The Don of a new age

Anastasia Greer and Eric Kellenberger|September 27, 2015

Members of the drama department pose during rehearsal for the first play "You Can't Take It With You." This play is English teacher Don Enoch's first as the new director of the drama department (Photo Illustration by Akshita Dondeti/Talon).
Members of the drama department pose during rehearsal for the first play “You Can’t Take It With You.” This play is English teacher Don Enoch’s first as the new director of the drama department (Photo Illustration by Akshita Dondeti/Talon).

English teacher Don Enoch has taken over drama teacher Allan Hunt’s position as the new director for all future productions in the drama department.

“I am delighted that Mr. Enoch has agreed to direct this year. He brings a lot of professional background to the job,” Principal Kevin Buchanan said.

Buchanan informed the drama department of the transition at the end of last school year. The change in directors came suddenly, leaving some wondering what would happen as a result.

“There is no doubt in my mind that Mr. Enoch, like Mr. Hunt, will succeed at this new job because, after all, this art isn’t that new to him anyways,” senior actress and choir member Savannah Hale said.

For the past few years, Enoch directed the Shakespeare productions at the school, including “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” and “The Tempest.” Before becoming a teacher, Enoch directed professionally for decades in New York alongside his wife, an actress.

The drama department offered numerous, successful productions under the direction of Hunt for more than a decade.

“No one will ever forget the battle at the barricade in Les Miserables, or the cast of over 100 kids that participated in Bye Bye Birdie,” Hale said.

The first show of the year is called “You Can’t Take It With You,” which was nominated for a 2015 Tony for “Best Play Revival.” The show is set in the 1930’s and encompasses the life of the Sycamores — a dysfunctional, somewhat insane, but loving family, who come to cross with the Kirby family — a wealthy, top-of-the-line, seemingly normal family. The play’s action includes romance, drama, comedy, ballet dancing, tax collectors, fireworks, explosions and even snakes.

“You Can’t Take It With You” opens Oct. 1 and runs through Oct. 3 with shows nightly at 7 p.m. and an additional matinee performance Oct. 3 at 2 p.m. Tickets will go on sale shortly, and will be available both online and at the door.

“We are thrilled to have Mr. Enoch as our new director and I am extremely excited to be a part of the first production of the year,” senior Sophia Stermer said.