Almost Maine is almost here
Two actors from Palatine’s fall play, Almost Maine
October 4, 2017
After weeks of long, exhausting rehearsals, everything is prepared. The set is ready, the cast has rehearsed, the imperfections have been perfected. The hardworking cast, crew, and directors have prepared everything down to the very last detail. It’s show time.
“Almost, Maine,” this year’s fall play at Palatine High School is performed by the PHS fall play cast and follows a series of events centered around different couples in separate romantic situations.
“Practice began about five weeks ago but we have been preparing for about two months,” actress Emmi Antonik said. “The entire cast works hard everyday after school, often until like nine or ten at night.” When asked what the hardest part about preparing for the play is, Antonik replied, “definitely balancing AP classes and practice, it’s gotten really hard to manage especially as we are getting closer to showtime.” Antonik plays Marvalyn, a women going through a rough patch in her relationship.
The actors however, aren’t the only ones participating in the production of Almost, Maine. PHS has an organized set crew that meets to prepare the stage for the production.
“We started in August and since then, we’ve been working for multiple days a week after school,” set crew member Bree Poetsch said. “It took longer than other sets, though it was an easier design.” Set crew handles tasks involving preparing props, setting the stage, and creating a realistic atmosphere in the production. Each scene in itself is personal, and the set crew worked hard to make it that way.
“Set construction began early September, and we’ll continue to tweak things and add things until opening night,” co-director Doug Gross said. The set crew works incredibly hard to prepare a safe, fun stage for the actors to perform on and use to their best ability.
“The play requires the students to be very close and intimate with each other and to deal with very mature emotions,” Gross said. “I’m very proud of how great our cast members have been through the entire process.”
You can come see Almost, Maine on Oct. 5, 6, and 7 at 7:00 pm. The show takes place in the PHS Altergott Auditorium. Tickets cost $7 for students and $10 for adults and can be pre-ordered or purchased at the door.
