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By Julia Fair

After getting t-shirts for the show, junior Abigail Peters helps hand them out to the cast.

Many drama students spend their time participating in theater productions, but junior Abigail Peters does so differently – she was one of the student directors for Monticello Trails Middle School’s spring play, “The Walking Dwarves.” The play, which was directed by teachers Angie Eisenbarth and Erin Oliver, showed two performances which took place Friday, March 6 and Saturday, March 7.

Directing the play involved much time dedication. Rehearsals were after school until 5 p.m. every day for over a month. Peters attended the rehearsals and helped students do everything from preparing for their scenes to helping them with their homework. 

“This year, I work on set and tech; I help with acting; I’ve even taught a bunch of zombie classes,” Peters said. “I choreographed some of the dances.”

Along with middle school student-directing, Peters also works the tech booth for the high school musicals and play; she worked the spotlight for the fall musical “Newsies.” 

Sophomore Sydney Wootton also helps student-direct. Wootton decided to get involved after doing the plays when she was a middle schooler.

“When I was in eighth grade, I was Princess Leia and it was a lot of fun,” Wootton said. “It helped impact my decision to student direct for sure.”

The nightly rehearsals themselves could be challenging, but the busiest nights of them all were show nights. The student directors aided the teacher directors in helping prepare the kids and making sure everything behind the scenes ran smoothly. Before the show nights, the directors were the students’ biggest supporters.

“Before the show starts, we wish the kids luck and do ‘break a leg,’” Peters said. “We also write notes to all the kids.”

Student directors are needed for middle school shows yearly.