Fairy tales meet marathons

EPHRATA —This weekend, Ephrata audiences will step into a whimsical world where fairy tales meet marathons and laughter dances in the air like confetti. Ephrata High School’s drama department invites the community to join them for a double feature: “Race Day” and “Snow White and the Seven Endings” are taking the stage for closing weekend this Friday and Saturday.

The opening weekend kicked off with enthusiastic crowds and some unexpected twists for the cast and crew.

“It’s been an incredible journey,” said director Marla Allsopp. “We had to pivot from our original plan of performing ‘Around the World in 80 Days’ due to some casting challenges, but the students showed immense resilience and commitment. They wanted to keep moving forward, and we ended up choosing two new, hilarious shows that would allow them to shine.”

Allsopp said they originally chose “Around the World in 80 Days” as their show for February in December; however, after multiple cast members had to quit because of scheduling conflicts, they decided to pivot. She said she asked the students if they still wanted to do a show in January and after many students were disappointed there might not be a show, she began searching for productions they could pull off.

“They were absolutely willing to take risks and to do crazy things and to step into a lot of situations,” Allsopp said. “A lot of it’s just doing crazy stuff, rolling around, wearing tutus. Whatever I asked of them to make the show work, they did without complaining. They spent the time.”

“Race Day” is a fresh take on the inner workings of a marathon runner’s mind. The characters are represented by various aspects of the psyche — from Ego to Primal Instinct — as they navigate the chaos of running a race.

“It’s a comedic exploration of how different parts of our mind react in high-pressure situations,” Allsopp said. “It’s relatable; we’ve all experienced moments of doubt and panic in our lives.”

The cast rose to the occasion, memorizing their lines and coordinating their performances in just four weeks. In two weeks, the students were doing off-book rehearsals.

“The first off-book rehearsal was daunting, but the students impressed me with their commitment,” Allsopp said. “Many genuinely supported each other throughout the process, willingly taking risks to make the show work.”

Allsopp said many of the students were working outside of rehearsal to memorize lines and make these shows happen, including Corbin Reeve, a senior and member of the cast, plays Ego in “Race Day.”

“Ego gets everyone into trouble with hasty decisions,” he said. “The characters struggle to maintain control, especially when things begin to fall apart. It’s a frantic but fun portrayal of the mental challenges we face.”

Complementing the antics of “Race Day” is “Snow White and the Seven Endings,” which takes the classic fairy tale and serves it up in seven different genres.

“I mean, you can’t go wrong with a fairy tale, right?” Allsopp said.

From melodrama to mystery, each version offers a unique spin on how Snow White’s story unfolds.

“Our show is about how different genres interpret the Snow-White tale. Each character represents a different genre, like Philip Marlowe in the mystery version,” Reeve said. “It’s fun to see the same story told in so many ways, with each twist being completely unexpected.”

The energy from audiences during the shows has been palpable, according to Allsopp.

“I think the crowd was amazing,” Reeve said. “Though we didn’t expect a huge turnout on opening night, we were thrilled to see so many people return for the Saturday show.”

Allsopp said it was hard to coordinate a show on both Valentine’s Day and on a three-day weekend, with audience sizes being smaller than average on Friday. However, on Saturday, the crowd was bigger, she said.

“Regardless of the audience size, the students gave their all,” Allsopp said. “They performed with the same energy whether there were 15 or 50 people in the crowd.”

Despite the hurdles they faced – including illness among cast members and the need to adapt quickly to a new script – the community has remained supportive, Allsopp said.

“We truly appreciate our audience. It’s encouraging to see people come out, even those who have no direct connection to the cast,” she said. “That support demonstrates the heart of our community.”

As the closing weekend approaches, the cast and crew are eager to make the most of the remaining performances. Reeve hopes to nail his lines in “Race Day” after experiencing hiccups during the opening nights.

“I want to make sure my big speech goes perfectly this time around,” he said.

The shows will run Friday and Saturday at 7 p.m., with tickets priced at $10. Allsopp encourages anyone interested in a night of laughter and creativity to join them.

“We have poured our hearts into these performances, and we want to share our passion for theater with everyone. It’s not just about the shows; it’s about the hard work and dedication the kids put into it. Everyone has an opportunity to shine,” she said.

'Race Day' and 'Snow White and the Seven Endings'

Ephrata High School

7 p.m. Feb. 21-22

Tickets are $10 at gofan.co/app/school/WA23763

    The Ephrata High School Drama Department pulled off a double feature of “Race Day” and “Snow White and the Seven Endings,” in just one month. The department had previously planned to perform “Around the World in 80 Days,” but with members of the cast leaving because of scheduling conflicts, the performers decided to pivot and put on a production of two smaller plays.
  

    The Ephrata High School Drama Department is putting on a dual feature of “Race Day” and “Snow White and the Seven Endings.” “Race Day” is about a first-time marathon runner and the internal thoughts alongside the event. Director Marla Allsopp said it is the marathon theatre version of the film “Inside Out.”
  

    Ephrata High School Drama Department is putting on a double feature of “Race Day” and “Snow White and the Seven Endings,” this Friday and Saturday. “Snow White and the Seven Endings” which takes the classic fairy tale and serves it in seven different genres,
  

    The Ephrata High School Drama Department is performing a dual feature of “Race Day” and “Snow White and the Seven Endings” this Friday and Saturday. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased at gofan.co/app/school/WA23763 or at the door. Students managed to pull off the dual production in less than a month after the previously scheduled play fell through.