WATERFORDrama has always produced cutting-edge plays that keep the audience on the edge of their seats. This year is  no different. I AM is the first play produced by WATERFORDrama that has been both written and performed by the cast. It is an original play about the issues and expectations of today’s young women. The play will be performed October 23 through 25. Taking on this tasks of both performing and writing are senior Carin Estey, sophomore Taylor Houggy, sophomore Kaitlyn Mangelinkx, junior Lilly McCormick,  junior Branwyn McDowell, senior Courtney Rowe, senior Briana Roy, senior Gina Ruggeri and senior Tess Wilensky. This is a unique cast of all girls who have previous experience with WD.

Shane Valle’s  decision to go forward with this project wasn’t even final until after the auditions took place.

“I knew I had a lot of experienced girls, and because of that difference in numbers, I knew that I needed a girls’ show. I made them all audition with a monologue they wrote on their own, just to see if this would work as well and to see what they came up with. Then after auditions, I knew that this would work.”

The cast is very excited, even though rehearsals get very emotional.

Senior Tess Wilensky said, “ Rehearsals got very emotional. You went from crying at

one rehearsal to having your stomach hurt from laughing at the next”.

Senior Carin Estey said, “As an actor, you use the same techniques, whether you wrote the play or not. You still feel the same emotions you had while writing as you feel while relating to that character.”

The majority of this play involves situations the cast has actually experienced. Naturally, the cast gets emotional during rehearsals.  The confidence Shane has in his cast is partly why it will be such a great success.