On April 26th, as the majority of IHS students shuffled off to study or go to practice, 20 students were doing something that was forgotten for 40 years. These students have been applying themselves with clear dedication and discipline for the past 8 months, preparing and perfecting a poignant piece of theater for competition, and were now boarding a school bus to the METG state finals competition.
As a new school, IHS theater president Maggie Carlberg says, “We were not expecting to advance past the first round. I mean, we knew we were at one of the hardest sites. Literally all of the schools with us but one had advanced to the semi finals last year.” Carlberg is referring to the second round of METG dramafest, a longstanding tradition in Massachusetts. The festival is nationally recognized, with about 100 participating schools in the first round. This number is cut in half for semifinals, and there are only 15 schools in the final round.
Ipswich went into the preliminary rounds hosted by Saugus high school simply excited to have a good time and learn, says Maya Powers, a junior who was a member of the award-winning ensemble. Ipswich brought their story- one of familial trauma resulting from long-standing disordered eating and a daughter’s return to home after spending months in anorexia treatment- to the competition. The audience was captivated.
“I walked off stage thinking we messed up,” says Carlberg, “and then I saw how many people were crying in the audience and I was kinda just like, oh well in that case we’re probably fine.”
The show’s success was hugely in part because of the direction of Brian Coelho, a new teacher at Ipswich High, and Michael Coelho, the Director of Fine Arts. The Coelhos added an entire ensemble line that was repeatedly praised by the judges, complete with intense choreography and body percussion meant to mimic the emotional turmoil of a panic attack.
“We have always wanted to do fest, but we knew how much of a time commitment that was going to be,” says Brian Coelho, the new drama and dance teacher at IHS. “With this new position, it became possible.” Brian goes on to talk about the importance of this topic and the importance of taking care with each step and each scene choreographed.
“We worked closely with the guidance department to ensure we were giving these characters the truest chance to tell their story. The actors did a great job, but we needed that scaffolding,” says Michael Coelho. Both of the directors of the show beamed with pride at their students and performance as they spoke, clearly pleased with the outcome.
The show, initially over an hour, was cut down to the 40 minutes that is necessary for an METG show. The cast worked diligently to keep the show under 40 minutes, comfortably allowing it to rest around 35-37. If the cast went even 3 more minutes, they would have been disqualified.
Liv Driscoll has been a part of the Ipswich Music and Theatre program since middle school. When asked about her favorite part of Rinse and Repeats journey to the finals she said, “Going on the actual festival days, and getting to meet new people” who are all “welcoming and kind”. Additionally, she said she loves “Getting to work on [a program] for so long with the same group of people” and that it allows them to grow a true bond and friendships. Being the rhythm captain, she said the hardest part for her was “Doing the rhythms for the ensemble” and keeping her cast members in sync.
The journey the cast and crew of Rinse and Repeat took this year is truly memorable, and honourable. They devoted themselves to the success of their program, which surely paid off. Like Liv Driscoll said, they are “building a legacy” that will never be forgotten. For the first time in 40 years these 20 students achieved an honor only few can imagine, and built valuable friendships and bonds from their journey.
