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Adding in actors and actions: ‘The Haunting of Hill House’ week four

More pieces are added to Hill as week four rolls in.
Junior Brianne Tolentino takes notes in her script, marking down blocking, lines and character choices.
Junior Brianne Tolentino takes notes in her script, marking down blocking, lines and character choices.
THE MIRROR | Gianmarco Razuri

Week four started off with a bang as the whole show was run with the finished blocking and the ensemble on the sidelines reading out their lines.

Later on Wednesday, the ensemble members were plugged into the preexisting scenes as the whole cast switched from the blackbox in room 303 to the auditorium.

Director Justin Baldridge works with sophomore Olivia Klipstine to perfect one of her many monologues. (THE MIRROR | Gianmarco Razuri)

Sophomore Olivia Klipstine, who plays leading role Eleanor, explained her excitement to see the ensemble finally come to life.

“Having that effect of the ominous voices and simply just the other bodies on stage is so cool,” says Klipstine.

Senior Julian Pankowski, one of the house ensemble members, explained that while he always had faith in the production, the show is proving to go above and beyond.

“The play itself is great and the creative interpretation the director chose to go with is being conveyed better than I could have imagined,” he said.

The House ensem

Before starting rehearsal, the entire cast gathers around Mr. Baldridge, learning the plan for the day and prepping themselves for the hours of rehearsal ahead.

ble went off several times with Senior and Assistant Director, Madison Thacker, to create abstract shapes to add to the dialogue; not only telling the story with their words but telling the story with their bodies.

“A big part of the show are these movement pieces that are almost like dances, that are completed by five members of the ensemble,” Thacker said. “While they are tricky for me to create, and difficult for the actors to learn, the movmemnts really add a complexity to the show that I really believe our audience will love.”

As the House ensemble went off the Voice ensemble got plugged into the story scene by scene, adding to the dramatics of the play.

Sophomore Oliver Barrett sits reading the new dialogue written by Mr. Baldridge. (THE MIRROR | Gianmarco Razuri)

As the cast works hard on stage, other crews work hard around campus.

Props crew worked in the set design classroom painting and creating the set, while house crew worked to decorate the lobby and costume crew took more measurements as costumes started trickling in.

With only three more weeks till tech week everyone is working hard to get the set and blocking all figured out before it needs to be lit. 

(From L to R) Senior April Cho, junior Chris Ruiz, senior Deven Martinez and Director Justin Baldridge work in the auditorium to add in members of the ensemble. (THE MIRROR | Gianmarco Razuri)

While nerves are flying through the air everyone is getting ready to make this show one of the best!

 

Stay tuned for all performances starting on October 24 at 4:30 p.m.

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