playbill vip

Welcome to our production of Matilda! This evening marks the culmination of what has truly been a grand experiment—our first ever  All County Theater. What makes this production truly unique is that our cast, tech crew, and costumers come from all over Hillsborough County. Unlike traditional high school theater, many of the students involved didn’t know each other before this. Yet, they came together in the spirit of collaboration and creativity to make something truly special.

Typically, a production like this would have approximately 80 hours or more of rehearsal time. We had half that. And with two casts, each cast only had about 20 hours. The tech crew had even fewer hours to prepare. Over the course of four weeks, students and faculty, many of whom had never met, gathered after full days of school to rehearse from 6 to 8 pm. Despite these challenges, they showed incredible dedication, and their willingness to learn and work together exemplifies the heart of educational theater.

Along the way, we encountered all the expected (and unexpected) obstacles—broken spotlights, roof leaks, last minute deliveries, and the ever-present struggle of working with “what we have”. Yet, where else but on the stage can you find 50 students coming together in a spirit of cooperation, pushing through the exhaustion and rising above the challenges of creating something from nothing? This is where the real magic of educational theater lies.

I would be remiss not to acknowledge the real hero of this evening—Laura Hobby, our Supervisor of Art and Theater for Hillsborough County Schools. Without her vision, support, and tireless effort, this production would not have been possible. It was about 10 months ago when Laura came to me and asked, “What do you think about All County Theater?” Without hesitation, I said, “I’m in.” And from that first conversation, we have come a long way. I can’t wait to take the lessons we’ve learned this year and see how we grow in the future.

Thank you for being here tonight and for supporting these incredible young artists. Enjoy the show!