Lake Erie College to host high school student-produced play

A group of area high school students who produced a play called “Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike” is coming to Painesville from June 30 through July 2.

The students will perform the award-winning comedy, which is written by Christopher Durang, at Lake Erie College’s C.K. Rickel Theater in Royce Hall for the Fine and Performing Arts.

The play will be directed by Notre Dame Cathedral Latin senior Grace Perry and Hershey Montessori Upper School senior Cameron Zona.

This is not Zona’s first time in the director’s chair.

“I produced and directed my first show (in the) spring of last year, 2016 and that was ‘Death Trap,’ ” he said. “I got involved in theater my freshman year of high school.”

The students from multiple area high schools took responsibility for every aspect of the show, including planning, producing, directing, marketing and acting.

Zona said that most of the cast participates in the Improvisational Troupe at Willoughby Fine Arts.

He said they also have worked together on other theatrical performances.

In addition to Zona and Perry, the other actors include Elyse Willins of Mayfield High School; Meredith Buescher of Mentor High School; Tyler Lord, a recent graduate of Willoughby South High School; and Sarah Edwards of Lake Catholic High School.

“I think it’s a great experience and I think it’s definitely an experience that a lot of people my age do not get a chance to have,” he said. “I’m also really grateful to have the opportunity to have it at Lake Erie. I think that’s a really great venue to have it in.”

The play is intended for audiences 13 and older.

Performances will begin at 7:30 p.m. on June 30 and July 1; and at 2 p.m. on July 2. Tickets are $10.

For more information contact Cameron Zona at cameronzona@gmail.com and visit Eventbrite to reserve tickets online.