The Dunbar Drama Department is doing fall plays in a big way. This year’s fall schedule is a bit different from the past because the drama department will be performing three plays, one more than the previous years.

    Students will take the stage this fall and winter in the productions of Women and Wallace, Dancing at Lughnasa, and O, P, Q, R, S, Etc. The Drama Department will take O, P, Q, R, S, Etc. to compete in the Kentucky Thespian Society Conference and Women and Wallace to compete in the Kentucky Theater Association Competition.

    O, P, Q, R, S, Etc. is a children’s play set in fictional Ottoville, ruled by the ridiculous dictator, Otto the Official. He declares that orange is the only legal color and that the townspeople have to wear labels telling them how to behave, (such as Peter the Prudent). Only Rozelle the Rebellious refuses to conform to the nonsense and dares to bring a blue flower into Otto’s orange world.

    Suddenly, the citizens of Ottoville are faced with a lesson to learn about loving all the colors of the rainbow, and showing their true colors. The cast includes Quinn Williams as Otto the Official, Clay Winstead as Peter the Prudent, Kenzie Rapp as Rozelle the Rebellious, Molly Gosky as Quilla the Quiet, Becca Kelly as Stacie the Silly, Matthew More as Edward, and Danielle Denniston and Meghan Little as the Essentials.

    The dates of performance are October 15-17, and will attend the Kentucky Thespian Society Conference at Morehead State University on February 17-18.

    Women and Wallace tells the story of Wallace Kirkman who, due to the traumatic childhood experience of his mother committing suicide, now has a hard time understanding women.

    The play follows him from ages 6 - 18, as he embarks into the real world. The play involves many awkward and hilarious encounters Wallace has with women, with each woman representing a milestone in his life. The cast includes Wilson Shirley as Wallace, Oriana Midence as his mother, Whitney McWhorter as his grandmother, Hannah Fister as Victoria, Morgan Simpson as the psychiatrist, Paige Mason as Sarah, Bethany Finley as Nina, and Vynique Walker as Wendy.

    It is set to take stage at Dunbar on November 2-3, and will attend the Kentucky Theater Conference Competition in Danville on November 4-7. Dancing at Lughnasa is set in the summer of 1936 in Ireland in the fictional town of Ballybag. It is a memory play told from the adult perspective of Michael Evans. It tells the story of the five un-married Mundy sisters and the summer he spent with them at his aunt’s cottage when he was seven.

    The cast will be played by Wilson Shirley as Michael, Bethany Finley as Kate, Sarah Donaho as Maggie, Abbie Hymas as Agnes, Sarah Hadi as Rose, Emily McGillivray as Christina, Randall Dull as Gerry, and Adam Falluji as Jack. Dancing at Lughnasa’s performance dates are December 2-5.

    Although it may seem hard to take on an extra play this semester, the theater staff and its students are prepared for such a task.Women and Wallace will be directed by Ms. Tonda Fields, O, P, Q, R, S, Etc. will be directed by Mr. Evan Bergman, and Dancing at Lughnasa will be directed by Dunbar’s Drama teacher, Mrs. Alicia Henning. The three plays will also give more opportunities for students to take part.

    “With such a busy season, there will be a significant number of opportunities for people interested in participating,” said co-president of the International Thespian Society, senior Bethany Finley.

    “For those that aren’t interested in being on stage, or behind the curtain, you can support by coming out to see the shows- it’s going to be a great season,” said Finley.