Students team with adviser to craft series of 1-act plays
BY DAVE BENJAMIN Staff Writer

DAVE BENJAMIN Jackson Memorial High School students Jerica Young (l), as Carly, and Jursy Wallace, as Blake, perform in a one-act play that was written by Young and included thoughts and ideas from fellow JMHS students.

JACKSON - High school drama students are not only performing in plays these days, they are writing their own material. Such was the case recently when students at Jackson Memorial High School wrote and performed four one-act plays.

"When approached by our principal Mr. (Anthony) Gaita to present a fall play that would raise tolerance and awareness, I found myself struggling to find a play that would speak truthfully to the community in Jackson and effectively display the talents of the actors at Jackson Memorial High School," said Jaclyn C. Somodi, drama teacher, adviser and director.

"Having just taught playwriting in my Advanced Drama class and seeing original scenes presented (in a competition), I was inspired to take on the enormous task of writing our own scripts," she said.

Somodi said the first step was to audition students who wanted to act and write. In June she and the students began working on four one-act scripts. Although each script focused on raising tolerance and awareness, each script delved into a different topic.

After brainstorming, planning, writing drafts, proofreading, editing and even discarding one script, Somodi said she and the students were happy to have been able to present four original one-act plays which took place at fictional Porter Creek High.

"Mirror, Mirror," written by Cori Bott, Melissa Cromer, Kayla Festa, Tom Ranzeiler and Somodi, gave a glimpse into the world of people who suffer from eating disorders.

The cast included Melissa Cromer, Tom Ranzweiler, Kayla Festa, Cori Bott, Summer Borelli, Anu Mysore, Jerica Young and Brandon Contreras.

Next we meet Sam, the cheerleading captain at Porter Creek High, Somodi said.

"Inspired by words spoken in these very halls of Jackson Memorial, Sam faces negative attitudes, hateful expressions and cruel actions when she reveals to her friends that she is a lesbian," Somodi said. "But with the help of new friends, Sam realizes that exposing your true self does not necessarily change who you are."

"Exposed" was written by Somodi with thoughts, ideas and input from cast members Meghan Sester, Nicole Recek, Briana Crisafulli, Michelle Washany, Jerica Young, Nick Frascino, Ahvi Miller, Eric Hamilton, Lisa Clausen and Jennifer Raccuia.

To some people, a normal day is filled with classes and studying, while others think it consists of sporting events or video games.

"To Josh, an ordinary day is packed with hatred and abuse, until he decides to take control," said Somodi. " 'Ordinary Day' helps audiences understand the importance of listening, being a friend and respecting all people, even if they are different from you."

Written by Summer Borelli, Brandon Contreras, Timothy Costagliola, Deanna Frederick, Michael, Massano, Jennifer Raccuia, Adam Vincent and Somodi, this one-act play featured Borelli, Frederick, Contreas, Massano, Vincent, Raccuia, Costagliola and Jursy Wallace.

In the fourth play, the audience entered the lives of Carly and Blake, high school sweethearts whose lives get flipped upside down.

"When the reality hits that they are having a baby the teens are forced to consider their options," said Somodi. "Will they keep it, give it up or get rid of it all together? With some guidance and communication, Carly and Blake discover which road leads to a 'Happy Home.' "

Written by Jerica Young, with thoughts, ideas and input from cast members Jursy Wallace, Deanna Frederick, Anu Mysore, Brandon Contreras, Courtney Taskowitz, Michael Skerianz and Maria Pahountis, the play featured Young as Carly and Wallace as Blake.

Also featured in the cast were Frederick, Mysore, Contreras, Taskowitz, Skerianz, Pahountis and John Jennings.

Somodi and the students were thrilled with the outcome of the plays.

"Coming from the perspective of actual students, the scripts that were created had more truth and honesty than a published script ever could," she said.