Talon Theatre traditions
The traditions that make Talon Theatre, Talon Theatre.
When people think of “Talon Theatre” the first things that comes to mind are plays and musicals. But to thespians, the first things brought to mind are family and tradition. Whether it is singing “The Chain” before the show starts or going to Ballpark Pizza on Friday night, Talon Theatre runs deeper than just performing. The numerous traditions keep the spirit of fun alive in Talon Theatre through the years.
The “Hello Dolly!” cast takes a quick break to take some group photos.
“Traditions are important because they bring people together as a whole and they stay the same even when all the people are changing,” said junior Elliana Maggetti. “We are a huge family and everyone takes care of each other, so having these traditions allow us to stay connected, even after our friends graduate.”
Senior JeanneAnne Faris is on the thespian board as Vice President and works with other board members to maintain traditions.
“Chapel was the first unique tradition I experience during my freshman year,” Faris said. “I was immediately introduced to a whole new side of theatre. It wasn’t about the plays, it was about the people around you.”
Chapel is a cherished theatre tradition that has been going on since the very first thespian troupe. Before every show, all of the students and teachers involved in the production are invited to gather in a circle in the Sacred Heart Chapel. Equipped with pajamas, blankets and tissues, the participants in chapel create an emotional and loving atmosphere. Each person has the option to either single someone out or talk to the entire group about how much they love and appreciate them. It is an experience that no other club at SMCHS participates in and a tradition that deepens their relationships with each other.
“It is a really good time to get to know people and see their love for others,” Faris said. “There is so much love and understanding in the room and God is so evident in that. It is easily my favorite part about being in shows.”
Junior Mickey Galvin leads her “Hello Dolly!” cast mates in yoga before getting started with chapel.
After chapel, it is time to get to work. This involves putting actors into makeup and costumes, setting up props and finding time to eat dinner before the performance. For the next two hours, nerves and stress levels run high, but all slows down when the piano starts playing “The Chain” and everyone gathers around to sing.
“Singing ‘The Chain’ is emotional,” Maggetti said. “Preparing for each show is really hectic and people are all over the place but then it all comes together before the show starts when everyone starts singing that. It calms everyone down and brings back the focus that we are doing this to enjoy ourselves and show our talents and to be a community.”
Once the song is over, everyone gathers in a circle to warm up their voices and be checked for last minute makeup and costume touches. After everyone is approved, the group gathers together to pray.
“Praying with each other is an amazing start to each show because we are able to all fully put our trust in God and know that we are all here for the same reasons,” Faris said.
After prayer, there is one final thing to do before cast members can officially take their places on stage. Everyone heads to the Black Box to rub the door knob one last time.
“It is a tradition that has been part of theatre since the beginning of time,” Faris said. “It seems to always bring us good luck… knock on wood.”
Even after the shows, the theatre family stays close with seasonal socials, such as the Welcome Back, Halloween and Christmas socials.
“The socials are really fun,” said junior Samantha Drust. “We always get together during a special time of year. My favorite is the Christmas social because there are tons of food and all of us come together and a lot of alumni come back and it is a great time to spend the holidays together.”
The Welcome Back social always starts with an intense game of Twister and continues on with different games that allow each other to get to know new members and catch up with old ones.
The Halloween social is usually hosted at a volunteer’s house, and everyone comes dressed up in elaborate costumes (these are theatre kids after all). The board members always do a group costume — this year is was Scooby Doo — and make sure not to break out of character for the whole night. The board members also put together a mystery murder case and leave it up to everyone else to figure out who the murder is by the end of the night.
To wrap up the year, all of the cast, crew, parents and theatre alumni are invited to celebrate at a year-end banquet, a suit and tie affair. The best part of the banquet is the senior skit.
“The senior skits are always really funny,” Drust said. “They put what has happened in the past year into the skit so it is exciting to see what they are going to put into it. It usually involves all our inside jokes that have happened in the past year and all the things that went wrong, but it is fun to see how they all put it together.”
Senior skit is followed by dinner, induction of new members and a farewell to the seniors. With each end to a banquet, the next year’s productions are announced and the excitement begins all over again.
The banquet does not end the friendship of Talon Theatre. Theatre students always sit together near the bell tower at lunch and always make sure to connect with each other even after the curtains have closed.
