There are a total of 30 reasons not to be in a play.
Reason #1: Plays suck!
Ranging from stage kisses to the destruction of the entire civilized world, this play proves that theatre and being in a play can sometimes lead to some very dangerous things. Originally from author Alan Haehnel of “15 Reasons Not To Be in a Play,” the thirty reason spin-off is a combination of scenarios of the horrors and hardships that befall those who take the stage according to the Playscripts website. As high school junior and actress Sarah Yang puts it, “It’s literally about thirty reasons—that are sometimes crazy—not to be in a play.” This performance is all about comedic series of acts to give the audience a great hour and a half of exuberant laughter. As a production member, junior Abby Pan expressed, “What I’d like audience members to take away is an appreciation for the humor of the show, while getting an idea of the little things that make theater so special.”
With many of the previous performances being musicals, director Simon Williams brings to the stage a fresh change to Shanghai American School. With the eye-catching name 30 Reasons Not to be in a Play, the director, high school actors and actresses, and backstage crew have dedicated hours upon hours of practice to make this play a joyous and entertaining experience for the audience. Tickets are currently on sale for 30 RMB, and the performance will take place in the Performing Arts Center on Thursday, November 10 at 6 PM and Friday, November 11 at 3:30 PM.
This play comes in a series of skits, which all revolve around reasons to not be in a play. The Echo has picked out some of these reasons to feature throughout this article.
Reason #4: Travis Thornburn
Reason #7: Susie Jenson
High school junior and actress Sarah Yang sees this performance as an opportunity for her and other fellow play members to take the stage and display their theater talents. Yang explains, “This play has benefitted me to broaden my perspective on the limitless possibilities a theater piece can be produced and helped me gain incredible insight on the talent SAS high school students possess.” She addressed, ‘“Theatre’ isn’t just going on a stage to perform crazy acts.” It also includes a great effort of the members and their “work backstage that really transforms the ambiance in the theater, making everything incredible and unforgettable.”
Reason #12: Great Aunt Gladys
Reason #13: Allergic to Plays
Starring in many roles in this play is skilled junior Saloni Kanani. She described, “I want the audience to be able to walk away laughing and with a light hearted feeling since this play is a comedy. I want the audience to see how talented our students are, especially since many of us have multiple roles in the play.” Saloni continued, “This play to me is a way of getting myself to express my creativity and to explore the different characters that I can embody.”
Reason #16: Abraham Lincoln
Reason # 21: Guys and Lipstick.
Having taken many roles in previous year musicals, multi-talented Abby Pan has focused on the importance of theater production. She said, “I guess working on a theater production like this one is just a really fulfilling experience for me because it’s a huge labor of love, and being able to work with other people to create something that’s bigger than the sum of its parts really makes you feel like you’re part of a community.”
Reason #23: Don’t Wanna, Don’t Wanna, Don’t Wanna!
Reason #28: Destruction of Entire Civilized World.
Mr. Williams, joining Shanghai American School as a first time director, gratifyingly noted, “I have been both surprised and delighted by the quality of the actors work. It speaks volumes about the quality of drama training these young people have had and their own personal approach to their art.”
“A play is just that, play. Theater should be enjoyable, it should grip the audience and they should go away having had an aesthetic experience in which they resonate at that time, a moment when all their senses come together to create a once in a lifetime experience.”
The ironic nature and small joking scenes of this play builds an interactive atmosphere between the actors and actresses on the stage and the audience members. As established by the title of this play, the performance takes an amusing approach to inform the audience about the horrid and obnoxious incidents many play members run into.
But according to Mr. Williams, “This is not a play.”
Filled with mystery and surprise, Thirty Reasons why Not to Be in a Play aspires to spread laughter and positivity within the audience, as well as display the talents and passions of the director, actors, actresses, and production team.
Angela Loh
Reason #1: Plays suck!
Ranging from stage kisses to the destruction of the entire civilized world, this play proves that theatre and being in a play can sometimes lead to some very dangerous things. Originally from author Alan Haehnel of “15 Reasons Not To Be in a Play,” the thirty reason spin-off is a combination of scenarios of the horrors and hardships that befall those who take the stage according to the Playscripts website. As high school junior and actress Sarah Yang puts it, “It’s literally about thirty reasons—that are sometimes crazy—not to be in a play.” This performance is all about comedic series of acts to give the audience a great hour and a half of exuberant laughter. As a production member, junior Abby Pan expressed, “What I’d like audience members to take away is an appreciation for the humor of the show, while getting an idea of the little things that make theater so special.”
With many of the previous performances being musicals, director Simon Williams brings to the stage a fresh change to Shanghai American School. With the eye-catching name 30 Reasons Not to be in a Play, the director, high school actors and actresses, and backstage crew have dedicated hours upon hours of practice to make this play a joyous and entertaining experience for the audience. Tickets are currently on sale for 30 RMB, and the performance will take place in the Performing Arts Center on Thursday, November 10 at 6 PM and Friday, November 11 at 3:30 PM.
This play comes in a series of skits, which all revolve around reasons to not be in a play. The Echo has picked out some of these reasons to feature throughout this article.
Reason #7: Susie Jenson
High school junior and actress Sarah Yang sees this performance as an opportunity for her and other fellow play members to take the stage and display their theater talents. Yang explains, “This play has benefitted me to broaden my perspective on the limitless possibilities a theater piece can be produced and helped me gain incredible insight on the talent SAS high school students possess.” She addressed, ‘“Theatre’ isn’t just going on a stage to perform crazy acts.” It also includes a great effort of the members and their “work backstage that really transforms the ambiance in the theater, making everything incredible and unforgettable.”
Reason #12: Great Aunt Gladys
Reason #13: Allergic to Plays
Starring in many roles in this play is skilled junior Saloni Kanani. She described, “I want the audience to be able to walk away laughing and with a light hearted feeling since this play is a comedy. I want the audience to see how talented our students are, especially since many of us have multiple roles in the play.” Saloni continued, “This play to me is a way of getting myself to express my creativity and to explore the different characters that I can embody.”
Reason #16: Abraham Lincoln
Reason # 21: Guys and Lipstick.
Having taken many roles in previous year musicals, multi-talented Abby Pan has focused on the importance of theater production. She said, “I guess working on a theater production like this one is just a really fulfilling experience for me because it’s a huge labor of love, and being able to work with other people to create something that’s bigger than the sum of its parts really makes you feel like you’re part of a community.”
Reason #23: Don’t Wanna, Don’t Wanna, Don’t Wanna!
Reason #28: Destruction of Entire Civilized World.
Mr. Williams, joining Shanghai American School as a first time director, gratifyingly noted, “I have been both surprised and delighted by the quality of the actors work. It speaks volumes about the quality of drama training these young people have had and their own personal approach to their art.”
“A play is just that, play. Theater should be enjoyable, it should grip the audience and they should go away having had an aesthetic experience in which they resonate at that time, a moment when all their senses come together to create a once in a lifetime experience.”
The ironic nature and small joking scenes of this play builds an interactive atmosphere between the actors and actresses on the stage and the audience members. As established by the title of this play, the performance takes an amusing approach to inform the audience about the horrid and obnoxious incidents many play members run into.
But according to Mr. Williams, “This is not a play.”
Filled with mystery and surprise, Thirty Reasons why Not to Be in a Play aspires to spread laughter and positivity within the audience, as well as display the talents and passions of the director, actors, actresses, and production team.
Angela Loh