Editor’s note: This article was initially published in The Daily Gazette, Swarthmore’s online, daily newspaper founded in Fall 1996. As of Fall 2018, the DG has merged with The Phoenix. See the about page to read more about the DG.
With three productions in the works, the Drama Board is offering an interesting mix of works this semester. The much anticipated musical, “We So Are Them” is set to hit the LPAC mainstage from November 11-13. A second production from the Drama Board, “The Misunderstanding” is also set to be performed during the same weekend at Olde Club. “The Night of Scenes” is scheduled for later in the semester.
“We So Are Them”, a humorous take on the awkward phases of middle school is a wholly original musical, contributing to Swat’s “student-written new phenomenon,” says Emily Gasser ’07, a member of the Drama Board and stage manager of the musical. The musical was entirely written by Katie Chamblee ’07 and Lauren Ianuzzi ’07, who will also direct it. Continuing the trend of comedies, “Night of Scenes” promises to be a raucous production. The play is set to debut at Science Center 101, one of the lecture halls used for large introductory courses. “The Night of Scenes” consists of three short plays, “‘Dentity Crisis” by Christopher Durang, to be directed by Micaela Baranello ’07, and “The Philadelphia” and “Variations on the Death of Trotsky” by David Ives, to be directed by Matt Dering ’07.
Providing Swat’s student body with an emotionally heavy play, Swarthmore’s production of Camus’ “The Misunderstanding” promises to be “an existentialist tragedy,” says director Joe Borkowski ’08 and “really intense, purposely designed to make people uncomfortable,” comments Gasser. The five member cast consists of mostly freshmen and sophomores, who displayed “a lot of talent and interest in acting,” says Borkowski. Unfortunately, just talent is not enough to become a member of the cast. “There were so many talented students, it was really difficult saying “no” to people, but there is only so many people we need”, says Borkowski.
With a full fall semester, plans for the spring are shoved aside yet there are plans to have yet another original musical, displaying the originality and talent of Swarthmore’s student body. Great things can also be expected from the class of 2009. “The class of 2009 has a lot of different interests and interesting people; the Drama Board is just going to get better,” claims Borkowski.