Every year the Penn Theater department puts on a play in the fall. Shakespeare in Love by Tom Stoppard got the nod this year, and it was staged on October 17th and 18th. Directed by Ms. Ryan, both shows were performed for a packed house. 

Reporter: Alli Fissette | Photographer: Liam Palmer | Editor: Ben Burns

Noah Lang, who played the male, lead role, William Shakespeare, said, “my favorite part of the fall show… is probably working with the set. It’s more than what we’ve typically gotten for the fall show.”

Gage and Abby, who work on the Tech Crew, specifically working to help fix broken items, emphasized the good relations between the cast and crew. “I think that they interact really well. They’re really nice to us, and they thank us for what we do.” It is possible that this may have played a big role in the show being a success.

Kevin McNulty | PNN Noah Lang talking with PNN reporters about his role in Shakespeare in Love, the Fall 2019 production.

Before the show started, backstage areas, the atmosphere was friendly and relaxed. There was not much stress, and the cast sang along to music. This continued right up until the show started, with the cast doing high-energy theater warm-ups to prepare themselves.

Kevin McNulty | PNN Performers march onto stage in the Fall 2019 performance of Shakespeare in Love in Penn’s Studio Theater.

Then, in the steamy studio theater, the show began. It only took the audience a few minutes to warm up to the show. By the end of two hours, everyone broke into thunderous applause for the event they had just witnessed. The entire cast finished with a group hug with the director, starting off this Penn Theater season with an early success.

Kevin McNulty | PNN The cast of Shakespeare in Love performing theater warm-ups before their Friday performance of the show.

By Kevin McNulty

Kevin McNulty teaches English and Mass Media Studies at Penn High School. He advises the Penn News Network and manages the PNN Studio and news room. For more information, navigate your browser to www.massmediastudies.net.