Chestnut Hill Teen Directs Fringe Festival Play

The youngest director in the Philadelphia Fringe Festival is gearing up for her play’s opening show Wednesday night. Pascale Smith, 17, of Chestnut Hill is directing a production of “” a set of three one-act plays by Neil Labute.

Smith has been interested in the performing arts since a casting call for extras in the locally filmed movie “The Village” scored her a speaking line in the M. Night Shyamalan film.

“I was nine years old. I didn’t really know what to think about. Going into it I didn’t know what to expect. It was a really amazing experience, as ridiculous as it might be to say I found my calling at nine years old, since then I’ve been obsessed with performing,” Smith said.

As she begins her senior year of high school at a cyber charter school, she knows that it could be her last full year in Philadelphia for a while, and wanted to take advantage of the city’s famed Fringe Fest.

“It’s a great opportunity that so many people my age don’t really have. The festival really is amazing,” Smith said. “There are so many different things that go on in the Fringe, so many opportunities; being one of the younger people involved in the Fringe is amazing. It has taught me about theater in general, every aspect of it.”

The play itself, she chose it not only because she has always admired the work of Neil Labute, but because of what it says about life.

“It’s a dark play, you can’t say that it’s not. Throughout all of the gloom that the play presents and the dark perspective on humanity that the play has, there are moments that are just beautiful, aspects of life that are wonderful and fun,” Smith said. “That’s one of the things I love about this play.”

Getting into the director’s seat at the age of 17 was a little intimidating at first, Smith said, but so far it has been a rewarding experience.

“I was kind of nervous about it; not too sure how the actors would take being directed by a 17-year-old. But they are talented and fun to work with, the process was not at all strange, the fact that I am younger wasn’t an issue at all,” Smith said.

“Bash” premieres Wednesday, Sept. 14, and will have performances Sept. 16 and 17, all at 8 p.m., at the Moonstone Art Center, 110A South 13th Street, Philadelphia.  Tickets are $15 and available here.