“you have kept its spirit and my intent congratulations and cheers.” E.B. White

Charlotte’s Web is rapidly approaching, the cast are rehearsing their lines, the set is about to be built, and costumes are coming in. It seems like a lot to do with a minimal amount of time, and there is one person who is in charge of all of this and will successfully get it done; the Director: Mr. Hagemeister.

This isn’t Mr. Hagemeister first time directing a play, he has directed 27 fall plays and musicals during his time here at JCHS, “the hardest part about being a director is trying to get others to see your vision. From everything like makeup, actors, costumes.”

He is the one that decides what plays we do each year. “I start reading several plays and if I can’t get past the first five pages, then I throw it out because it should be able to catch my attention. If it can get my attention, it will catch everyone else’s attention,” he said.  “That’s why I chose Charlotte Web because everyone knows it. I also try to fit actors who were in the plays last year and find stuff that interest them.”

One of the most important part about a play; besides the production itself is the audition. The audition is a crucial process; finding which actors are the most superb for each character. “I’m looking for their best because I want them to push themselves and let me decide when they reach their potential.”

Forty JCHS students auditioned for Charlotte’s Web, they signed up with partners and did readings together, Mr. Hagemeister describes the audition process. “Everyone reads the same thing, two at a time, three different readings. One was a funny little scene where Charlotte and Wilbur meet, the other was a brother and sister scene and the last one was Charlotte dying.”

They have been rehearsing for a couple of weeks, they go through six weeks of rehearsal, two of those weeks is where they do dress rehearsal.

Being a director is a lot of hard work. Everything is on their shoulders. One of the most  rigorous parts during the audition process for a director is choosing which actor to play which part, a lot goes into choosing who plays what. “Some of it is based on their looks, size, like it needs to believable. For example, Avery, I needed someone to look young. With the boys, you get what you get for trying out. With the girl’s it’s pick and choose and you look at the character and hear how they sound,”  Hagemeister explained.

Charlotte Web is a book we’ve all read in Elementary school, we all know the story and what’s it’s about, so having the high school do it is like walking down memory lane. “It’s a recognizable children’s book, I remember reading it in the third grade, and I hear kids around the hall saying they remember it and loved it as a kid. It’s a relatable book through their childhood.”
Please support your fellow blue jays and go see Charlotte’s Web on November 18th and 19th in JCHS auditorium. Tickets cost $5, but students get in free with their student ID