“Failure: A Love Story” premieres on Nov. 14, 15 and 16. The play is about the three Fail sisters Nelly, Jenny June, and Gerty who meet their untimely demise by the end of 1928. It is a heartfelt yet unfortunate story with love interest Mortimer Mortimer who loves each sister.
This year, the play is also an audition for the 50th annual Illinois Theatre Fest where students perform their play and partake in classes and workshops at Illinois State University in January.
“It would be a huge honor if we are chosen,” Cathy Robinson, director, said.
All Illinois high schools are invited to attend regardless of passing auditions to perform at the event, though, due to space, spots are limited to juniors and seniors that are seriously interested in pursuing theater.
“For the play to run smoothly we try to be as organized as possible,” Robinson said. “But as with any big event, we need to be flexible and know that plans can change at any time.”
Dividing work, having support from the school and parents and the students putting in their best effort makes the play possible.
“The actors are asked questions about their characters’ feelings, wants, and motivations to encourage them to think critically about the roles they’re playing,” Alexandra Smith, Assistant Director, said. “Our goal is for every student — whether in the chorus or a lead role — to develop a fully realized, multi-dimensional character.”
Students, like senior Blake Zabinski who is playing Mortimer Mortimer, find unique ways to practice their lines such as the studying site Quizlet.
“I’m most proud of the fact that this is my first time doing the fall play and I was able to get a lead role,” Zabinski said.
The play was originally going to be a smaller show, but previous performances of “She Kills Monsters” and “Urinetown” proved how well the students perform as an ensemble.
“That got us looking more closely at ‘Failure: A Love Story.’ We were looking for a show with a big, meaningful chorus and this play really delivers,” Smith said.
The cast puts much effort into growing as individual performers but also as a team, and inspires future performers.
“I’d been in the play freshman year but saw all the amazing productions and decided I want to be part of that again,” Summer Pennington, senior, said.
“My goal this year in the play is to inspire freshmen, or even just people who are new to performing to put themselves out there and reach for what they want to achieve,” Beth Gadzinski, senior playing Nelly, said. “I want to be someone who people can look up to just like the seniors who I grew up with were.”