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Utica's Theatre Department becomes the original cast and crew of new play 'Blood & Sequins'
Sparkle in the Spotlight
Published in the 2023 Warrior yearbook and in the Arrow newspaper here
In the theatre community, it is a huge honor to be the first to perform a show. For their fall play, Utica’s Theatre Department had the honor to be the original cast and crew of the new play, “Blood & Sequins” by Rachel Bublitz.
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“We licensed the show directly from the author, so from the very beginning we had a special relationship with her throughout the entire process,” producer Joel Kaczmarczyk said. “Murder mystery plays are very popular right now.
“It seems like a lot of schools are producing the show ‘Clue’ or similar plays, so it is exciting that we were the first ever production of ‘Blood & Sequins.’ When the script is published, our school will be listed in the front with all the original actors and technicians who were part of the show.”
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By contacting the author directly, the company was able to perform a “trailer” for the students during second and third hour.
“The teaser show was a fun and exciting experience because this is the first time we have ever done one,” stage manager junior Lily Oddo said. “It gave our swings the opportunity to perform in front of a crowd and our cast and crew the opportunity to perform before our actual show night. I’m glad we got to do it and I think it was an amazing show.”
The teaser show allowed for swings the chance to perform for a crowd, which they may not have been able to perform, otherwise.
“I enjoyed it because I got to be a part of the show without being in the main cast, and was able to practice my acting skills,” swing sophomore Misty Thomson said. “I joined the theatre because I saw ‘Puffs’ in seventh grade. The best part of being a part of the theatre is definitely the friendships you make. Everyone genuinely feels like a family.”
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Though the theatre department has performed student-written works in the past, this was their first show in which they will be listed as the original cast and crew.
Writing a story like this isn't an opportunity most high school journalists get to write about. No past student journalists at Utica had even had this opportunity. Whenever anyone buys a copy of the script, our students' names would be listed and that's something the rest of the student body didn't know. It's a huge honor that felt like something more people should be aware of.