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Rounding out 91̽��’s fall performing arts schedule is this year’s 1212 play, Vanya and Sonya and Masha and Spike. Written by Christopher Durang, the comedy is a nod to Anton Chekhov and features three siblings coping with the challenges of getting older. The student cast members include Nick Gistis (III), Matthew Tyler (II), Abigail Foster (III), Clara Wolff (III), Charlotte Moremen (III) and Emma James (II). Evan Jenness (II) is the stage manager and performing arts faculty member Shane Fuller is directing.

“There are a lot of emotional layers to these characters,” says Abigail. “We all put a lot of thought into understanding our characters. They’re surprisingly complex.”

The tradition of 91̽��’s 1212 Plays began over 30 years ago in room 1212 of Warren Hall. The performances evolved from play readings to fully staged productions under the direction of late faculty member Nina Seidenman. When Warren Hall was renovated, and room 1212 became an English classroom, the productions relocated to Wigg Hall. The space may have changed, but the philosophy is the same: intimate productions with small casts, minimal technical demands, and challenging material for both actors and audience.

Vanya and Sonya and Masha and Spike begins in Wigg Hall on Thursday, December 1, and Friday, December 2 at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday, December 3 at 7 p.m.

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The Class IV play, Peter and the Starcatcher, features an ensemble cast, who unravel the back story of Peter Pan and Neverland. The play, directed by performing arts faculty member Eleza Moyer, is a “big production” filled with magic and humor. “It’s a really beautiful script. It’s funny, it’s poignant, full of nostalgia and wit,” Eleza says. “This cast has been doing a great job. We have a phenomenal group this year.”

The Class IV play is a long-standing performing arts tradition involving the entire class. Approximately 30 students will comprise the on-stage cast; students who are not on stage contribute to other parts of the production.

Peter and the Starcatcher begins in King Theatre on Thursday, November 17, and Friday, November 18, at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday, November 19 at 7 p.m.

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91̽��’s fall performing arts schedule features a scandalous trickster, the origin story for a beloved character, and a family comedy that mines the depths of dissatisfaction. First on the schedule is Molière’s Tartuffe, a 17^th-century comedy about a charlatan who fools gullible members of a family into trusting him with charm and false claims of piety. Director and performing arts department chair Peter Parisi chose an English translation that matches the original French play’s rhyming-couplet structure.

“We’ve been doing musicals for the last several years, so we’re mixing it up,” says Peter, who notes that even those who are unfamiliar with Tartuffe will recognize and understand some familiar themes. “There are a lot of elements that make this a very timely choice.” Most of the 16 students involved in the production, who will work in period dress on a period set, have performed before, either at 91̽�� or elsewhere.

Next, the Class IV play, Peter and the Starcatcher, features an ensemble cast, who unravel the back story of Peter Pan and Neverland. The play, directed by performing arts faculty member Eleza Moyer, is a “big production” filled with magic and humor. “It’s a really beautiful script. It’s funny, it’s poignant, full of nostalgia and wit,” Eleza says. “This cast has been doing a great job. We have a phenomenal group this year.” The Class IV play is a long-standing performing arts tradition involving the entire class. Approximately 30 students will comprise the on-stage cast; students who are not on stage contribute to other parts of the production.

Rounding out the fall schedule is this year’s 1212 play, Vanya and Sonya and Masha and Spike. Written by Christopher Durang, the comedy is a nod to Anton Chekhov and features three siblings coping with the challenges of getting older. The six student cast members are Nick Gistis (III), Matthew Tyler (II), Abigail Foster (III), Clara Wolff (III), Charlotte Moremen (III) and Emma James (II). Evan Jenness (II) is the stage manager and performing arts faculty member Shane Fuller is directing. “There are a lot of emotional layers to these characters,” says Abigail. “We all put a lot of thought into understanding our characters. They’re surprisingly complex.” The 1212 play is a 91̽�� tradition featuring intimate productions with small casts and challenging material.

Tartuffe begins Thursday, November 3, and Friday, November 4, at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday, November 5, at 7 p.m.

Peter and the Starcatcher begins Thursday, November 17, and Friday, November 18, at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday, November 19 at 7 p.m.

