By SUSANNA CONINE-NAKANO – Variety Writer
Kyle Fox
The upcoming production of A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum stars Clarke Central High School senior Kyle Fox as Pseudolus, the main character of the musical. This will be Fox’s 11th show with the CCHS Drama Club.
As a veteran actor, Fox has a routine before each performance.
“Before the show, I take a minute to step away from everything and really get into character,” Fox said.
While Fox has been acting in CCHS productions since his freshman year, he has also held the position of Drama Club president for two consecutive years. Some of his duties include presiding over the Drama Club meetings, answering member’s questions and creating the schedule.
Through the years, Fox has enjoyed performing in a variety of productions, as, according to him, each was a memorable experience.
“Boys Next Door is one of my favorite plays I’ve been in. We had a group who knew what they were doing and really made the show great,” Fox said.
Fox considers Drama Club to be a place where all types of people collaborate to create a production.
“Drama club is full of really fun and amazing people,” Fox said. “There are all types: nerds, jocks, artists, the socially awkward, and we are able to come together and put together a show.”
Avni Chaudhari
CCHS freshman Avni Chaudhari will be the sound technician in CCHS’s production of A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, which will be her first experience working with sound technology.
As the sound tech, Chaudhari will have control over the actor’s microphones and is excited to watch the show grow.
“You have to pay a lot of attention to what’s going on and pay attention to little details,” Chaudhari said.
Chaudhari’s older sister and former CCHS student Aashka Chaudhari was also involved in the Drama Club, inciting Avni’s interest.
“Aashka always talked about how much she liked drama and how fun it was, but I don’t want to be exactly like her,”Avni said.
While Avni works mainly on the technological aspect of the production, she also enjoys the acting aspect of Drama Club.
“We play a lot of games that help us improve our acting skills and it’s great way to meet and bond with others,” Chaudhari said.
Chaudhari is also in Cinematography Club and produces short films of her own.
“I find making them and being creative really fun,” Chaudhari said.
Nicole Googe
The upcoming musical A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum stars CCHS freshman Nicole Googe as Philia, the love interest of the main character, Pseudolous.
Googe is excited about the opportunity to portray a character she does not naturally relate to.
“She’s not like me. She’s really unintelligent so I think it will be really fun to play her,” Googe said.
While Forum will be her first production with the CCHS drama club, Googe, a trained dancer, has been involved in other drama productions through the Rose of Athens summer program and Oconee Youth Playhouse. However, playing Philia in Forum will be her first role as a main character.
According to Googe, her favorite role thus far was that of Eliza Doolittle in a production of Pygmalion by George Bernard Shaw.
“I had to do a Cockney accent and it was really fun,” Googe said.
Googe admires her sister, CCHS senior Katie Googe, an active participant in the CCHS drama program.
“She has great facial expressions and can really bring her character alive even when she is not speaking,”Nicole said.
Nicole already looks forward to working with Katie, along with the rest of the cast.
“Katie loves it so much. I’m glad to be able to share that with her,” Nicole said.
Chyna Brooks
CHS sophomore Chyna Brooks is eager to be part of the ensemble in CCHS’s production of A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, her first production with CCHS.
“Acting is so interesting because sometimes you have to portray someone you’re not and it’s fun seeing how things are from their point of view,” Brooks said.
Earlier this year, Brooks was part of the ensemble in Athens Creative Theater production of The Wizard of Oz.
“I was extremely excited to be in The Wizard of Oz since I have been interested in acting for a while,” Brooks said.
Since joining drama club, Brooks has enjoyed performing improv, a form of acting in which actors do not perform with scripted lines and create all dialogue created.
“I like the creativity of improv and how it has spontaneity to it,” Brooks said
This is Brooks’ second year in Drama class and her first year in Drama Club. However, Brooks has had an interest in acting since the second grade and has decided to pursue it.
“Since I now have the opportunity to perform with CCHS, I am going to take advantage of it and apply myself,” Brooks said.
More from Susanna Conine-Nakano
