After the controversial departure of popular theater director Paula Ohaus in the summer, a new, younger voice in the theater department has stepped in, and as one student recently said, “The show must go on.”
Danielle Miller is set to direct her first play at Hoboken High School called “Voices from The High School,” based on the play by Peter Dee.
“I wanted to do a play that taught lessons and meant something to the students,” Miler said.
On Wednesday afternoon, a group of approximately 15 students mingled in the auditorium at Hoboken High School while most of their peers had already escaped school for the Thanksgiving break. Miller directed students on stage, asking them to perform their quick monologues and short scenes. She gave advice on the tone of their voices during certain lines, and how to react to certain parts of the play. Meanwhile, in a back room on the stage, other students worked on painting and designing the set.
The cast is only two weeks away from performing their show for a live audience.
The show will be performed on Dec. 9 at 7 p.m., Dec. 10 at 7 p.m., and Dec. 11 at 2 p.m.
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“I commend them for being so brave and for taking on some of the issues that the play presents,” Miller said.
Miller, who previously taught and directed plays at a middle school in New Jersey, said she is excited to take on more serious themes.
Ariel Cruz, 16, is a junior at Hoboken High School, and serves as the production assistant, and is also in the show. Cruz has been performing at Hoboken High School since she was in the 6th grade.
“It’s a fun play, but there are some serious concepts that are addressed,” Cruz said. She said that the group rehearses three times a week for about four hours.
Alex Yoon-Hendricks, 15, is a sophomore, and is also in the play. She is also the stage manager.
“I like the show,” she said. “It’s a little more edgy, but it’s essentially the same problems that teenagers our age face.”
A new chapter
Despite the departure of the popular director Ohaus, Yoon-Hendricks said the theater department is still a hit at Hoboken High.
“There were 40 kids auditioning (for 17 spots) and we’re expecting even more to try out for our next show,” Yoon-Hendricks said. “Losing Ms. Ohaus was tough, but the show must go on.”
Many of the students who will perform in the play also appeared at Board of Education meetings earlier this year to support Ohaus when she was up for tenure. It was ultimately not offered for a variety of reasons, including concerns from administrators about off-site parties and sleepovers.
“Ms. Ohaus told us that she wanted us to continue to perform in the district,” Cruz said.
As for Miller, she is ready to make her own new mark in Hoboken.
Originally, Miller said she always wanted to be on stage and didn’t see herself as an offstage part of productions. But after she interned at the Bob Luke Acting Studio, she said she began to help others prepare for their auditions and roles.
“I never saw myself as directing but my experience in Manhattan started leaning toward that,” she said. “And then I travelled and performed with the off-Broadway production of ‘Tony and Tina’s Wedding,’ so that helped my improvisational skills.”
Miller has a Bachelor of Arts in Theater from Montclair State University, and said after teaching in a middle school, she started to send out copies of her resume to high schools.
“By some miracle I got a phone call at the end of July and I came in and interviewed,” she said. “I thought ‘Wow, this is what I’ve been working toward for five or six years.’ I wanted to be a full time theater teacher, but it’s hard to find. A lot of schools have cut theater.”
In addition to directing the plays, Miller also teaches two English classes and three theater classes every day.
“The classes give kids a chance to figure out a little bit about themselves,” she said. “They can build their confidence and self-esteem.”
Miller described the play as “a roller coaster of emotions,” saying that she hopes that not only the audience learns something from it, but said she hopes the students are learning a lot too. She read about 50 plays, trying to pick what was the best selection for the school and the students.
“I think we got it right,” she said.
Miller said there are some high school-aged themes in the production, so the play is more appropriate for teenagers, but all are welcome to the play.
“It’s a dedication to all the lost voices in high schools everywhere,” Miller said.
The show will be performed on Dec. 9 at 7 p.m., Dec. 10 at 7 p.m., and Dec. 11 at 2 p.m. For tickets, simply buy them at the door on the day of the show or go to Hoboken.k12.nj.us. Tickets are $7 general admission, $5 for students, and $3 for seniors.
Ray Smith may be reached at RSmith@hudsonreporter.com