As the school year rapidly comes to an end, the Del Oro Theater department prepares its final show of the year. This year, Director Jason McClain has selected “Clue” as the final production.
“Clue” is a well-known murder-mystery board game that has been adapted into a comedic murder-mystery film and stage production. The Del Oro theater adaption will feature cast members from previous shows.
Autumn Alvarez is a freshman who has appeared in the last two shows, “The Bold, The Young and The Murdered” and “The Jungle Book.” Alvarez said she is excited to return to the stage for one more play before summer break and said she looks forward to continuing her journey in theater next year. In “Clue,” Alvarez plays Yvette the maid.
“I’ve had a really fun time working with (the cast) and I think it’s going to be an amazing production,” said Alvarez, who worked with several of her “Clue” cast mates in previous productions.
One of those cast mates is Senior Esmeralda Salgado, who has been in multiple productions throughout her time at Del Oro. Salgado’s first production as a Sun was “Kidney Island.” In “Clue,” she plays Miss Scarlett.
“I just hope they enjoy it as much as I enjoyed it,” said Salgado, when asked if she had any expectations of audience reactions.
Salgado added that she’s feeling bittersweet with this production since it’s her final performance at Del Oro.
“On closing night, I’m going to be really sad,” she said. “I’ve met a lot of people through the Theater department and I learned to open up more, so I think I’m happy where I’m at.
“I’ll definitely miss this school and everyone.”
Junior Nataly Gurrola was in Fall’s “The Bold, The Young and The Murdered” and has been in several other productions. Gurrola plays Mrs. White in “Clue.”
“She hates men, she’s low-key a sociopath, but that’s okay,” Gurrola said of her character. “She’s kind of rude, but that’s okay because she’s a woman.”
Unlike previous productions, “Clue” features two directors: McClain and improvisation coach John Spitzer.
“I feel like we compliment each other pretty well,” Spitzer said. “[McClain] handles a lot of the tech, the more technical aspects, and I work with the actors a little bit more. So it’s a pretty good relationship.”
McClain said he wants to continue expanding the Theater department over time and bring more students into the theater, either as actors or in the audience.
“This makes the second full-length play that we’ve done since we opened and we’re still a pretty new department,” McClain said. “So yeah, we’re starting to do bigger and more robust performances.”
Spitzer also said he’d like the Theater department to expand.
“It’s a lot of fun and self expression,” he said. “You get to be yourself in a no-judgement zone, and then get in touch with different characters and different sides of yourself. So there’s a lot of room for exploration and growth.”
Auditions for the Theater department’s fall production will start around late August.
Performances of “Clue” are scheduled for May 8 at 6 p.m. and May 10 at 12 .p.m. Incoming freshmen are admitted to the show free with their current school ID.
“It’s very funny, It’s got a lot of witty dialogue. It’s got really entertaining characters,” McClain said of the play and cast. “They’re quirky. They’re silly. It’s pretty fast and furious, so you’ve got to stay tuned.”
