Arsenic and Old Lace is an over-the-top dark comedy by Joseph Kesselring centering around a family of homicidal maniacs. It is most well known for its 1944 Oscar-Winning movie adaptation. Ms. Susan Rhoden is guiding this production as director and is thrilled to be putting on this beloved comedy classic at our school.

"It is a wonderful play! It is old, and it has really clever writing and clever lines in it. And, it's amazing how many people will know this play when you say, 'Oh, I'm going to go see Arsenic and Old Lace.' 'Oh! I did that play when I was in high school!'... I love the source material," says Rhoden.

For the main cast, we have Quentin Picheco, 11, as Mortimer Brewster, Aimee Craanen, 11, as Abby Brewster, Sara Bravo, 12, as Martha Brewster, Colton Turner, 11, as Dr. Einstein, Mason White, 11, as Jonathan Brewster, and Addison Hunt, 9, as Elaine Harper. All of the actors have been preparing for months to put on this production, and now the play is right around the corner.

The play will run from April 1st to April 3rd. Showtimes are at 7 pm on Friday and Saturday night, and at 2 pm on Sunday on the Edgewood Black Box Theater stage, located in the band room. Tickets cost $5 beforehand, sold in the cafeteria the week prior, and $8 at the door.

For Emma Brandenburg, 12, the production's stage manager, the play is coming along great, and she is excited to see everything come together.

"Even though we do have to stay really late after school, and we miss out on a lot of sleep and homework, it's really fun... and, you know, it really pays off in the end, everybody clapping, and we're all like, 'we did it!'" says Brandenburg.

It has also been a challenge for many cast members as they start to work towards rehearsing "off-book," or without looking at their lines. Craanen, one of the show's two leading ladies, is adjusting to her first major role in an Edgewood production. The quantity of dialogue to memorize might be formidable, but Craanen is ready to rise to the challenge.

"I am struggling with [memorizing lines]. My first show that I have ever had to speak in was Murder Box, which is what the thespians did. Like, 20 lines. Jumping from that to 272 is a lot, but it's fun!" says Craanen.

Pichecho, the leading man, has had a lot of fun with the show too. Getting into his character Mortimer Brewster has been very fun and rewarding.

"It's just this perfect combination of being a normal character who has to go through all this chaotic stuff. Because Mortimer, as a character, is trying to seem like a normal, sort of, suave guy, but in reality, he's not... I feel just like it's the most fun I've had as any sort of character in any show," says Picheco

The theater program provides a unique space for students to express themselves, have fun, and make friends. If you want to support this program, the best way to do so would be to go see Arsenic and Old Lace. Rhoden encourages students to come to see the play to support the actors, to have fun, and to consider joining the program themselves.

"Come do something different. Come see what other people are doing, because it's fun, and [you] might want to join, even if [you] can't -I understand stage fright completely- but hey, you wanna help build what is currently sitting in the band room? It's amazing! So yeah come and see it. It'll be fun," says Rhoden.

Come and see the play, you don't want to miss it. Again, pre-sale tickets only cost $5. The theater program needs your support, and you're bound to have a laugh.