playbill vip

Welcome to Never Eat a Talking Lobster: the second and final show in our 2023-2024 WMS Theatre season. This fantastical comedy whisks us away into a fairytale world of talking animals, selfish princesses and, of course, a magical lobster. We are thrilled to bring this production to the Wilson Middle School stage!

This piece is unique in that it is a “play within a play”: the young performers on stage play actors who are rehearsing a show, as well as characters within that show. Presenting a “play within a play” provides a unique opportunity for our students to learn about the ins and outs of rehearsal, and to engage in fruitful discussions about the process of creating theatre. 

Throughout our rehearsal process, students explored the concept of ensemble: a concept that demands putting the needs of the group over the desires of the individual. They also participated in conversations about how to handle some of the big emotions that come along with the casting process. Working on this particular show allowed us to tackle these lessons with humor and compassion.

In an effort to make this opportunity available to as many students as possible, we have reimagined this play, written for a 30-person cast, for a cast of 70. In doing so, actors were challenged with the task of developing additional original characters (and puppets) that fit seamlessly into the world of our play. I hope that this process solidified for our actors that their contributions have been essential to the success of this production and to the telling of this story.

Thank you for supporting live theatre. Enjoy the show!

With Gratitude,

Zoe Nadal