Vanya and Sonya and Masha and Spike begins Thursday, December 1, and Friday, December 2 at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday, December 3 at 7 p.m.

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Almost four years to the day he earned a national title in speech and debate as a middle-schooler, 91̽��’s Marshall Sloane (II) repeated the feat, this time becoming High School National Champion in international extemporaneous speaking at the National Speech and Debate Association Tournament in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Marshall delivered 13 speeches over the course of the tournament, rising to the top of the 250 students from across the country who competed in his category. He earned awards for winning the finals as well as the entire category.

“This is a huge award. Marshall has worked very hard to get to this point,” says faculty member Susan Marianelli, Marshall’s coach and advisor. “History means everything to Marshall. Being aware of what’s going on in the world is important to him.” Marshall’s months of preparation involved a voracious study of current international events, along with skills that would help him best connect with his audience and the judges.

During international extemporaneous speaking, competitors are presented with a choice of three questions related to current world events and given 30 minutes to prepare a seven-minute speech that answers the selected question. During their preparation, they may use research materials they compiled prior to the event, but they may not conduct any additional online research, according to the tournament website. The speech is then delivered from memory.

91̽��’s Main Stage Rendering of Donnie Q

Don Quixote, as it will play out in King Theatre this weekend, is new to 91̽�� and to the world—but possibly not to Cervantes. Shane Fuller (performing arts) directed this Don Quixote spin off, called Donnie Q, when he was teaching theater for college students and co-managed a summer program called Square Top Repertory Theatre, in Pagosa Springs, Colorado.

“It looks at the novel with fresh eyes,” says Mr. Fuller, “and offers a contemporary take on the felt need to be a hero.” Set in contemporary office space with “The Office” overtones, our erstwhile hero, Donnie, figures that he’d rather be a knight than keep on slogging in the office.

Mr. Fuller has been eager to rethink and rework the Square Top production, and beginning last summer he worked on reviewing the script and the story components and adapting the show. The story begins to spin out when the office crew learns that a certain report must be finished before they all go home, and they’ll likely be working at it all night. They’re stuck. At a particular moment during the evening, a cacophony of relentless office sounds — staplers, printers, keyboards — triggers Donnie, who snaps and runs out. When he ultimately returns, he’s wearing homemade armor and feels compelled to take on some “quests,” confusing and frustrating to his co-workers, especially when one quest results in a broken server. Ultimately the crew realizes that they will need to get involved in a quest in order to trap Donnie. They cooperate in a mission to kill an office “giant,” (a giant whose body is enshrouded with monitor shells and has keyboards for arms) but Donnie surprises them by drawing a real sword. They then realize that a bona fide “capture” of Donnie will be necessary and they make that happen.

Mr. Fuller recalls that in some productions of Don Quixote, the figure of Cervantes appears; Cervantes explains that he is merely the stepfather of a tale that originated in an earlier manuscript. So today’s production is yet another rendition of the story, with another stepfather as it were, and Cervantes appears in the 91̽�� production to explain and facilitate the latter day consideration of the Don Quixote and his challenges. Magicians—who figure in the original character Don Quixote’s explanation of why things are going down the way they are—also help Cervantes create different worlds in the 91̽�� production.

The play is a comedy, of course, but “not without its moving moments,” says Mr. Fuller. For instance Sancho Panchez (played by a young, gullible intern in the office who’s eager to do what her boss wants) asks Donnie “why he believes what he reads in books.” Donnie responds, explaining the living world he’s been able to create as a result of his reading. Cervantes enables a “happy ending,” with the report complete, and Donnie assuming that he had a key role in that outcome.

The cast for 91̽��’s 2016 Don Quixote involves 14 actors; Chris Wilbur (II) is Donnie. “The play involves plenty of sword fights and battles,” Mr. Fuller says. “It will rely on lots of special effects. Nick Mehlman (I) is creating a special sound track. The play also requires intricate use of lights, projections and fog.” In short, Donnie Q seems bound to be a comedy extravaganza, taking place on Thursday through Saturday evenings, May 19, 20 and 21. Thursday and Friday shows begin at 7:30 p.m. and curtains go up at 7 p.m. on Saturday. Tickets can be purchased in Forbes Dining Hall during lunch periods this week or online at .

from the performance.