Girls Take The Lead In Marshall High School Theatre's 'Blue Stockings'

FALLS CHURCH, VA — Marshall High School’s theater program will kick off its season with performances of the play "Blue Stockings" on Nov. 10 to 12.

The play is based on historical events in 1896 at Girton College, one of the first women’s colleges at Cambridge University in the United Kingdom. At the college, female students could study but not earn degrees like male students.

The play follows four young women and their teachers who work to earn the same right to earn a degree as male students. "Bluestockings" refers to a derogatory term about female intellectuals in the Victorian era.

The play by Jessica Swale was produced in London at the National Theatre Studio and the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts in 2012, followed by London’s Globe Theatre in 2013.

Bernie DeLeo, director of Marshall High School's theater program, noted girls often outnumber boys in high school theater departments. He said "Blue Stockings" provides a large cast of 22, and it's rare for boys to take a secondary focus to women in these large plays. Six girls will play the leading roles.

"It’s thrilling to see my young ladies ripping into these nuanced, multi-dimensional roles," said DeLeo in a statement. "This is one of the best scripts I’ve read in forever, with all sorts of powerful
messages that resonate with women still struggling for equality today. I hope we can reach a large
audience of young women — it’s the perfect play for them to see."

Show times are 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 10, to Saturday, Nov. 12, with an additional matinee on Saturday, Nov. 12. Tickets will be available starting Oct. 28.

Later in the season, Statesmen will bring back its second annual One-Act Festival of Student Produced Works from Feb. 16 to 18. The festival will feature works written, directed, produced and acted by students. Plays will be announced at a later time.

The spring musical will be one that had been planned for spring 2020 before COVID-19 school closures. "Xanadu" is a pop musical based on the 1980 movie starring the late Olivia Newton John with music by Electric Light Orchestra frontman Jeff Lynne. The musical follows a Greek muse who comes down to Mount Olympus to help a struggling California street artist accomplish a dream of running a roller disco. The show is scheduled for May 4 to 6.

"This was a bucket list show for me," said DeLeo. "It’s hilariously silly and joyous, and I wanted to come back to it with the freshmen who were in the show when it was cancelled and finish it with them as seniors."

For more about Marshall High School's theater program, visit www.statesmentheatre.org.