Public Domain Preview

Samohi Theatre’s Public Domain is right around the corner. The annual end of year performance series, taking place on June 1, 2 and 3 in the Humanities Center, showcases new student talent—both student written and published acting scenes, as well as dance, musical theatre, poetry, comedy and music. The two shows, Show A and Show B, each have completely different lineups and material. Each of the nights, there will be a 5:00 p.m. show and a 8:00 p.m. show, with approximately 20 acts in each show.Two new performers in Public Domain include Gracie Fletcher (‘18) and Dylan Brenner (‘18).Fletcher became involved after one of her friends, who is an organizer of the event, encouraged her to participate and raise the number of dancers in the show.“This is my first year in Public Domain,” Fletcher said. “My friend, Emma Green, who runs the show, mentioned they needed more dancing acts and that it’s a great opportunity to perform in front of an audience, so I thought I would give it a try.”Like some of the other performers taking part in this year’s Public Domain, she thought that the show would be an exciting opportunity to share her passion.“My performance is a contemporary dance solo that one of my teachers from my dance studio choreographed for me,” Fletcher said. “It is very special to me and I wanted to share it with people. I’m really excited and I can’t wait for everyone to see it so I hope the audience likes my piece and feels something when they watch it.”Brenner’s interest in acting led him to hit the stage at this year’s show.“I have not performed in Public Domain before I tried out to be in my friend’s scene,” Brenner said. “So I am a part of the Improv. Group and I am playing a character in the One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest bit.”And in addition to the excitement everyone is feeling as Public Domain approaches, they are also thrilled to get to see what the other student performers are bringing to the table.“I’m most excited for Griffin James’s (’18) ‘Frat Boy Gone Wild’ scene,” Fletcher said. “Trust me, you don’t want to miss it.”The after-school rehearsals, for both of the students, have been a crucial element in preparing for next week.“I’ve been rehearsing for at least once a week for the past two months,” Brenner said. “And the rehearsals have all been great.”According to Fletcher, although the school rehearsals are not her primary resource for getting ready for the big night, they have been a very helpful tool for getting all of the performers more comfortable with the feel of how it will be.“The rehearsals after school are great because you get to rehearse on the stage before the show,” Fletcher said. “I dance at DC Dance Center 13 plus hours a week in all styles of dance so I practice at my dance studio and then come in for tech rehearsals. I also did the solo piece at a dance competition in March so the preparation for Public Domain was not too intense or last minute.”Acting Teacher and Public Domain Organizer Katheryne Barraza has been working closely with the performers over the last few weeks—running tech rehearsals in the Humanities Center and helping them to prepare their acts.“The students have been working very hard to prepare their scenes, poems, dances, etc. for Public Domain,” Barraza said. “It’s a demonstration of their thoughts, desires, fears, interests and talents. It’s truly beautiful to see how it all comes together. I am so impressed with these students. They never cease to amaze me.”According to Zoe D’Andrea (‘18), a third year performer, the show is very special because it displays a wide variety of student talent.“It showcases so many different aspects of the arts and so many different people,” D’Andrea said. “It brings together people of all cultures and all friend groups and all ages under one common lifestyle. And the arts are so vulnerable so the connect you see on stage is so raw. It’s always a super exciting experience being with friends and performing.”This year, D’Andrea is performing an original song that she wrote.“This is the first song I’ve written so it’s nerve racking singing it in front of people,” D’Andrea said. “But I’m excited to put myself out there and try something new and a little out of my comfort zone… What can I say?—I’m an adrenaline junky.”Tickets for any of the shows are $5 for students and $10 for adults, with the money going to benefit the theatre program. They can be purchased either online at the Samohi Theatre’s website, or at the door the night of the event.“It’s going to be amazing this year, as usual,” Barraza said. “It’s one of my favorite productions of the year because it gives a glimpse into the Samohi students’ experience”With all the talent and unique types of pieces the students are going to envail to the audience, this year’s Public Domain will not be something to miss.