Theatre took on Federico García Lorca’s The House of Bernarda Alba this October, and their all‑female cast gave the Spanish classic a fresh, modern edge. The play was centered on women trapped in a suffocating household and resonated deeply with the students who performed it.
“Everyone relates to each other, so it’s easy to connect,” senior Elizabeth Pennel, who plays Bernarda Alba in the play, said. “We’re a lot more friendly because we don’t have to compete, and I really like it because everyone feels more familiar.”
One of the most striking things about the production was simply that it was all women. In high school theater, it’s rare to see a show where every single role is played by girls, especially when so many plays are written with male leads or mixed casts in mind.
“The fall show is always really good for freshmen to get started, and a lot of them got to be in this and get close to upperclassmen,” junior Seriah Thomas, who plays Martirio, said. “It allowed a lot of the boys to also help out on set or find technical areas they were interested in as well, while the girls acted.”
The set design played a huge role in making the performance unforgettable. The stage was stripped down to a simple Spanish house and black dresses, creating a sharp, almost suffocating atmosphere that mirrored the play’s themes of repression and control. The minimalist design allowed the emotions and performances to take center stage, making the audience focus on the tension between the characters, however beautiful the set was. The production ultimately stood out not just for its performances but for what it represented. By reframing Lorca’s tragedy through their own experiences, the students showed that they were fully capable of telling complex stories and working in new dynamics to create an enjoyable show.
“I liked getting closer to everyone and getting lunch together,” Pennel said. “It was challenging to play such an intense character, but I think all of us tried really hard to make our characters our own and make the show a good one.”
