Four Years, Eight Productions

For Alisha Kothari and Julian Coltre, Anything Goes will be bittersweet.

Kothari, an actress, and Coltre, the head of the lighting crew, will be working their last play at Moorestown High School.

It has been four years and eight plays for the seniors.

“I didn’t know what I was doing,” Kothari said of when she tried out for The Importance of Being Earnest, the fall play her freshman year. “It was an awesome experience.”

For Coltre, working with lighting began long before he got to the high school. He remembers attending a play and being interested in the lighting. By sixth grade he started working summer shows as a member of the tech crew.

“Tech has always been interesting to me,” said Coltre. “I get to be part of the show and I didn’t have to be on stage.”

Kothari, who plays Reno in Anything Goes, played Eponine in Les Miserables last year and Chip in Beauty and the Beast. In Aida she was a dancer, something she is very familiar with since she has performing classical Indian dance since she was 3. It is that performance experience that has helped her during her high school career.

“I love it,” Kothari said. “I don’t get nervous. After you’ve been on stage for so long, it turns to excitement.”

Kothari and the rest of the cast began rehearsals in December. For Coltre, the lighting crew began the last week in January, figuring out what light needs to be set where, what needs to be lit.

Each play brings different challenges to Kothari and Coltre.

“They do great,” said Kothari of the light crew. “Lighting can make such a difference. It has a huge effect on a scene. It adds atmosphere.”

Anything Goes started its two-weekend run Thursday night. And Kothari and Coltre can’t believe their theatric careers at Moorestown High School are almost over.

“It feels so weird,” said Kothari. “It happens so fast. All of the shows were great learning experiences.”

“I always thought I would do all eight shows,” said Coltre, explaining there is always at least one light crewmember that works all eight shows during their high school career. “I had to carry on the tradition. It was my duty to do all eight shows and I was fortunate I got to do it.”

And their advice for those who might be hesitant to take to the stage or work the tech crew? Just do it.

“Don’t be scared and think it’s intimidating,” said Kothari. “I’m so happy I got to be in all eight productions. I never would have expected it.”

“If someone is considering joining, just do it,” said Coltre. “This was something I thoroughly enjoyed doing.”

Kothari and Coltre will be heading off to college in the fall and both say theater will be part of the collegiate experience.

“One of the first things I’m going to do is look up lighting,” said Coltre.

 “I can’t stop doing theater,” said Kothari. “I’m going to keep it in my life.”

Anything Goes will be performed at 7:30 p.m. March 4, 5, 11 and 12 at Moorestown High School. Tickets are $12 adults, $10 for seniors/students.  Tickets will be on sale in the high school main lobby on March 4 and March 7 to March 11 from 2 to 3 p.m.