“Rosie the Riveter” Teaches Important Morals
“Rosie the Riveter” shows uniqueness in its take-away lessons and the student direction that brought it to life.
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Sophomore MK Shevlin adds the finishing touches to her makeup before the start of the final dress rehearsal March 1.
PHOTO | Ellie Chaffee'
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Katherine Hartley (senior Natalie Williams) speaks about the role of women in World War II in the play’s prologue.
PHOTO | Ellie Chaffee'
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Rosie O’Connell (senior Maria Arroyo) speaks about the changing roles of women in the 1940s during the play’s prologue.
PHOTO | Kelly Nugent'
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Eddie Kendrick (sophomore Luke Knopke) tries to sell a Chevy over the phone with the help of Rosie O’Connell (senior Maria Arroyo) and Jasper (junior Nick collins) at the beginning of Act 1.
PHOTO | Ellie Chaffee'
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Mary Jane Hilton (freshman Peyton Wade) tells new workers Edna (junior Meg Travis), Bonnie (junior Emily Bello) and Nancy (junior Camille Grimes) her secrets for staying sane in the factory environment.
PHOTO | Kelly Nugent'
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Katherine Hartley (senior Natalie Williams) is pushed aside by Rosie O’Connell (senior Maria Arroyo), who wants to explain the ins and outs of riveting to the new workers in a more understandable way.
PHOTO | Kelly Nugent'
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Lucy (sophomore MK Shevlin) plays a prank on new worker Nancy (junior Camille Grimes) by pouring water through a relief tube.
PHOTO | Kelly Nugent'
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Martha (freshman Erika Sesler) and Lucy (sophomore MK Shevlin) smile in excitement over talk about Martha’s upcoming marriage.
PHOTO | Kelly Nugent'
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Valerie (sophomore Gwyn Powell), Martha (freshman Erika Sesler) and Lucy (sophomore MK Shevlin) smile while gosiping about Rosie O’Connell’s possible relationship with John Stanley.
PHOTO | Kelly Nugent'
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Mary Jane Hilton (freshman Peyton Wade) reads her letter to an overseas soldier during the opening of Act 2.
PHOTO | Kelly Nugent'
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Rosie O’Connell (senior Maria Arroyo) and Tommy (freshman Khoa Nguyen) stand over a dying Katherine Hartley (senior Natalie Williams), trying to keep her alive.
PHOTO | Kelly Nugent'
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Helen Henley (senior Morgan Ciocca) holds back her grief as Rosie O’Connell (senior Maria Arroyo) expresses her anger over the news that Eddie is moving his factory to New Jersey.
PHOTO | Kelly Nugent'
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Lucy (sophomore MK Shevlin), Helen Henley (senior Morgan Ciocca) and Marjorie Stinson (junior Lauren Wyatt) try to convince rosie O’Connell not to quit her job.
PHOTO | Kelly Nugent'
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Rosie O’Connell (senior Maria Arroyo) expresses her grief in a brief monologue over John and Kate’s recent deaths and Eddie’s decision to move the factory to New Jersey.
PHOTO | Kelly Nugent'
The school play “Rosie the Riveter”, under the student direction of senior Lucy Bahner was performed March 2-3 at Avila’s Goppert Theatre. The play follows the journey of the title character Rosie O’Connell during World War II at a factory in Illinois.
“We picked this play [because] I really enjoy the sentiment behind it and how it showcases the lesser known story behind WWII,” Bahner said. “People have heard of Rosie the Riveter but they don’t really know who she is, and I enjoyed getting the chance to show [that].”
Throughout the two acts, Rosie learns new lessons about herself and her responsibilities in regard to those around her, according to senior Maria Arroyo, who played Rosie in the show.
“Definitely one of the big morals is staying strong through difficulties, because she does face a lot of hardships in her journey,” Arroyo said. “A big part of something for Rosie that she has to come around to is not merely doing work and being passionate about something, but being passionate and doing it for other people, not just for herself.”
This year’s play was virtually student-run, incorporating students from all four grade levels and boys from multiple high schools around the area, with predominant direction done by Bahner.
“It was incredibly enjoyable [to direct] no matter how stressful it was,” Bahner said. “I really enjoyed being the one to make all the changes and be stylistically in charge of the show.”
Having a student be in charge of the going-ons and direction also allowed for a more authentic and comfortable environment, according to Arroyo.
“Lucy is one of my good friends, so I can interact with her and am very comfortable with her and can ask her any kinds of questions about my character without having to feel awkward about asking,” Arroyo said. “It’s a very open and candid environment … it’s more like working with your friends as opposed to just being directed; you’re more a part of it.”
Although the play is now over and schedules will now go back to normal, Bahner hopes that the universal themes of “Rosie the Riveter” will carry on in the community and is proud of all the hard work that the cast and crew have done to put on the production.