provided by Emma Barth
Avove, Junior Jaxson Thibodeaux, who plays Cedric in this year's production of 'Puffs," interacts with Leo Vargas, who plays the main character named Wayne Hopkins. Although Thibodeaux is a returning thespian for Normal West theatre, Vargas is debuting his acting career. Catch 'Puffs' this weekend at Normal West!
Twenty-five years.
That is how long Ms. Emma Barth has been involved in theater.
Barth has been involved in theater since she was in elementary school. She has been involved in the theater department for Normal Community West High School for four years as a student, and two years as a teacher.
This year, Barth will embark on her second year of directing the student-play at Normal West, where the student thespians will present Puffs, a Harry-Potter-inspired adventure play.
Although directing at Normal West is newer for the director, Barth has dedicated her free time to helping other theater programs throughout her life.
“In high school I also was involved with the penguin project which is musical theater for children and young adults with special needs,” Barth explains.
In the present years, Barth has been involved in last year’s play The Crucible as director, and last year’s musical Hadestown as assistant director.
Barth explains through her directing style that [she] “is a little scatterbrained as [she’s] directing but like overall [she] kind of tr[ies] to get the main message across.”
Through the scatteredness of Barth’s directing, she wants to give her whole cast the opportunity to dive deeper into their characters.
Additionally, Mx. Gavin has been involved in theater for the majority of their life.
“When I was in elementary and middle school I acted on stage, and then in high school I was stage manager and lighting designer for 12 shows,” Gavin notes.
Gavin took a break from theater during college and decided to come back after hearing Normal West had an opening in the department last year.
Gavin and Barth are back together after working on The Crucible last year.
As opening night of this year’s production of Puffs is coming up, Barth and Gavin have the highest of hopes for the whole play.
Overall, the cast and crew are working together to put on a great show.
“Everyone is on stage for a great majority of the show, which forces the cast to work together constantly. We all get along well, though, and we’ve definitely bonded throughout the process,” senior cast member Gabby Streily says.
The humor that the cast has been able to share is a key aspect that has created core memories for the directors and cast.
“We have a couple of actors who break a lot on stage. So, they giggle or laugh. They break character at something another actor has said,” Emma Barth noted.
“I really want it to be a product of what the kids want to do,” she added.
Despite the overall positive discussion of the production as well as Gavin and Barth’s experience and leadership, there are still some things that the cast and crew have had to overcome.
As the actors have progressed from the two hour daily rehearsals, there are still sometimes where they break character and have to reign the seriousness back in.
“The rehearsals have gotten a little more intense since we have hit after that ‘off-book’ phase,” Barth shares.
Barth has expressed that a good word to describe the cast is “chaotic” which contributes to the fun atmosphere of rehearsals.
“ They just come up with the funniest things just on their own. I don’t even have to coach it out of them; they’re just funny in general,” Barth adds.
The funny input from the cast is sure to make the show one to not miss.
Puffs will hit the stage on Friday, October 10 at 7:00 pm.
You can also see the performance on Saturday, October 11 at 7:00 and Sunday, October 12 at 2:00.
The show will run for roughly 2 hours, with $10 tickets available both at the door and online.