Woodland Regional High School students will be creating original work in just twenty-four hours that will be performed in front of an audience on January 14, 2024 at 3:00 P.M.

The show will be two hours in length as four groups will be presenting twenty-five to thirty minute acts. Tickets cost $10 each and will be sold both online and at the door the day of the event. 

The process for actors will begin the day before as students will arrive at the school on Saturday, January 13th at 2:00 P.M. to begin designing their show based on a set number of guidelines determined by Woodland’s student body; Tom Simonetti, the director; and Hannah Mudry, stage manager. 

“Having students create original work is so important for this department,” said Simonetti. “Giving students a voice is incredibly important, and that is what this project does.”

The idea of students creating their own work will bring together everything that they learn during the school year, including critical thinking skills, problem solving, and literary composition. 

“It always baffles me how arts programs end up on the ‘chopping block’ in other districts when fine arts are the cumulation of everything that a student learns throughout the day in their Math, Science, History, and English classes,” said Simonetti. 

 This idea was composed to raise money for future productions while promoting team building for members of the drama program. 

Woodland typically sees only a fall play and spring musical, but the drama club has decided to add other events to encourage involvement and boost morale.

The whole event is student-run, which proves how many opportunities are available for Woodland students, which Simonetti appreciates. 

“My students and myself are very aware of how lucky we are to have an amazing administration at Region 16 that sees the importance of this work and is incredibly receptive to our ideas.”