Schools

Strong Cast Carries Farmington High Production of 'Our Town'

The Thornton Wilder drama opens Thursday in the school's auditorium.

With almost nothing on stage but them, the cast of Farmington High School's production of Thornton Wilder's "Our Town" really has to carry the show. 

Co-directors Lauren Kozak and Carrie Ray chose the script because "we wanted something where we could draw in an audience with a classic," Kozak said. "And it's just a good play to teach the kids that we should cherish the special moments in life. Even an ordinary day can have special moments that can be important."

Kozak said she and Ray chose a traditional staging of the play. Ray added that they have focused on how the simple life in Grover's Corners, New Hampshire, where the play is set, fits with students' lives today. 

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A minimal set places the focus directly on the actors, and Kozak said the 30-member cast is up to the challenge. Two of the lead actors – freshman Trevor Franklin, who plays "George", and sophomore Grace Newlin, who plays "Emily" – are underclassmen, as are many others. The "Stage Manager" is played by junior Lily Talevski, who played the lead role in the March production of "Kiss Me, Kate". 

Without props, students have also had to learn to mime actions like cooking, reading a newspaper and other actions. 

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"It's really all on them," Ray said. "They've had to rise to the occasion." 

Farmington High's production of "Our Town" opens Thursday, 7:30 p.m., with additional performances Friday and Saturday, 7:30 p.m. both nights. Tickets are $8 adults, $6 students and staff and will be on sale 45 minutes before each performance. 

Correction: Lily Taveski's grade was incorrectly reported in the original version of this article. 


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