Big Show '08: Rehearsals begin

Gargoyle photo by Bethany Hutchens (click to enlarge)Anna Gooler, left, and Eunice How perform a skit in last year's Big Show. Both have returned for this year's event, with How serving as co-director with fellow senior Anna Cangellaris.

By Rachel Harmon
Published: Tuesday, April 15, 2008 - 9:50pm

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BIG SHOW '08 AT A GLANCE

When: 7 p.m. Friday, May 9, and 7 p.m. Saturday, May 10

Where: North Attic Playhouse

What: Big Show is Uni's annual collection of student comedy sketches and video skits. The entire production is written and directed by students. All money raised by the show will go to charity as part of X-Week.

Who: Seniors Anna Cangellaris and Eunice How are directing this year's production. For the rest of the cast, see list below.

AFTER TWO DAYS of auditions last week, rehearsals for Big Show '08 began Friday after school.

“The first rehearsal went excellently,” said Anna Cangellaris, who is co-directing this year's production with fellow senior Eunice How. Both students are Big Show veterans.

“Eunice and I began by discussing the very short amount of time that we have until the performance — only four weeks — and gave deadlines for when sketches would be due. Then we spent the next hour and a half brainstorming ideas for sketches. By the end of the practice we came up with at least 30 ideas for videos and skits.”

Big Show is scripted, directed, and performed entirely by Uni students. They meet after school every day from 4 to 6 p.m. The first two weeks will be spent writing the script. After that, the cast will prepare costumes, set up the stage, and practice their scripts for the performances.

Each year, Big Show is anticipated to be fresh, new, and humorous. It is the last Uni High theatrical performance of the year. This year, the show is scheduled to be performed May 9 and 10 in the North Attic Playhouse.

All proceeds will go to benefit a charity in conjunction with X-Week. Last year the money raised went toward CASA, Court Appointed Special Advocates.

Auditions were held last Monday and Tuesday, with 12 students making the cut.

“The underclassmen turnout was quite substantial, but still a few more upperclassmen auditioned,” said How. “In addition, the Big Show alumni this year were mostly juniors.”

Big Show fans will notice a number of new faces this year.

“The cast is different, and we have a lot of newcomers,” How said. “Also, we have been approached by many other people with time conflicts who want to help write skits, be in videos, so we will definitely try to fit them in.”

At this point, creativity isn't a problem — with some 30 ideas for skits and videos, the challenge will be to translate all of that inspiration into a manageable workload. The elusive quality known as “chemistry” will come into play, as cast members develop a rapport and learn how to work together.

To that end, this year's directors knew the right way to top off their first day of rehearsals.

“The cast came over to my house from 7 to 9 for some cast bonding,” Cangellaris said. “We ate pizza, made cookies, played 'Super Smash Bros,' and got to know each other. It was a fun, relaxing time.”