It’s been quite a year for the Potomac School theatre department! Having started the year with a stellar production of Beauty and the Beast and concluding with a senior-directed One Act Play Festival, the theatre department has presented a variety of shows. However, there is a suspicious coincidence among all these productions. In fact, they may be sneaking up and trying to overthrow the system as we know it. It seems that the class of 2027 is slowly taking control from the inside out.
The sophomores first asserted their dominance with Beauty and the Beast. In fact, of the cast and crew of the show, about 45% were sophomores. On stage, this included Grady Robbins, Vivienne Evans, and Donovan Wheelock. But just wait, it gets even more suspicious.
The next show was the Virginia Thespians Festival performance of The Crucible, also starring two sophomores (Mary Parker Stump and Donovan Wheelock)! Is the Class of 2027 slowly taking over?
The final two shows of the year showed no change in this pattern. Vivienne Evans starred as Elle Woods in Legally Blonde in February. The recent One Act Play Festival had the most shocking casting “coincidences” yet: three plays, all starring or co-starring sophomores. Krapp’s Last Tape was performed by Donovan Wheelock. Red Dolly starred Mary Parker Stump. Grady Robbins co-starred in an abbreviated version of Twelfth Night. Perhaps the sophomore class has secretly uncovered all the secrets to acting and just chooses not to share them. Maybe they have an underground improv club that secretly meets during the full moon. We may never know.
In addition to the actors mentioned above, so many sophomores in the Potomac community are passionate about theater. Whether it be acting on stage, moving props, helping with costume changes backstage, working tech in the booth, playing music, or anything else that is necessary for the shows to go on, the sophomores have certainly left their mark.
It does seem that the sophomore class is slowly taking over Potomac Theatre. However, is our inevitable fate an awful one? I must admit that the actors mentioned above are among the best in the theater community. As Grady Robbins reflected, “These people are my family. We may not always get along, but we know how to build a strong community and come together to build something great. We exemplify teamwork in difficult situations.” Many people have remarked upon Potomac Theatre’s spirit, including Donovan Wheelock, with, “This department is such a special place, and the endlessly supportive community has been an invaluable part of my Potomac experience.”
However, it is still suspect that so many of Potomac’s next generation of actors are all sophomores. There must be some explanation. A magic spell? A wizard with a lightning scar on his forehead? While these are certainly viable options, the actors contribute their success to the theater environment. Mary Parker Stump remarked that, “In the three productions I’ve participated in, I’ve felt an overwhelming sense of support and community. I feel inclined to continue being a part of shows because of how much the theatre community fosters encouragement, which makes me feel confident and passionate in my acting.”
Ultimately, it is likely that the sophomore class will continue the traditions of Potomac Theatre, and we are all so excited to see what they do. With a group of people so committed to an art form, it is almost impossible not to anticipate and be impressed by what they come up with next. So, theatrical sophomores, whether onstage or off, continue to pass on the legacy and traditions of the department because we are all ready to be in awe of your next performance.
