By CRISTINA JANNEY
Hays Post
Thomas More Prep-Marian students will perform “You Can’t Take It With You” Friday, Saturday and Sunday in the TMP-M Dreiling Theater.
Travis Grizzell, director, described the play’s plot.
“The plot is a look at two contrasting families and a young couple trying to navigate their place in the world, being from two totally different ways of life,” he said. “We have a very straight-laced, by the book businessman and his family whose son is in love with a girl from a very eclectic, care-free, live-in-the-moment family. The story progresses into a message about what ultimately matters in life.”
The Pulitzer Prize-winning play dates back to the 1930s with a film version, which won the Academy Award for Best Picture and Best Director, that was released in 1938. The film adaptation stared Jimmy Stewart.
“… there are definitely some time period things that we had to explain to the kids (and me even). But much like many classic plays or Shakespeare, the human elements are timeless and relatable to most everyone,” Grizzell said.
Despite a setting 80 years in the past, Grizzell said he thought modern audiences will be able to relate to the themes in the play.
“I think we’ve all had to deal with awkward family members and maybe been a little embarrassed by them. There’s also the father-son dynamic that a lot of families can relate to,” he said.
Grizzell said the TMP students bring their own interpretations to the characters in the classic play.
“Sometimes the difference in generations can bring a very entertaining approach to characters like these,” he said. “The kids definitely bring some different things to these characters than I anticipated while reading the script. There’s always a little bit of the actor in each character, which makes a show like this that’s done so often unique to each cast and performance.”
Grizzell said he selected the play because it allowed many students to participate.
“The writing is great, and the story has held up so well over time. These authors also have so many good, entertaining characters in their plays,” he said.
Performances will be at 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday.
Cost of tickets are $8 each and can be purchased by clicking here or by calling the Fine Arts Ticket Line at 785-621-5478.
Below is the cast list:
- Sam – Sarah Braun
- Joey – Morgan Olmstead
- Frank – Maggie Baalmann
- Dean – Maggie Brull
- Gay Wellington – Annie Wasinger
- Grand Duchess Olga Katrina – Jasmine Robles
- Miriam (Mrs.) Kirby – Alexandra Herrman
- Rheba – Whitney Befort
- Donna – Kaitlyn Burd
- Essie – Madelyn Seiler
- Alice – Hailey Casey
- Penny – Abby Peeler
- Henderson – Nick Helget
- Mr. DePinna – Lucas Kraus
- Ed – Aidan Normandin
- Paul Sycamore – Hunter Flax
- Boris Kolenkhov – Paul Brull
- Anthony (Mr.) Kirby – Aakash Patel
- Tony Kirby – Dylan Werth
- Martin (Grandpa) Vanderhoff – Ben Pfannenstiel