Montville's First Student-Directed Play Opens Tonight

Tonight is a groundbreaking night at Montville High School.

Tonight, the school’s drama club will be putting on a performance of “Almost, Maine,” a play by John Cariani. While that certainly doesn’t seem like big news, what separates it is that it will be the first play in the history of Montville High School directed by a Montville High School student.

“It was so hard (not to get involved),” said Susan Walsh, who runs the drama club but allowed Montville High senior Chelsea Dahmer to run the show as the club’s first student-director. “Because I wanted to jump in. But I’m really glad I didn’t because the experience was about (Dahmer) and her growth.”

Dahmer did the casting, ran all the rehearsals and now is feeling the same emotion that all directors feel the morning before a big performance: pure anxiety. But Walsh said the play, at least in rehearsals, has “exceeded all expectations,” with low expectations something that motived Dahmer in the first place.

“A lot of the faculty and administration didn’t think (the play) was going to be at the same standard, because it was student-directed,” Dahmer said. “That motivated me. I’m hoping to prove them wrong.”

The show runs at 7 tonight and 7 Friday night in the Montville High School auditorium. Tickets can be bought at the door and they are $5 for seniors and Montville High School students and $8 for adults.

The Play

Walsh said the goal of any program at Montville High School is to make students to be able to perform that task independently. There was no better way to do that in drama than to have a student direct the play, with students and students themselves responsible for the entire production, she said.

Walsh looked for volunteers, and Dahmer stepped up. Walsh said Dahmer has been great, as she has had the key skills it requires to be an effective director.

“She has those interpersonal skills that are really, really needed,” Walsh said. “She is a great communicator, she is flexible… She is a great fit.”

Walsh let Dahmer do everything, from cast the characters to run all the practices. Dahmer said it was taxing, but also rewarding.

“It is very stressful,” Dahmer said. “But overall, it has been really fun to collaborate on all the different aspects of the performance. I’ve enjoyed it.”

Dahmer said she is “very nervous” about opening night tonight, saying she has had other opening nights before, but “nothing ever like this.” But, Tuesday, she finally relaxed and just watched the dress rehearsal, and couldn't have been happier with the way it came out.

“For the first time, I just sat back and watched the whole thing,” Dahmer said. “And it came out so beautifully. So much more than I could have ever imagined.”