The audience burst into laughter during the Drama Queen’s New Year themed performance. During their first show of the calendar year, the Drama Queens acted out multiple parodies of New Year’s resolution setting, a dramatic monologue from the New Year’s Eve ball and an awkward dialogue between two former partners.
The Drama Queens are an improv and acting group of students taking upper school theatre electives. The group puts on four shows per year, each a unique theme, and performs in a wide range of acting styles.
Although the performance was originally scheduled for early January, it was delayed due to the Southern California wildfires, and took place on February 13 during lunch. This reduced rehearsal time and resulted in the performers using scripts during the performance. Audience member and sophomore Maya Sakhnini said performance quality was not impacted by these delays.
“I thought it was very funny,” Sakhnini said. “They did a very good job with it, even though it wasn’t memorized.”
The show’s postponement was not the only challenge, as the New Year’s themed show was not initially comprised of four original pieces. Drama Queens member Bryce Collis (’25) had to remove and replace a scene from the show because of issues adapting it for a school audience.
“The reality of performing at a school is, and in general, is that sometimes the material is not something that your audience is ready for,” Collis said. “We had a scene that was adopted from SNL, which is an adult show, and we tried to make it more appropriate — but it just wouldn’t work.”
The Drama Queens are driven by peer collaboration — all members contribute to each scene and give feedback during rehearsals. Teacher Tracy Poverstein provides students with the guidance and skills that are necessary to be an engaging performer.
“It makes me excited,” Collis said. “I get to use so many skills that Ms. Poverstein taught me over the years, to create some really special works and performances”
This show incorporated fully original pieces, so the Drama Queens not only used their acting skills but also practiced writing and directing. Whitney said that this process is not linear, and writing and rehearsing happen simultaneously.
“Drama Queens is trying to be a fully fledged theater class. It’s not just acting. It’s not just performing in one way. It’s a little bit of everything,” Whitney said. “It’s directing and acting, and it’s writing.”
Whitney said being a part of the Drama Queens has allowed her to explore her passion for theatre in a safe and experimental space.
“To be able to have such a kind of sacred space like that in Drama Queens, where you can be free to play and be creative has been such a wonderful thing,” Whitney said. “ I think we all share that belief.”
Drama Queens provides an environment to be creative, Collins said, creating intimate, lunchtime productions for small audiences. This allows there to be more room for bonding, and friendship, as there is less pressure to produce elaborate shows for a whole school audience.
“Laughing with the Drama Queens, is my favorite part, because there’s no other space where I get to be this wacky and weird, and being able to let go with a group of people is so fun,” Collis said. “Usually, that’s the kind of thing that the audience doesn’t get to see because it is behind the scenes, but it creates an incredible chemistry on stage.”
Whitney encourages the community to come to their lunchtime shows.
“I think it is important to support them despite, your preference to maybe go sit and have lunch with your friends, or maybe not wanting to feel a little awkward if they mess up a line,” Whitney said. “The important thing is supporting the arts and supporting your friends who are expressing themselves creatively — at the end of the day, they’re always good shows.”
