Grover’s Corners comes to Ocoee High with production of 'Our Town'

OCOEE Students from Ocoee High School will take to the stage this week to put on a performance of “Our Town” — Thornton Wilder’s Pulitzer Prize-winning drama.

Performances are scheduled to take place at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, and admission to each performance is $10.

The production is being directed by Willie Jones, a senior student at Ocoee, and it is his second time taking on the role of director.

“It’s been nerve-wrecking,” Jones said. “Every time you watch it, you want to make little, tiny changes and you have to tell yourself, ‘nope — leave it, it works.’ You have to trust yourself.”

Jones chose “Our Town” both for its economic efficiency so far the theater department would be concerned — the three-act play famously has little-to-no set or props — but also for its unique way of reflecting on the lives of everyday citizens. The play's three acts look through the lenses of their daily lives, their love and relationships and, ultimately, death and dying.

Jones' sentiment on the value of the play is shared by the cast of peers he has assembled, including senior Anagabriella Pineiro, who is playing Mrs. Webb.

“It’s not like any other play,” Pineiro said. “It’s ‘here’s their lives’ — and that’s the beauty of it.”

Pineiro and her fellow cast members have also enjoyed working with a director who is a peer.

“Him being one of the students, himself, it gives a good connection with everybody,” Pineiro said.

In addition to their hard work on the production — the process began back in November — cast members are diligently working to promote the play, inviting the general public to come enjoy their performance.

And, as opening night nears, it is a bittersweet time for the cast as they know their journey of hard work has almost reached its end.

“(There has been) sweat, a little bit of blood and a few tears here and there,” Pineiro said, before adding, “I’m excited and at the same time nervous — this is my first show.”

Contact Steven Ryzewski at [email protected].