SYLACAUGA, Ala. – After being postponed due to the outbreak of the COVID-19 Omicron variant in January, the next play from the Sylacauga High School (SHS) theatre department takes the stage for opening night next Thursday, March 10.
“Always a Bridesmaid” was originally slated to run from Jan. 20-23 but the decision was made to reschedule due to COVID. The production will take place at the SHS auditorium.
Lauren Layton, theatre and english teacher at SHS as well as the head of the theatre department, had to act promptly. The department has been working on the show since November, and Layton didn’t want too much crossover interference with the upcoming musical “Cinderella” set tentatively for May.
“Our production had to be postponed due to COVID-related issues with canceled rehearsals and students in quarantine,” Layton explained.
According to a review on Dramatists.com, “Always a Bridesmaid” is a comedy where “four friends have sworn to keep the promise they made on the night of their Senior Prom: to be in each other’s weddings…no matter what. More than thirty years later, these Southern friends-for-life are still making ‘the long walk’ for each other, determined to honor that vow.”
It’s not just been the Omicron variant that set back the theatre department at SHS. “Always a Bridesmaid” will be the first live production put on by SHS’s Aggie Theatre since the entire pandemic began in 2020.
The show is directed by Layton and will feature SHS students Livvie House, Audrey Bell, Kaylee Patterson, Samoria Russell, Sarah Beth McCaleb, and Brogan Allen in the on-stage roles. For Layton, the preparatory work for the show, and for the whole department since November, has been “challenging and exciting.”
“This past November and December, our theatre students competed at the district and state levels in individual competitions,” said Layton. “They brought home many superior awards, but it took a lot of preparatory time to get them there. This prep time would usually be spent on a production, which is why we initially moved the production to January instead of our usual December production. However, COVID added another element of challenge and stifled our progress a bit. Nevertheless, we are pressing on and are excited to bring this fun production to the stage.”
“Always a Bridesmaid” will start on March 10-12 at 6:30 p.m. and on March 13 at 2:00 p.m. The expected runtime of the show is 90 minutes with a 10-minute intermission.
Tickets are $7 for current students of any school or $10 for adults. You can purchase them from any cast or crew member as well as at the door.
