From its zany skits to hilarious jokes, the senior show is quite a performance; however, the magic really plays out behind the scenes. This year, the senior class has made some changes in the way the show is being run.

Seniors Melissa Smith and Jonah Camiel are running the show as director and production manager, respectively. Smith takes on most of the creative side of the show, while Camiel is mostly responsible for the technical aspect.

“Basically everything we do, we do together,” Smith says.

A team of stage managers work along with the director and production manager. Each manager is assigned specific skits and videos that they must oversee. The managers take charge of scheduling and ensure that everything is done properly for their skits.

“It is nice to have a team of people who we can delegate work to, so it’s not all falling on our shoulders,” Smith said.

To choose stage mangers, Smith and Camiel sent out a stage manager application to seniors earlier in the year, and those who had interest in the job filled it out. Following this, Smith and Camiel read through the applications and chose best fits.

In writing the show, all seniors were encouraged to send in scripts or ideas for skits in the show. After people submitted their ideas for skits or videos, Smith and Camiel edited them for production, and the administration checked over the scripts. Overall, “it is a grade wide effort,” Smith said.

This year, the jokes are going to be more relatable to the outside world, rather than focusing on Wayland “inside jokes.” Because the senior show is a fundraiser, the seniors decided that the content should be relatable to the audience seeing it, which includes many parents.

“I remember sitting through senior shows made up of mainly inside jokes that I didn’t understand and not finding any of it funny,” Smith said.

Some rehearsals have started, and practice for the show will begin in earnest in the next two and a half weeks before the show. The show will premiere on March 13. There will be two performances on Saturday, March 14, a matinee and a night performance. All performances will be open seating.

“I want everyone to have a good time. Whether that be a good time writing scripts, a good time practicing the dances, or a good time watching it opening night,” Smith said. “It’s one of the last things we get to do as a grade before we head off to all corners of the world, and I want it to be fun and rewarding.”

Check out last year’s process for the senior show.