Ms. Seiderman, North High’s newest theater director, has begun rehearsals for North High’s upcoming performance of “Almost, Maine.” Her extensive resume contains acting roles in various productions, along with directorial positions in numerous shows. Seiderman has an outgoing personality and focuses on the connection between each part of the theatrical community.
“My favorite part of being a theater director is collaboration,” Seiderman said. “That’s why I do theater, because it’s not a solitary art; it’s about all of the magic that can happen when you have a lot of creative forces working together.”
Communicating with the actors, set builders, costume designers, musicians and technical staff, Seiderman is the glue that binds together North High’s theatrical department.
Although not permanent, Seiderman has graciously accepted her role in directing North High’s upcoming play. Her devotion to the North High theatrical community exemplifies her and the students’ openness.
Students have quickly welcomed Seiderman into the theatrical community, appreciating her ability to guide the cast through thick and thin.
“I’m walking into [Junior Players], there’s a community that already exists,” Seiderman said. “As an outsider, coming into the community is a bit hard, but I felt very welcomed by the people here.”
As Seiderman grows closer to the students, there is a subtle bittersweet feeling knowing that their time together is limited. Regardless, students savor every moment of rehearsal—from blocking to line memorization—in anticipation of the nostalgic goodbye after closing night.
The play includes a series of short stories, each separate from the others. Each actor plays one role, and will only be present for the duration of their plot line.
“The play is a series of vignettes, where each story has a beginning, middle and end about people who live in a fictional town called ‘Almost, Maine’,” Seiderman said.
While separate, each story is interconnected through themes of love, along with the concurring events happening under the same set of northern lights.
“The storyline is about people falling in and out of love, yet it is beneficial to those people,” Seiderman said. “Each story ends with the appearance of the northern lights, as they are all happening at the same time in the same town.”
The intimate setting and separate scenes creates an intimate environment where each encounter is magical and every exchange is emotional. Viewers are transported into the imaginative town, and reminded of the beauty in fleeting memories.
