GPAC presents: IT WAS A DARK AND STORMY NIGHT

Senior student designers step up to design their final show for W.E. Groves High School
It Was A Dark and Stormy Night by Craig Sodaro
Presented by Groves Performing Arts Company
BIRMINGHAM, MI – March 27, 2018 – Student technical designers are coming together to put on one very special murder mystery at W.E. Groves High School in Beverly Hills. Seniors Sean Sullivan (scenic designer), Harvey Reeves (sound designer) and Frances Van Wordragen (lighting designer) have pulled together their four years of technical theatre experience to go out a with bang with their final production, It Was A Dark and Stormy Night by Craig Sodaro. Recreating a 1938 style radio murder mystery has proven to be the perfect challenge for these student designers. Months of research, planning and execution will all come together in April as members of the Groves Performing Arts Company present the spring play in the Little Theatre at W.E. Groves High School.

Harvey Reeves has been an active member of the technical theatre team for the past four years. For the past two years, he has served as the student technical director. When asked about his feelings about the role of student technical director, Reeves said, “It is surprising the amount of responsibility and understanding it takes to work behind the scenes. Not only do I need to understand about lights, sound and scenic design, I also have to designate the roles and responsibilities of the entire student technical crew.” Sean Sullivan took on a major role this year of scenic designer. He began the project in early October, researching, analyzing and designing the set. The process has required hard work and presented many challenges. Sean says, “One of the most challenging aspects of this design has to do with the strange angles of the walls that fit together. I want the audience to see all of the action on the stage, but also create a sense of tension in the physical world.” He added, “When the set is finally complete, I am going to breathe a huge sigh of relief. I hope the audience will be drawn into the story by the realism I am creating and impressed that the set was completely designed by a high school student.”

“The unique aspect of GPAC is that students are given opportunities for responsibility and leadership skills. Not only are we allowed to share our ideas about designs, we actually are given the chance to execute them,” says Reeves. Sullivan added, “Yeah, these are life experiences. We get to be self-directed, explore options and through trial and error, we are allowed to be find our own successes.” Frances Van Wordragen said, “I love designing for GPAC. When you see a GPAC performance, you are seeing the combined efforts of student actors and designers.” “Right, and to see the culmination of our work into one package is a really satisfying feeling,” added Reeves.

Synopsis: Not many people like Sam Slaughter, the world's most successful but most reclusive mystery writer. He has just fired the aging star of his radio mystery show, "It Was a Dark and Stormy Night," and he is two-timing another star with a brainless showgirl. He has also yelled at his butler, his agent, and the show's producer. To make matters worse, a woman from his past shows up with some incriminating evidence. However, before Sam can pay off the blackmail she demands, he is kidnapped and shots are fired in the night. It all happens at his isolated mansion where the radio show cast and others are stranded. Nevertheless, the great and prolific writer has left scripts everywhere. One of those scripts and an opportune visit by Sam's uncle unmasks the killer - on the air.

The cast features 17 actors: Nick Joseph, Sophie Dara, Megan Darby, Jordan Davis, Shane Donovan, Mia Ersher, Sol Everett, James Hardy, Ruby Kolender, James Laport, Scotty Lockwood, Victoria Lurz, Lily Paul, Noah Smalley, Hunter Stabile, Paige Stearn, Ashley Stewart-Smith, and Hailey Van Wordragen.

Directed by John W. Rutherford and assistant director Duffy Wineman. Student assistant directors are Grace Balow and Griffin Kozlow.

The Groves Performing Arts Company’s production of It Was A Dark and Stormy Night. will take place on April 20-21, 2018 at 7:30 p.m. and April 22, 2018 at 2:30 p.m. Performances will take place at the Groves High School Auditorium, 20500 W. 13 Mile Road in Beverly Hills. Tickets are $10 for adults and $8 for students.

Advanced tickets can be purchased at the Groves Main Office from 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on school days. For more information, call 248/203-3530.

The Groves Performing Arts Company is a premier, award-winning high school theatre arts program. It is recognized nationally for its comprehensive programming in performance, technical theatre, production management, and educational theatre. Participation in GPAC enhances a student’s overall high school experience and creates benefits that reach far beyond the stage.