 8, Oct. 9 and Oct. 10 at the Alpharetta High School Performing Arts Center. Tickets are $8 for students and $10 for adults. For ticket information, contact Nan Bodeep at nan@bodeep.com or go to www.seatyourself.biz/alphaproductions.
