“Twelfth Night” is the 10th theatrical production for Sarah Laughner, a senior at Howell High School, who became involved after drama teacher Amanda Malo asked her to co-direct the Shakespeare play.
“I love that I am able to help create the story alongside Amanda Malo and with the cast,” she said.
Laughner, 17, is the daughter of Tammy and Kirk Laughner. Her brother, Drew, an animation and graphic design student at DePaul University in Chicago, is her biggest inspiration, and a big reason why she got involved in theater.
“I began to audition for shows because he did one as a freshman,” she said.
Laughner has been in the Community Theatre of Howell’s productions of “The Little Mermaid,” “Into the Woods Jr.,” “Shrek,” “Honk Jr.,” and “Mary Poppins.” She participated in Howell High School productions of “The Diary of Anne Frank,” “Afterclap Bandito,” “Almost Maine,” and “The Other Room.”
“Twelfth Night” is Laughner’s first experience directing.
“It’s given me a new perspective of theater productions,” shew said.
Laughner is president of the drama club at Howell High School, where she is in advanced drama, as well as Classicality, Highlander Chorale, and A Capella choirs. She plans to major in music business management, but she’s undecided on where she will go to college.
The “Twelfth Night” audience can expect to laugh, Laughner said.
“Our actors have worked tremendously hard to make this come together, and I think the audience will see that,” she said. “Shakespeare isn’t always the easiest to comprehend, but through physicality and music, we hope the audience can enjoy the production and connect to the characters.”
The Howell High School’s Performing Arts Department will present William Shakespeare’s “Twelfth Night” at 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 16, and Saturday, Nov. 17, as well as at 2 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 18, at the Howell High School Rod Bushey Performing Arts Center, 1200 W. Grand River Ave., Howell.
Advance sale tickets are $10 for students/seniors and $12 for adults. Tickets can be purchased in the Howell High School main office and at Schafer’s House of Music. The ticket cost will increase by $1 at the door.
