Starting April 20, Campbell High School will present the world premiere of “Midsummer, Again,” a musical comedy written in part by one of Campbell’s very own teachers. Anthony Westcott, an ELA teacher at Campbell since 2016, is a published author and songwriter.
“After viewing countless high school theater productions over my twenty years as an educator, I wanted to create a piece that draws upon the genius of Shakespearean comedy but modernizes it for a contemporary audience and fill it with catchy songs, funny dialogue, and characters that teens in 2023 could relate to,” the Campbell teacher explained.
With his songwriting partner Mark Abbott, Westcott has balanced his time in the classroom with writing and composing, taking seven years to refine the script and songs.
“As an English teacher, I’m drawn to plays with depth and educational value as you find in Shakespeare, but as a songwriter and playwright myself, I enjoy comedy and pop songs, and I thought that the ultimate high school theater piece could blend all of those aspects,” Mr. Westcott said.
Midsummer, Again tells the tale of a cast of high school students attempting to stage a production of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” but backstage shenanigans and teen drama interfere with sometimes hilarious, sometimes melancholy results.
“The two main plot lines come from Shakespeare’s “Much Ado About Nothing,” which concerns itself with practical jokes played upon the two sets of lovers. In the case of the witty Ben and Beatrice, the results are funny and romantic, but for the other two young lovers, the consequences are more serious,” the Cobb teacher-turned-playwright said. “That not only allows for a range of emotions across the songs in the show but also provides each of the actors with a challenge, and the Campbell cast for this show is so talented and up for it. Plus, these students are the first actors ever to perform these characters, and they have responded with inspiration and creativity that seriously brings happy tears to my eyes.”
Performances of “Midsummer, Again” will be in Campbell’s Performing Arts Center starting at 7 p.m. Thursday, April 20, Friday, April 21, and Saturday, April 22. Don’t miss this opportunity to see this world-premiere production!
