South Side students take to the stage

It was show time last weekend as members of South Side High School’s International Baccalaureate Theater Class presented shows that they wrote, casted, directed and produced in a month’s time.

“Student Directed” included seven 10-minute plays that involved nearly 100 students: “Beep Beep,” a story that shows a day in the life of a taxi driver, written and directed by Nicole Villalon and Brittany Abrams; “True Reflections,” a play about the therapy sessions of a family that has lost a brother/son, written and directed by Rebecca Heins; “The Broken Marionettes,” a play that looks at the lives of two societies, a Utopia and in contrast, a Dystopia, written and directed by Joey Nizich; “343,” a movement piece that shows the emotions of a family of a firefighter on the day of 9/11, written and directed by Lauren Murray and Keri Grandazza; “Fallen,” a play that listens in on a group therapy session of people who were affected by 9/11, written and directed by Steph Ziegler and Emily Schnee; “V-J Day,” a play that follows nurses and sailors on V-J Day and shows how one sailor and a nurse end up kissing (like the famous picture in Times Square), written and directed by Angela Yamamoto and Caitlyn Mullooly and “Freedom,” a show about order in society and one who questions it, written and directed by Rebecca Cooper and Raquel Palmas.

Brian Remy, the student producer of the plays who dealt with the facility, sets, lighting, publicity and technical aspects of the production, including budgets and rehearsals, said that it has become more than just an IB project — it has become a place where all South Side students can mix and meet other students, try different things, have a new experience and step out of their shells. Brian said that the proceeds from the sold-out shows on Friday and Saturday (usually about $2,000), are donated to charity. This year the International Rescue Committee will be the beneficiary.