Coming Soon at NMHS: 'Dirty Work in High Places'

Many students, teachers and parents, look forward to seeing the drama class perform on the stage in the fall and spring. Every year in the students involved in drama put on two plays, directed by Mr. Brandon Harrington. This year, drama is being run differently, due to Mr. Steve Harrington Sr. retiring. Instead of a drama club, students can sign up to take a drama class, which meets every day, rehearsing, building the setsand preparing the show.

Coming soon to the NMHS Theater is a play called Dirty Work in High Places,  the story of a town in which elderly people are at risk of losing their homes. The main character, Gentle Grimmes, is a corrupt businessman out to get rich at other people's expense. The hero, Dauntless Crusader, works together with several other town residents to bring down Gentle Grimmes and keep the older folks in their homes. The show runs April 8, 9, 15 and 16, at 8 p.m.,  and tickets are only $5.

The students in the drama class work hard every day during school—and, as show time draws nearer, every night until late—perfecting the scenes.

“We try to get everything down and focus on the scenes that need work,” explained senior Yvette Del Rio. “The week before the show starts is hell week, and we rehearse every day.”

Like many other students in the drama class, Del Rio has been passionately involved in theater since she was a freshman. “After Intro to the Arts, another student in drama tried to get me to audition. I did, and I became a member of the ensemble for Jesus Christ Superstar. After that, I fell in love with the whole experience of being on stage, and singing and acting,” she explained.

Del Rio plays “Ms.Yesperson” in the spring production. Like many others in town, she is working to bring down Gentle Grimmes from the inside. She works as his assistant and acts agreeable towards him, but is really trying to expose Gentle Grimmes' corrupt nature with the idea that doing so will make her rich and famous.

“I feel like Ms. Yesperson represents a part of everyone," said Del Rio. "She is determined to show everyone who she is, and is always on edge, trying to gain fame and wealth.”

Developing character and filling a role can be difficult for any person in theater, and the quality of the performance depends on how well this is done.

“When I get my role, I look through the script and try to get the gist of who my character is," said Del Rio. "Then I analyze how they are supposed to act and develop my own perception of that. I try to focus on one emotion the character has, one principal trait and develop the character from there, and give it my all.”