Submitted by Lars Thorson
OAKHURST – Yosemite High School’s Theater Arts Department is proud to present The Boys Next Door and The Girls Next Door, running four nights, Wednesday through Saturday, Nov. 18 – 21. The show starts at 7 p.m. in the YHS Theatre.
The play follows four mentally disabled adults who live together in a group home environment. They are supervised by a social worker and encounter humorous and poignant challenges as they struggle to survive and find happiness. The play raises the question of how society cares for its most vulnerable citizens and how we often find happiness in the oddest of places.
Two different casts have been assembled for this production. One cast features male residents of the apartment, and the other features female residents. We wanted to give as many students as possible a chance to play a leading role. By using two casts, I can give 12 students the chance to play a challenging role for the fall play. The play has some laughs, but also shows the confusion and sadness faced by people who do not always understand how the world worlds.
The Boys Next Door features seniors, Kevin Kirk, Paul Esposito, and Ethan Solomon, along with juniors Dylan Thacker and Alex Williams.
“It’s tricky because the audience has to laugh at what these men do and say, but not laugh at them because they are disabled,” says Solomon. “The play has a great message and we’re enjoying working on it.”
The Girls Next Door features seniors Jessica Fine, Gianna DeFelice, Jaecie Madaus, and Mackenzine Behrens, with junior Elise Keeler.
“I’ve never played a role with so many lines,” Keeler notes. “It’s definitely a challenge to learn the lines and create a funny, interesting and human character.”
The Girls Next Door performs Wednesday and Friday, Nov. 18 and 20, while The Boys Next Door performs Thursday and Saturday, Nov. 19 and 21. Tickets are $8 for adults and $6 for students, or $5 with ASB card.
In the spring YHS will be producing High School Musical onstage. For more information on these shows, please call (559) 683-4667.
Lars Thorson is Chairman of the Theater Arts Department at YHS
