Student-Directed Winter Play: The Specialist
By Juliette Murphy ‘24
This winter, the theater department will be preparing a play called The Specialist, a thrilling, unpredictable one-act about a memory formation specialist who is asked by a secretive government agency to help an amnesiac regain her memories. It features a seven member cast, and will be directed by junior Ella Sato-Connell as part of her directing inquiry. This will be Ella’s first time directing a production; she says she enjoyed the casting and planning processes and is excited to work with a small, tight-knit cast and crew. “I learned to really love it even in the few weeks I’ve been doing it, and I really just want to work with people who are excited to be there.”
Ella chose The Specialist after reading through multiple plays recommended to her by Ms. Comer, GFA’s theater director. When asked what drew her to the play, she said “it’s one I want to keep reading, so I thought it would also be one that people would enjoy watching.”
In March, our GFA cast and crew will perform The Specialist at the CDA Theatre Competition, where students from schools around the state will put on short plays and receive feedback from judges. There will also be an opportunity for the students to take classes on days when they’re not performing, as well as watch other student productions from around the state. This will be GFA’s first time participating in this competition, so the members of the cast and crew are looking forward to a fun and valuable learning experience.
Rehearsals started on December 15th, so the cast and crew are already working hard to put on an exciting performance and give their all in March.
“It’s one of those shows that keeps you on your toes and keeps you guessing,” says Ella.
