Welcome aboard sailors! I hope you’re ready to board this ship! Treasure Island was on Nov. 7, 8, 9 at 7 p.m. at the Performing Arts Center (PAC). 

Directed and adapted by Whitney LaBarge, the tale of Treasure Island follows a young girl, Jim Hawkins, who dreams of becoming a pirate. When a mysterious man visits the tavern, Jim is finally able to explore the world of pirates, but at what cost? Will she make it home safely, or will she lose herself and her loved ones? Join Arcadia Stage as Jim goes on a journey to discover herself and learn the importance of family.

So what do the initial preparations look like and how do actors prepare for the shows? 

Students first audition for the role that they want to play, with auditions occurring in August. If students fit the role well, they’re called back to the director to read through their lines again and are considered for the role. Through blocking, polishing, and tech week, students can get the hang of their characters and clean up anything that needs to be fixed before the weeks leading up to the performances. The final step is tech week, where students are at school until 10 p.m. and they run sound checks and lighting to ensure that everything runs smoothly before the day of the shows.

Being at school for countless hours and going through nonstop rehearsals is no easy feat, and many times this cycle can be draining to students. Senior Ashley Chen, who played Badger, expressed how she was able to get through the long hours of rehearsals.

“But I think that to get through that, you just have to persevere and you have to surround yourself with the people around you because everybody has the same process going on so they have the same idea of how to go about with this experience,” Chen said.

She continued on about how having this privilege to be in such a special program gives her the momentum to keep going. 

“Not everyone has a stage, not everyone has a thousand people a night for a show, and I think it’s just really appreciating the moment and appreciating the opportunity and the people around you,” Chen said.

Chen noted how the audience’s positive energy bounced off of the actors and they were able to deliver a successful performance as a result. 

On a bittersweet note, Chen reflected on how seeing her friends every day has motivated her and how much she cherishes these precious moments. “It is going to be my last show, and these are the moments that I’m going to miss, so I want to live in the moment and not think of what’s going to happen after, but what’s happening right now.”

Sophomore Arnav Mohanty, who played Billy Bones, shares how he usually prepares for an upcoming show. “Preparing for the role, I usually take a breath and try to understand who my character is and also listen to songs that also get me into that mindset. So just breathing in and trying to see who my character is, that’s what I do to prepare.”

When asked about the most difficult part of the whole process, Mohanty admits that forgetting the transitions or props breaking is a challenge, but it’s a natural part of the process.

“I think for me, my favorite memory of the show was when I first entered and I walked onto the stage because I’ve been performing for some time, and that feeling when you first step out on the stage and you look at the audience is always very nostalgic and very exciting,” said Mohanty. 

Reflecting on his performance in the play, Mohanty emphasized how proud he is of himself for powering through the show and his commitment to it. 

“I felt like I could’ve developed the character that I played a bit more; he didn’t always have to be either mad or happy,” said Mohanty. “He could’ve been more complex, but I feel like that’s something I always take to every play or audition.” 

Mr. Steven Volpe, the main director of the theater program at Arcadia High School (AHS) shared what his favorite part of the show was.

“The most rewarding or memorable part of the show for me is watching cast members learn a lot about themselves from the characters they play or the world of the character they’re living in,” Volpe said. “Because at the end of the day, we’re not just acting, singing or dancing, we have a message, and the message is about family. It’s about uniting family through adversities and learning through our mistakes; those are the big ideas of the play.”

Photo Courtesy of AUSD Digital Communications Intern Stephanie Jing