Challenging Play No Match For Students: Peabody Heads To Drama Fest Finals

PEABODY, MA – If Peabody Veterans Memorial High School's performance of "Guards at the Taj" wins next weekend, it will be their third time in a row as Drama Festival winners.

The actors and crew have been rehearsing since Dec. 1, about eight to 10 hours a week, said Director Stephanie Recine. At the preliminary performances last weekend, while waiting to hear if they'd made it to the next round, the cast and crew held each other's hands and tried to put out good energy, as they do at every Drama Fest.

"I was holding onto Marc's hand so tightly, just hoping that we'd made it," said Erick Viana of his costar Marc Fournier. And when their play was called as a finalist: "Every afternoon, every night we put into making this show happen was completely worth it," said Viana.

Viana and Fournier play Babur and Humayun, respectively, two men guarding the Taj Mahal before it opens.

"They are burdened with a horrible task that changes their lives forever," said Producer Richard Carey. The play, which is limited to one act per competition rules, deals with some intense scenes, and the program even credits a fight choreographer, Michelle Finston.

Viana said the challenge of the fight scene is to be self-aware while giving the performance.

"You don't try anything new," said Fournier. "It's in a very intense scene, emotionally and physically intense."

"I think that this is a really challenging piece, and not one that would be tackled by most high schools," said Carey. "And that’s what excited me so much about it, that we were able to rise to the challenge, and really present a play about friendship and beauty, and who really owns art."

Recine said she feels the experience of Drama Festival will give the students life lessons to carry with them, and that as an educator and artist, it's imperative to keep art alive in schools.

"When you get to the finals, that’s the accomplishment," said Fournier.

Peabody Veterans Memorial High School will perform "Guards at the Taj" next weekend. The ensemble includes Bianca Baldassaro, Caroline Castro, Aidan Leach, Melissa Poirier, and Catiana Rosario. The play's musicians are Gabe Goldman, Madison Govaert, and Tim Serino.

Production Staff:

Director: Mrs. Stephanie Recine
Producer: Mr. Richard Carey
Fight Choreographer: Miss Michelle Finston
Assistant Director: Josh Foisy
Music Director & Composer: Gabe Goldman
Choreographer: Melissa Poirier
Fight Captain/Male Understudy: Aidan Leach
Stage Managers: Edelina Curkic, Gabrielle Morton
Deck Managers: Todd Eddy, Ryan Lemole
Set Design: Miss Casey Roland, Mr. Len Roland
Lighting Design: Ben Blake
Lighting Assistant: Haley Doucette
Sound Design & Operators: Andrea Haley, Alexi Kehoe
Costume Design: Jennifer Puzzo, Mrs. Ella Roland
Props Design & Management: Trina Dessalines, Amanda Fanning
Dramaturg: Koby Hirschaut
Makeup & Special Effects: Emma Bruzzese, Kaelen Govaert
Set Construction and Running Crew: Carina Antonio, Deb Araujo, Meghan Ayles, Mitchell Barnes, Spencer Barnes, Danielle Barrasso, Sarah Bratt, Meeghan Bresnahan, Rachel Carr, Brianna Collier, Amber Comeau, Edelina Curkic, Trina Dessalines, Todd Eddy, Amanda Fanning, Josh Foisy, David Harnch, Koby Hirschaut, Ryan Lemole, Gabrielle Morton, Isaac Neves, Jennifer Puzzo, Jayla Rodriguez, Alex Serino, Katelyn Tomashpol, Kristina Tufo, Jarrod Wojcik, and Matteo Vieira.

Images via Edelina Curkic