WHS Drama Society Competes at Festival

The Winthrop High School (WHS) Drama Society participated in the Massachusetts Theater Guild Drama Festival on March 1, at Hamilton-Wenham Regional High School. The cast performed FLYBOY, by Yvonne Adrian, about an eight-year-old boy, Zachary (played by Bobby Gioiosa) who strangely stops speaking.

“Working on FLYBOY with such a talented cast and crew has been a tremendous journey,” said Karen Calinda, Director. “We are thrilled about what we have created and are so excited to bring this piece to the preliminary round.”

Zachary’s parents (played by Katie Beadle and Dan Figueira) try to discern what happened to their son by seeking the advice of doctors and psychiatrists, only to discover that they were discordant with their son and not giving him the nurturing attention he deserved.

The boy plays air drums and can hear the music (that is in actuality being played by student, Chris Murphy, upstage) as he drums. Students Mark Tracy and Elizabeth Carsley wrote and performed live original compositions to accompany the play that is set in New York.

“About 15 years ago, I saw this play at The Massachusetts State Drama Festival,” Calinda said. “This play had such a profound effect on me that I never forgot it.”