NDA students to perform in Scotland
Written by Brigitta Burks | News Editor | BBurks@toledofreepress.comTen Notre Dame Academy students will perform their teacher’s play “Deadly Medley” at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in Scotland this August.
The play’s writer Trish Sanders is also an international baccalaureate (IB) teacher and the director of theater at Notre Dame Academy (NDA). NDA started its IB program to foster the “idea we are part of a big world,” Sanders said. The Edinburgh Fringe Festival runs from Aug. 3-27 and features about 2,000 performances.
The students will perform a sneak peek of Sanders’ play in Toledo on June 22 and 24.
NDA students who will perform in the Edinburgh Fringe Arts Festival include, left to right: top row Megan O’Toole, Molly Martindale; second row Indra Andreshak, Tori Zajac, Alexandra Davis, Natasha Foley; third row Juliet Hudson; fourth row Sarah Orchard and Marisa Napoli; seated on floor, April Varner. Photo courtesy Notre Dame Academy.
“[The play] is short and fun and if you can’t get to Scotland, you can at least get to Notre Dame this weekend,” Sanders said.
Sanders’ play is a parody of “Julius Caesar,” “Romeo and Juliet,” “Macbeth” and “Hamlet.”
“It’s a great introduction to Shakespearean acting in a very silly way,” she said.
Sanders received word her play was accepted into the festival in May 2011 after being nominated by James S. Hill, department chair of theater and film at the University of Toledo College of Visual and Performing Arts. NDA was chosen from 160 schools and is the only Ohio school performing. Schools are evaluated by the American High School Theatre Festival Board of Advisors.
Sanders traveled to the festival last year to get an idea of how to make her play work in 120 minutes, including set-up and takedown. She said she hopes performing the play in Toledo first and in Columbus in July gives the students a heads-up.
“Obviously, it’s good for us to perform for an audience before we go,” she said. “The more we can do this before, the better for everyone.”
The trip was open to any student who was interested and could afford it, Sanders said. Many of the students haven’t been overseas before.
“They’re pumped,” Sanders said. “We just had a rehearsal and we talked after and it’s starting to become very real.”
During two weeks in August, the girls will have the opportunity to see several productions and do some sightseeing, Sanders added. They will do five performances total while in Scotland. Some of the students are new to theater while others are NDA theater veterans. Each girl also plays more than one part.
The students performing are: Sarah Orchard, Molly Martindale, April Varner, Alexandra Davis, Natasha Foley, Marisa Napoli, Indra Andreshak, Juliet Hudson, Megan O’Toole and Tori Zajac. Alum Brittanie Kuhr and IB teacher Jean Walker will also accompany the group.
Sanders said she isn’t sure when she would next apply for the Fringe Festival.
“It’s a big undertaking and it’s not something you do every year, but it’s something I could see doing again,” she said.
The preview shows are 7 p.m. June 22 and 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. June 24 at Notre Dame Academy, 3535 W. Sylvania Ave. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for students. Tickets are available at www.nda.org or at the door.
Tags: Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Notre Dame Academy, Scotland, Shakespeare
