Mira Costa Drama Department waves goodbye to the seniors with Senior Scenes

By Madeleine Powell

Arts Editor

The 2017 Senior Scenes drew audience members in as it closed the curtain on yet another year of stupendous productions by Mira Costa Drama Department.

The 2017 Senior Scenes gave audience members a chance to hear seniors speak about their experiences with and gratitude for the Drama Department. This, paired with superb acting and the added interest of contrasting ideas within the show, made for a satisfying evening, despite minor issues with the music accompanying some performances.

Senior Scenes, an annual event hosted by the Mira Costa Drama Department, allowed senior students to direct their own scenes as the culmination of their years in the Drama Department. The 2017 show featured a total of seven scenes directed by nine seniors, with some seniors pairing up to co-direct scenes. Advanced Drama students of all grade levels performed in the scenes.

While seniors were able to choose scenes from preexisting musicals and plays, two seniors elected to write and direct scenes of their own making. Cara Christian’s original work, “Pictures and Punches,” told of two people falling out of love. “Coffee,” which was written and directed by Shelby Strickfaden, chronicled a blind date between two coffee-lovers.

Photos: The Mira Costa Drama Department presents the 2017 Senior Scenes.

Arguably, the most impressive aspect of the show was the variety presented from scene to scene. Separate scenes told different stories, such as “21 Chump Street,” a comedic yet serious narrative about drugs, and “Avenue Q,” which utilized puppets to convey deeper truths about society. This contrast ensured audience members enjoyed themselves by repeatedly piquing their interests.

Visit the Music Theatre International Website for more information about the plot of “Avenue Q,” which was performed at the Senior Scenes and directed by Isabel Gray.

The recognition of the seniors’ many accomplishments throughout their years in the Mira Costa Drama Department imbued the show with a sentimental feel. Seniors were able to connect with the audience with personal speeches prior to their scenes, making the production an apt tribute and farewell to their drama careers at Costa.

The capabilities of the students performing were shown by their versatility. Each student changed ideas seamlessly, although each scene differed in its subject matter. Junior Sabrina Harris easily switched from a scene fraught with serious messages and teen angst to a satirical view on the middle-class American family, showing the breadth of her talent as a performer.

Visit the Mira Costa Drama Boosters Website for more information on upcoming productions.

Another element of the 2017 Senior Scenes that added to its success was the crew’s ability to quickly clear and set up the stages for each scene. The crew’s dedication and commitment was demonstrated by the smooth transitions between scenes, most of which required specific set pieces completely independent from one another.

While the decision of some students to incorporate music was a solid stylistic choice, the execution fell slightly flat. At times, the soundtrack overpowered performer’s voices, making their words incomprehensible and confusing to those watching.

With the exception of minor faults that slightly hindered audience members’ understanding of the performances, the 2017 Senior Scenes were a fitting sendoff for seniors. The talented cast and crew showed great promise for the department in years to come, and the variety within the show ensured no monotony was present.

Visit the Jerry

The Mira Costa Drama Department has no further productions for the 2016-2017 school year. They recently performed and received awards in the Jerry Herman Awards at the Pantages Theatre on June 5.