A group of high school students wake up one day to find they are the only ones left in their town. It sounds like a dream come true. No nagging teachers. No whiney siblings. No demanding parents. Find out how a group of teenagers in Great Falls, Montana, handle this reality as Mahomet-Seymour High School presents “The End of the World (With Prom to Follow) as its annual fall play.
This obscure play, written by Chicago playwright Sean Abley, was chosen by second-year fall play director Chris Tabor, a Mahomet resident and drama teacher at Champaign’s Franklin Middle School. It will be presented at the recently renovated MSHS auditorium Thursday, Nov. 3 through Saturday, Nov. 5 at 7 pm. With an additional Sunday matinee performance at 2 pm.
Tabor said she spend summer months perusing dozens of scripts, trying to find the best fit for MSHS drama students. She was struck by The End of the World (With Prom to Follow).
“About a page into reading it, I knew the kids would be able to relate to it, but I didn’t know if it would offer my actors a challenge,” Tabor said. “However, as I read further, multiple levels revealed themselves. Issues such as morality, bullying, mortality, science vs religion, and a life worth living, all came into play. I hope audiences will leave with questions.“
Tabor’s inspiration to challenge her young thespians was not lost on cast members.
“Mrs. Tabor asked us to come up with background information about our character so we could understand what they were feeling,” said sophomore Julia Robbins. Robbins said this caused her to challenge her spirituality.
In the play, a great wall of light is encircling their town, and it is moving closer to city center. What the wall of light engulfs disappears as the light passes through town.
“My character doesn’t believe in a higher power,” Robbins said. “But as the light gets closer, she starts to believe in a higher power, whatever it may be.”
Actors Wes Bennett and Markus Caparoon, both seniors, said they were challenged by their characters in that they feel their personality is nothing like that of the roles they play.
Another item Tabor said drew her to this particular play was she was looking for a script with a rather large cast. The End of the World (With Prom to Follow) promised a flexible cast size of 35-100. When all parts were filled in Mahomet-Seymour, 48 students were cast, with an additional 30 or more students working behind the scenes on sets, lighting, sound, marketing, wardrobe and makeup.
As a second-year fall play director, Tabor said she learned certain things last year that made this production go smoother.
“Last year as a first-time director at MSHS, I didn’t know what to expect regarding rehearsal time since so many students are involved in extracurriculars here,” Tabor stated. “This year I knew how to attack that a little bit better. I am very fortunate to have a Spanish teacher, Ellen Ericson, as my producer this year.”
Since Tabor works in Champaign, she at times is not at the high school for the day-to-day complications that arise when putting on a production. She described Erickson as “invaluable as the liaison between myself, the building administrators, and teachers.”
Tabor also said another advantage this year is having a relationship already established with many of these students. “We’ve been able to grow together over the last two years, and that has been priceless. MSHS has a wonderful group of dedicated and talented students, both actors and crew.”
Tabor’s actors agree with that.
Grace Pauley, junior, actor, and student director said she appreciates how easy Tabor is to talk to.
Bennett said he appreciates how Tabor gives everyone an equal chance at the roles they may want to play.
“I’ve learned a lot from her. Plus she has a great sense of humor,” he said.
Fellow student director Robbins said she knew after meeting Tabor during last year’s performance of Leaving Iowa that she wanted to be a student director.
“I knew I could learn a lot from her,” she added.
Tickets for The End of the World (With Prom to Follow) are available from any cast member, or at the door before the performances. The cost is $8 for adults, $7 for students and seniors.
Five Minutes with Five Actors
Fall play director Chris Tabor said she chose The End of the World (With Prom to Follow) in part because she felt it would be a challenge to her young actors. Five actors in the production were asked how their role challenged them.
Julia Robbins, sophomore. This is Robbins’ 4th production at MSHS. Her character’s name is Becky. Robbins also is one of the play’s student directors.
Her challenge: “It is weird to act like the world is ending. In the play, something happens to one of Becky’s friends. And she is my friend in real life. So all these bad things are happening to Becky’s friends, who are really my friends. At times, it feels real.”
Grace Pauley, junior. Pauley said she has been in productions since she played Baby Jesus at age 3 months. This is her 13th show at MSHS. Her character’s name is Skylar, and Pauley also is one of the student directors.
Her challenge: “It is a challenge to me personally. I don’t think about the world ending every day. My main priorities are getting homework done and seeing my family. It made me wonder what I would do if all of a sudden I had to be an adult and make those decisions. The death penalty is brought up in the play. It made me wonder, what would I do if I had to contribute to the death of a classmate.”
Kat Blakeslee, senior. This is her 6th production at MSHS and her character’s name is Julie.
Her challenge: “Before, I thought of myself as an independent person. But now that I think about it, I really rely on others. I discovered I really love my friends. I didn’t think I needed them as much as I do.”
Markus Caparoon, senior. He has been in 12 previous productions and his character’s name is Tom.
His challenge: “Personally, I am not like my character. I had to adopt to new points of view that I don’t have as a person. My character likes to bring others down. He is an antagonist who likes to cause problems. It made me think about what it really means to be human.”
Wes Bennett, senior. He is in his 4th production at MSHS and his character’s name is Terrell
His challenge: “I don’t have a lot in common with my character. My character is a jock and a top dog. He tries to take control of the situation, but he can’t control his temper. He also goes behind his girlfriend’s back and dates her best friend. I don’t think he really cares about the best friend. I couldn’t do that.”
