The comedy, Airline by Tim Kelly, debuts at the San Lorenzo High School PAC on May 13th at 7:00pm. Other performances are May 14th, 19th, 20th, and the 21st at 7:00pm and at 2:00pm on May 15th. The play is directed by a familiar face on the SLVHS campus and in the drama program at SLVHS: Sage Pell. He has illuminated the stage this school year with his roles in M*A*S*H and Crazy for You.
Sage Pell emerged in SLVHS drama productions during his Freshmen year, because he had heard that the drama community was full of marvelous and creative people and he personally wanted to be apart of the community. Since he joined, Sage has played roles onstage, done tech work, and now adds director to the list of positions he has taken on. Though all roles have different functions and tasks, Sage explains that every part has a vital role in the production of a play. He enjoys participating in the varieties of drama positions that help develop a play.
With each job comes individual challenges to overcome, and Sage said that he had some trouble adjusting from an actor to a director. Some of the troubles include needing to be authoritative over his peers, learning how to guide people in how they should act out scenes, and helping his peers build their character with their own flare. The Senior also had to commit a large chunk of time to make sure the play is made to the best of his abilities. Sage explained that since he is the director he has to be at every single rehearsal, unlike when he was an actor and only had to be there when he was called. Sage also confessed that when he is not at rehearsals he is responding to emails and communicating to others about the play.
“Being the director means a lot of multi-tasking and delegating; everything can’t be done yourself,” Sage Pell states. Even if he could do it all, it creates a lot of stress to run a show all on his own, so he relies on a team which he respects and trusts. Through his experience he has learned how to better communicate and inspire his team in new ways that can help deepen their professional relationship and make the show better. With support from his team, Drama Boosters, his mentor Susan McKay, and the cast of Airline, Sage feels confident in showcasing the talent of SLVHS students and proving his readiness for his next steps in life.
Next fall Sage will be attending UCSC where his goal is to become an electrical engineer. He has a love for the performing arts, but has no plan on pursuing a career in it, although he admits that he would care to do college theater and community theater after he graduates. He seemed very enthusiastic about keeping drama in his life because it makes him a more empathetic, vibrant, and a well rounded person. On top of that Sage has a strong sensation of family from theater communities, and close friendships can stem from the community as well.
Despite the countdown for graduation and the start of a new chapter in his life, Sage still goes full force into the play. When proposing ideas for the play, Sage thought Airline would be a great play to get more people involved in the production due to the large cast. He wanted to include everyone who has passion and committed. He says, “No matter the size of the part you’re doing is, there is something beautifully sublime about the connection you portray with the audience through your character and with your fellow cast members, which are all utterly human.” Sage is very understanding and passionate about drama, and hopes to carry this passion with pride in the next chapter in his life. Regarding Airline, Pell said, “I expect it to be a fantastic production owed to the wonderful collaboration, especially the work of the drama family that came together to work with graceful efforts to make this possible.”
By Tylia Lundberg
The Claw 