The theater tradition continues this year with senior directs on May 26 and 27. Four seniors will be directing plays they were allowed creative freedom in selecting, casting, directing and designing the sets. The seniors are Krystine Wetherington, Dalton Smith, Tyler Morgan and Brooke Polvadore.

Wetherington is directing “Mirrors” by John O’Brien. “Mirrors” is a play about an ordinary man with an ordinary family who may or may not be alive.

“Well they [his family] are dead,” she said. “He’s seeing them as a comfort source, and we find out through the show that the reason the psychiatrist is there is because his family died in a fire. The night that they died, he was in another house with another woman.”

The seniors were allowed freedom in the selection of their play, just as long as it was approved. This allowed Wetherington to direct the eerie toned play.

 “It just seemed like a really transcendent, “Sixth Sense” like you could really do something cool with it,” Wetherington said.

Being involved with theater arts since she was a child, Wetherington has the opportunity to be on the other side and direct actors instead of following directions on stage. 

“I think since I had so much insight as an actor, it made it easier to direct because I had that experience and what it feels like to be onstage and be directed,” she said.

Wetherington has a collaborative creating process. She visually demonstrates what she wants to see from her cast and prefers to have a peaceful acting environment. 

“I tell them to get on stage and run the scene. Whatever I see that needs fixing, I just go and tweak everything,” she said. “I ask them their opinions on what they feel works best for the show and what would fit their character best.”

Half of the seniors directed their show alone, but Polvadore and Morgan are co-directing their play, “Getting This Close” by Brent Holland. 

“It’s about two high schoolers that really like each other, and a toxic best friend gets in the way,” Polvadore said. ‘It’s kind of a comedy love story.”

Polvadore was previously involved with theater tech as a stage manager, and Morgan has a long background in theater. They refer to themselves as genderswapped theater teachers Libby Rotan and Joseph Murdock.

“He’s [Tyler] more towards acting, and I’m more towards the tech side,” she said. “So I think we worked well as a team just like Rotan and Murdock do.”

As a stage manager Polvadore was only used to working with the director. Now she is the director, and she has to work with an entire cast.

“I’m not a very patient person, so trying to be patient with people and not getting stuff done just stresses me out,” she said. ”It’s sometimes a little bit overwhelming, but everybody’s really great and really easy to work with.”

Morgan and Polvadore have formed a close bond. They have known each other since middle school and have a very similar vision for their play.

“Directing a show is very hard, especially with two people because we both have such great ideas. Sometimes we have to try multiple things before we get it right,” Polvadore said

Polvadore said she is confident in their show. 

“Everybody’s so great. Tyler’s very patient with me,” she said. “I like to take control of things and do things while I think of them, and he’s been a ton of help with that. Everyone else is really patient because me and Tyler will probably change our minds 20 times in a rehearsal.”

The final senior, Smith, is directing “Ooze monster,” a dramatic play about mental illness involving a man whose hatred for humanity has turned into a demon.

“I wanted to do more of a horror type show,” he said. “I knew my other directors weren’t gonna’ do something like that, so I did something a little different and tried something new for me.”

Smith has been adjusting from being an actor or technician to being a director and having to direct an entire cast.

“It’s been a little difficult. It’s kind of different directing my peers because you have to make sure they understand that you are a friend to them, but there is a level of respect that needs to be there,” he said. 

Smith admits to having a hard time giving criticism and having to explain this creative vision. 

“How you might see or think of things won’t be understood by everyone,” he said. “So you’re going to have to learn how to explain your thoughts with a little bit more care to others.”

Smith cast every actor in his production for a reason. He said he played to their strengths.

“I know they’re all good actors.They’re all talented people, so I know they can do well with this,” he said. “I’m very excited right now.I like where the direction is, and I think it’s going to turn out really well.”

Senior directs tickets are $5 and the show starts both nights at 7 p.m.