Hawthorne High School’s students wowed once again at auditions for the fall theatre production of Thornton Wilder’s farce The Matchmaker.  More than 60 students, freshmen through seniors, auditioned over the course of three days.

Usually, the audition process requires a second round of auditions, known as callbacks, for directors Jill Hackett and Kimberly Griffin to narrow down their choices and make final decisions; however, this year’s students did such great work that the directors were able to cast the show on the strength of the initial auditions alone.

Griffin was incredibly impressed with the number of underclassmen who auditioned. “It’s good to see so many freshmen eager to be involved in the fall of their first year,” she said.  “The beginning of high school can be an overwhelming time for our young students, and the fact that they are still eager to participate is a credit to them.”

Additionally, the stage management team is hard at work organizing tasks for the prospective crew.  Just as it was for the actors, competition for a spot on the prestigious crew is tough.  The directors received many more applications than they can take and are still working to finalize the list.

Both student and staff enthusiasm for this fantastically funny show is high, but the show holds special meaning for both of its directors.  Hackett has previously played the title role, and when the show was first directed by Hackett at HHS during the 2004-2005 school year, Griffin played Mrs. Molloy.  Paraprofessional John Dorval played the role of the cabman, Joe.

Stay tuned for further information as rehearsals move into November and December.  Look for posters and listen for announcements regarding ticket sales.  Performances will be December 13-15, Friday at 7:30, Saturday at 2:00 and 7:30, and Sunday at 2:00.